Stream: Hostage - Klangstof

Premiered by Zane Lowe on Beats 1 yesterday, Klangstof has just taken the wraps off new shimmering electronic track Hostage. Having also just signed to LA label Mind Of A Genius. 2016 is looking rosy for the Dutch singer, songwriter and producer.

Growing up in rural Norway, Klangstof (real name Koen) was inspired by Radiohead's seminal OK Computer, learning to play the entire thing on guitar and subsequently recording a song that ended up on Norwegian radio after he uploaded it to the internet. After a stint in one of Holland's biggest bands, Moss, Koen chose to return to a more isolated musical outlet. Hostage is a song born of the sense of creative frustration that comes from needing an outlet.

Video: Small Talk - Ekkah

Back with a brand new single and video, Small Talk is Ekkah's first new track since the Last Chance to Dance EP in 2014 and their first track since signing to Song/RCA.

Produced by Tourist, Small Talk is an infectious little pop track, swirling synths bubbling up to create a warm disco bath of a record. London-based duo Rebecca Wilson and Rebekah Pennington have once again managed to make a charmingly infectious record.

Stream: The Choir - Morly

The Choir is the latest track from producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Morly. Following her mostly instrumental debut EP In Defense Of My Muse it is only the second track to feature Morly's vocals.

The Choir is a delicately woven track, deep bass rumbling beneath layers of vocals and gently swaying percussion. It's a sparse and beautiful piece and comes from the Cascine stable (home to Cuushe and Yumi Zouma).

News: Glastonbury announces the Emerging Talent Competition for 2016

Glastonbury have once again announced their Emerging Talent Competition for this year's Glastonbury Music Festival. The competition gives new UK and Ireland-based artists of any musical genre the opportunity to compete for a slot on one of the main stages at this year's festival and I'm excited that BlackPlastic.co.uk once again gets to play a part in the process.

The competition is free to enter and the winners will also receive a £5,000 Talent Development prize from the PRS for Music Foundation. Two runners up will also be awarded a £2,500 development prize from the foundation. 

Acts have just one week to enter, from 9am Monday 18 January until 5pm Monday 25 January, via the Glastonbury Festivals website. Entries simply need to include a link to one original song on SohndCloud, plus a link to a video of themselves recording live (even if it is just a bedroom performance).

Entrants to the competition in past years include 2016 BBC Sound of 2016 nominee and 2016 BRITs Critic's Choice R&B singer Izzy Bizu and rapper Isaiah Dreads. Last year's winner Declan McKenna has since signed a management deal with Q Prime, who also manage Metallica, Muse and Foals. 

As usual a panel of 40 of the UK's top music writers will judge the initial entries to compile a longlist of 120 acts - I'm happy to once again be involved as one of the writers in that process and massively excited to hear the music of those that enter! From there the longlist will be shortlisted to eight artists by a panel of judges including Michael and Emily Eavis. The final shortlist will compete in the live finals at the Pilton Working Men's Club in April in order to select the final winners. In both 2014 and 2015 all eight finalists were offered slots at that year's festival!

Stream: All I See - Draper feat. Laura Brehm

BlackPlastic is kicking off 2016 with this track from UK artist Draper. He has previously collaborated with Lapsley, Rita Ora and Little Mix but has recently shifted his focus back to solo material.

Following on from his R&B inspired track On You released last year, Draper is back with the tentatively optimistic track All I See. Laura Brehm provides vocals whilst Draper's production creates a warm pop-disco sound. In the artist's own words:

"'All I See" is a track that had so many variations I lost count, sometimes it can be a long process for a song to get to a place where I am genuinely happy with... Laura's vocals really helped give the track the confidence it needed. It's a song about the separation from reality that you can feel when infatuated with a person."