FIVE LONDON ARTISTS TO WATCH

by TINA EDWARDS

in 2025, london continued to provide fertile soil for its ever-evolving jazz scene. artists that have been waving the flag for british jazz over the last decade have taken fresh directions; take EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY’S indie-leaning ‘weirdo’, YAZMIN LACEY’S accessible but soulful ‘teal dreams’ and the release of YUSSEF DAYES’ mt fuji fm featuring a collaboration with japanese pop and shima-uta folk singer MINAMI KIZUKI. that outward-looking approach continues to be adopted by the city’s emerging artists. 

meanwhile, the arrival of the first ever sxsw london this summer helped to keep the city’s rising artists on everybody’s lips, including hotly-tipped saxophonist KAIDI AKKINIBI (below), producer LAST NUBIAN and vocalist CLARA SERRA LOPEZ. 

don’t enter into 2026 without checking out these rising acts; you might be the first of your mates to know about them. 

KAIDI AKKINIBI 

having seen KAIDI perform three entrancing this year, i’m invested in his journey. the saxophonist, guitarist and vocalist is approaching songwriting in a way that feels distinct from his contemporaries, drawing together jazz and elements of shoegaze, indie and rock. KAIDI’S currently focused on releasing a whopping seven albums within twelve months; single ‘real enough’ with its whirling sax and dramatic climax is a particularly good place to start. 

COLECTIVA

having been tearing it up on london’s live scene for a few years now, the forthcoming debut ep from afro-latin group COLECTIVA is hotly-anticipated. if their shows are anything to go by, we can expect high-energy, melodic and percussive treats, although recent single ‘eero’, about “grief, transformation and the beauty found in healing” shows a more sensitive side to their creativity. 

TANHAI COLLECTIVE

this six piece band dropped their third multi-track release ‘circa 2019’ this summer, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that everyone knows about them just yet. instrumental throughout, their music often leads with groove or head nods, and they draw inspiration from the likes of DONALD BYRD, HERBIE HANCOCK and BADBADNOTGOOD. they’ve sold out the iconic jazz cafe but have yet to break into the festival circuit; no doubt that when they do, their fanbase will quickly expand. 

MOMOKO GILL

self-taught producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist MOMOKO GILL is releasing her debut album ‘momoko’ in january, not long after her critically-acclaimed collaborative record with much-loved electronic artist MATTHEW HERBERT. MOMOKO’S warm, inviting voice shares thoughtful lyrics, demonstrating the inspirations she takes from both jazz and singer-songwriter culture. recorded at total refreshment centre and mastered at the iconic abbey road studios, expect this record to kickstart a big year for MOMOKO GILL. 

KOTOA 

with an average age of twenty years old, these south londoners play with verocity, taking cues from afrobeat, dub, jazz, reggae and soul. KOTOA released their debut ep ‘earthwise’ in november, with production from revered musician and engineer benedic lamdin (nostalgia 77). dance-inducing baselines, political commentary and melodic hooks give these guys their edge. ‘earthwise’ is out now via much-loved wah wah 45s, and is a promising sign of sounds to come. 

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