Lorde’s Second Coming?
Could Broods be New Zealand’s next pop sensation? The Auckland brother-sister duo of Caleb and Georgia Nott close in on the Alternative airplay chart with their airy, electro-pop debut single, “Bridges” (Capitol), produced and co-written by Lorde collaborator Joel Little. Ahead of the release of the pair’s first full-length album, Broods’ self-titled debut EP entered Heatseekers Albums at No. 5 and the Billboard 200 at No. 164 last week. “It’s impossible not to be in awe of [Lorde],” Georgia Nott told Billboard in November. “But we have to build our own identity.”
Kesington Kross Feels The ‘Love’
As the first joint signing by LaFace co-founders Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid in 25 years, expectations are running high for Kesington Kross. “Gimme Your Love” (Epic), a blend of futuristic synths and ’80s soul, is taking hold on mainstream R&B/hip-hop airwaves, with KNDA Corpus Christi, Texas, leading with 21 plays in the Nielsen BDS tracking week ending Feb. 23. His debut EP, “Audio Justice,” arrived Dec. 5 to critical acclaim, eliciting comparisons ranging from Rick James to Phil Collins.
Hozier Hits U.S.
After the video for “Take Me to Church” started making noise last fall, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier (real name: Andrew Hozier-Byrne) is flirting with a debut on the Triple A airplay chart. The searing alt-rock ballad boasts support from tastemaker radio station KCRW Los Angeles. Hozier, who’s signed to Rubyworks, will make his live U.S. debut on March 10 at the Slipper Room in New York and play South by Southwest in Austin on March 14.
Reporting by Keith Caulfield, Rauly Ramirez and Gary Trust.