To speak of music, particularly on the current trends of stylistic individuality and non-definition, is to speak of London. Creative integrity seems to play a role something stronger across the entire UK's existing netwrok where music has grown to be particularly unique and artistic in comparison to any other. Above all else, it would seem that the greater populace of London especially refuses to hold itself to the outdated, unjust, and untrustworthy organization of creative artistry into genre. And as such, the incalculable number of artists existing on a continuum of groundbreaking momentum out from under the floorboards and into the limelight continues to increase, shocking, inspiring, and influencing the rest of the world in the process.
A strong historical tie with electronic experimentation in combination with the country's prideful underground jazz scene rivaling any across the globe has set the tone for modern productive trends in the UK, while a history as perhaps the richest worldwide pool of vocal talent has only continued to this day.
A cultural pedestal of art, especially music, in combination with the UK's very public series of political, social, and economic crises and turmoil has set the stage for deep, meaningful, and quality thematic exploration by artists strongly moved to in some way or another make a difference and say their piece.
These effects have all come to blend together in ways that have given rise to the strong use of expressive media definition like grime, neo-soul, and modern jazz when discussing the modern artistry of the bubbling London and greater UK collective of creators. But sadly, it has also come to unfairly group and undermine individual efforts that, in most ways, differ from artist to artist.
If the greater differences didn't outweigh the similarities, the vibrant collaboration scene providing even faster and firmer growth of UK artists, would be far less successful and far less flavorful than it is in actuality.
From the successful tradition of producers like Disclosure posting incredible collaborative efforts with prolific vocalists like Sam Smith, to lyrically-endowed poets like Kojey Radical working in harmony with new age jazz-influenced songstresses like Poppy Ajudha, the UK scene seems to promote the creative community necessary not only for successful collaborations, but also for the immense and unbound growth of artists at individual levels, giving rise to a national trend.
As such, the idea of collaboration seems as though it exists without borders in Britain, and that any artist, aware that their personal definition holds more water than that of irresponsible genrefication, can bring them to collaborate with anyone else so equally open minded and creative.
A quality starting point for such a collaborative effort would be an artist inspired by the infectious momentum of current British drive to the point of pure symbiosis with it. ELIZA, formerly known as Eliza Doolittle has been able to successfully reinvent her approach and truthfully her entire sound within the freedom of the existing scene's massive creative reach. Because of that, she's on what could never be considered anything but a psychedelic creative high.
Since the name change and the release of her first track in a noticeably new direction, Wide Eyed Fool, ELIZA's sonic texture has been painted with a brush influenced heavily by jazz-timing, seductive, bold penmanship, and a particular affinity for funk. Years of vocal coaching and practice within a more traditional pop sphere have graced her transition to a vocal delivery heavily derived of and an existing ode to history's most celebrated soul singers.
Needless to say, the vast range of her influences in combination with her existing talent has held firm in creative risk, and her young but hard-hitting bout as part of the momentous British transition into transcendent, indefinable styling has been and continues to be key.
Her fan base will only continue to grow as the world comes to appreciate further the work of soul vocalists existing in the non-definite realms of jazz-influenced and funk-inspired production.
Loyle Carner, another creative mind molded by the apparently unparalleled music scene of South London, is one of the most exciting young MC's throughout the lyrically-focused corner of Britain's gifted collective of poets and songwriters. A successful string of singles leading up to last year's release of his debut album, Yesterday's Gone have all come together to bring him into focus on all fronts international and hip-hop.
His ability has been noted by the likes of MF Doom, Joey Badass, and Kate Tempest with all of whom he has toured.
Defined first and foremost by his prolific penmanship, Carner finds himself today as a keystone piece to the greater socially-motivated UK artistry who are everyday trying to bring to light and spur change sur the problems so violently underlining personal struggles and so publically undermining modern society.
Defined secondly by his laid-back, effortless delivery and smooth vocal approach, Carner is equally difficult to define as so many artists who would traditionally be labeled purely hip-hop. His music is moving, powerful, and deeply relatable – preaching togetherness and maturely discussing the triumph of everyday problems in a way impossible not to bob your head to.
Together, ELIZA and Loyle Carner could come to produce the sort of joint project so powerful not just in today’s quickly expanding sphere of non-definition, but the kind of collaborative effort between a quality, soulful vocalist, and a mellow, deliberate lyricist that has been celebrated for decades. An obvious underlying admiration for particularly jazzy and at times funky instrumentalism connects their music and would underline a shared effort between the two. It would also come to give both artists the freedom and space necessary to explore their own approaches while staying connected through production. A give and take between the two artists seems as though it would be so natural.
At a time in each of their careers where a continuance of growth is necessary to further their impressive statures, a collaboration would not only be great for their fans, for the UK scene, and for music as a whole, but could come to be the defining project at a crossroads in each of their musical paths.