’16 for 2016: Ones To Watch’ – Espa

Late last year, our ears pricked up when we heard Your Ghost, the lead track from Espa’s debut EP 150th & Broadway, and a song which firmly delivered the youngster’s musical prowess, whilst entwining her tones with a subject matter clearly close to both hers, and our editor’s heart. It was then-on that we became interested in what was to follow, and this year, the 24 year-old firmly delivered.

Dropping her LG60 EP in late-summer, Espa clearly knows how to grasp hold of specialist genres and essentially churn out elements of audio-emersion. Whilst the Chris Loco-produced opening track Orbit provided a strong intro, it was Espa’s Pray For Me follow-up that turned heads. Indeed, soulful electronica seems to be the ‘in thing’ at the moment, and when executed correctly, can garner shedloads of attention (you only need to look at the likes of London Grammar and Bonobo for added proof), and the aforementioned certainly nailed it in that respect. In fact, Espa also seems to get more out of collaborators than we ever could have expected – her latest release Swan Song hears a tie-up with Giggs, and whilst unlikely at first, hearing them both deliver a hip-hop/jazz groove that could easily sit as a 007 theme.

Back during the press run for her debut project, Espa affirmed that she’d like her music to be seen akin to the sound of Jimi Hendrix and Bjork – that aura and self-confidence will no doubt hold her in good stead… well, that and her impressive discography too.

Fingers crossed a full-length album isn’t too far away; in the meantime, cop a listen to Espa’s LG60 in full below: