Featuring The 1975, Billie Eilish and Mark Ronson.
If you’re lucky enough to be heading up to Middlesborough for this year’s BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, firstly we’re super jel, but secondly we’ve got the best tip for you. Although the main stage line-up is insane (yes, we will be crying listening to the whole 1975 set while sadly still in London), the BBC Introducing stage is where the magic happens.
Having previously tipped faves like Florence + The Machine, George Ezra and Pale Waves, the Introducing Stage is where you’ll find all the acts about to hit the big time. And everyone likes to say they saw that super popular artist play way back in the day, right?
One of the newbies playing this year’s stage is the amazing L Devine. With two EPs under her belt – 2017’s “Growing Pains” and last year’s “Peer Pressure” – she’s got pop stardom in her sights and we’re here for it.
Playing on Saturday 25th, we got her to take us through the acts she’ll be watching this weekend.
Joy Crookes – “Man’s World”
Joy Crookes is a new artist I’m really excited about. She’s so mature, both vocally and lyrically. I think she has something important to say and sounds so beautiful when doing so!
The 1975 – “Settle Down”
I feel like The 1975 are the band that defined my teenage years. One of the first gigs I was allowed to go to without an adult was Little Comets at Northumbria Uni when I was 13. The 1975 were supporting under a different name – The Big Sleep. Ever since I’ve been following their career and loving everything they put out, so whenever I catch them live, it feels super nostalgic. “Settle Down” also happens to be one of the first songs I ever covered on YouTube when I was 16!
Sam Fender – “Leave Fast”
I’m not a true Geordie if I don’t put Sam Fender on the list! I love this song so much because it’s the most perfect scene-setter for life on the coast of Newcastle. It always takes me right back home. And Sam truly sounds like an angel on this record, he reminds me so much of a young Jeff Buckley here.
Billie Eilish – “ilomilo”
There was absolutely no ignoring this album. And this has to be my favourite track from it. Every time Billie does something, I’m so bewildered and impressed at how ahead of the curve she is and still so young. It’s scary to think how much is ahead of her! It’s so inspiring.
Khalid – “My Bad”
I love to put Khalid on every time I need to chill out. Even his funniest songs are so soothing. And I love how effortless his songwriting feels like he just wrote the whole song perfectly in one take.
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus – “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart”
This has to be my favourite pop song of the year so far. It really feels like Miley and Mark made a classic – it’s so familiar but sounds like nothing else in the pop charts right now. And Miley’s vocal is just timeless!
L Devine will perform on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend on Sat 25 May, listen live on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.
