Once again, we’ve partnered up with the incredible Lambeth Sounds for our Emerging Artist competition, designed to give a platform to the best young talent in contemporary jazz, funk, and soul. It was tricky narrowing down these artists to these select few, but now it’s up to you to choose your favourite, so get acquainted below and head over to our Instagram to cast your vote.

The three acts with the most votes will move forward to the final round, judged by the one and only Bashy! The winner will perform at Cross The Tracks 2025, turning their musical influences into musical contemporaries.

Anyway, let’s cut to the chase and meet our shortlist of artists from South London and beyond…

Elmss

A 21-year-old independent artist from Southwark, Elmss grew up listening to the political sounds of Gil Scott-Heron, The Specials, and immersing herself in the South London jazz scene. She is the founder of CROSSTALK collective, a monthly performance/jam event at The Carpet Shop in Peckham, with the intention of uplifting young local musicians.

Last year, she released her second EP, ‘minty’, melding luscious melodies with heavy neo-soul instrumentals. Elmss’s music has landed her performances at Sofar Sounds, 180 Strand, and Soho House. We can’t wait to hear what’s next for her.

Ellie Harris

In 2019, Ellie Harris graduated from the prestigious BRIT School after 4 years on the music course. Since then, she’s been supported by BBC Introducing, BBC 1Xtra and playlisted on Spotify's New Music Friday and Jazz UK. Harris takes inspiration from the likes of Esperanza Spalding, Seal, Minnie Riperton, and Nai Palm, all of whom have played a role in shaping her music.

Harris has performed widely across London with her exceptional band (Stanley Wickham on drums and Charlie Runham on bass) for the past 5 years, playing at notable venues including Ronnie Scott's, Omeara, Blues Kitchen, and The Spice Of Life.

Rio Sterling

Rio Sterling, a singer and artist from Croydon, has gained a following on social media from snippets of his live performances where packed venues sway in unison to his feel-good sound. Sterling's debut single ‘POV’ sees the 20-year-old yearn for forgiveness atop a slice of classic soul/pop.

Sterling’s powerful voice is backed by his 9-piece band, guaranteed to bring the vibes to Cross The Tracks 2025.

Alya Isha and the RA KHOLECTIV

South-London soulstress, poet, producer and organiser, Alya Isha pioneers a genre she calls nu-earth groove. Born in Japan before moving to Tooting aged 10 and then to Santiago de Cuba before returning to Brixton, she takes inspiration from her roots. Her trademark hard-hitting lyricism has earned her past performances, including Peckham Levels, The Colour Factory, Union Chapel Church, Conway Hall, GROW Hackney, Brixton Hootenanny, and The Jago.

Alongside the incredible RA KHOLECTIV, with Hanna Mbuya on Tuba, Stefano Ancora on Drums and R.Li on Keys, their haunting and ethereal sound is the perfect accompaniment to Isha’s conscious message.

NuAloe

NuAloe is a South London-raised singer and rapper. With musical roots watered by her father's eclectic music taste, she infuses all sounds and genres in her music and engages in topics such as Blackness, Queerness, activism, and South London living. She has performed at The Jazz Cafe and The Southbank Centre, spending the past year collaborating with other independent artists, which she says has ‘inspired me to create and carefully craft my message of connection through music.’

A regular host at Orii Jam - an open mic night and Steamdown - NuAloe’s music shifts between neo-soul and rap like a jam happening in real time. It’s clear to see she’s one to watch, a Cross The Tracks mainstay in the making.

Abeng

Named after the instrument used by Jamaican Maroons to communicate secretly across great distances, Abeng are an exciting new jazz band grounded in ancestral Caribbean music traditions. Using their shared Caribbean heritage as a musical foundation, Abeng offer a unique interpretation of London’s bustling jazz scene, reframing centuries-old Caribbean folk music through a 21st-century London lens.

The group's undeniable chops match their unbreakable cool, fusing trad-ish jazz with a more typical band mentality; their sound reverberates with the many homelands of modern jazz, whether that’s the Caribbean, the Delta, or Brixton.

TAZ

An up-and-coming British-Caribbean songwriter known for her fresh approach to neo-soul, TAZ emerged onto the scene in 2024 with her debut single, "Summertime x", capturing the attention of BBC Music Introducing. Her most recent release, ‘grateful’ hangs around the intersection of afropop and soul, with idyllic harmonies and sultry shakers, the track is guaranteed to be on regular rotation this summer.

Since her debut last summer, TAZ has performed at BBC Live Lounge, Kiss Camden, The Ned, The Troubadour, and The Colour Factory, among others. She’s showing no signs of slowing down, act fast and vote now if you want to catch her at Cross The Tracks 2025!

SEREN

SEREN is an English-South African singer who takes inspiration from the heavyweights of soul, pop, and folk music. With a love of storytelling through song and a keen ear for melody, her music aims to ‘celebrate the simple joys and complicated vulnerabilities of our ordinary lives.’

Since moving to London at sixteen, SEREN has made a name for herself as a young, talented artist. Her chilling vocals and heart-wrenching lyrics have earned her sets at Koko Camden and The London Palladium, and she is looking to the future with hopes of releasing recorded music.

Murgatroyd

Murgatroyd is an innovative six-piece jazz fusion band born out of the diverse music culture found in South London. Growing up across the UK, the band have come together to celebrate and cement the convergence of their individual musical influences.

Since their formation, Murgatroyd have used the UK’s captivating dance music and jazz scene to birth their own unique and innovative musical voice. Inspired by artists such as Robert Glasper, Dillinja, and J Dilla, their performances are filled with soulful melodies and infectious rhythms.

The band have performed at a variety of venues across Leeds and the UK, such as Belgrave Music Hall, Hyde Park Book Club and The Old Red Bus Station and are currently in the process of recording their debut EP to be released in the summer of 2025.

Audio.sync

Audio.sync are a London-based Afro-groove collective bringing together musicians, artists, and poets from all around the world to create a rich tapestry of unique sounds, grounded in the diverse cultural backgrounds of its members. The result is a high-energy, danceable sound that traverses genres such as Afrobeats, Dub, Salsa, & Folk-fusions.

The band have performed sold-out shows at Brick Lane’s NinetyOne Living Room, Hoxton Underbelly, and The Social in Soho. Collectively creating music to ‘rejuvenate the mind, body & spirit through the cathartic sonic experience they facilitate’

Now you’ve had the chance to get to know our shortlist, cast your vote over on our Instagram and join us in amplifying the voices of South London's emerging musical talent.

VOTE NOW