Quick to become a favourite here at Purple Sneakers throughout 2015, UK artist NAO had us hooked pretty much from the get go. Possessing one of those voices that practically forces you to pay attention, her raspy, soulful pipes paired with her funky, upbeat production saw Nao become one of 2015's most exciting breakthrough acts, and whilst her resume is already pretty impressive, we can't help but feel 2016 is the year she truly comes into her own.
May 2015 saw the release of her EP February 15, and a slew of incredibly impressive singles. Each and every track was a breath of fresh air; each taking on her trademark sound without ever sounding the same. Her dynamic voice is impressively shown off in all its glory with each song, giving her pop styled tracks a certain extra element that separates her from her counterparts.
She's worked with the likes of Miguel, Disclosure and Mura Masa, and has millions of plays on her Soundcloud - all of which happened before she had even set out on her first ever tour. December saw her do a brief stint around the UK, but 2016 will see her properly taking off, with more dates booked in the UK and Europe, as well as US dates still to come.
Said to be working on a debut album, Nao's steady output of catchy tracks will hold her in good stead for whenever that is set to drop. Taking influence from the likes of Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and many more, but infusing it with her unique flourish and nostalgic-yet-modern touch, it really is only a matter of time before she takes over the world, and we can't wait to see that happen!
Words by Emma Jones.
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