John Newman

Newman’s work on Rudimental’s “Feel the Love” and “Not Giving In” introduced him to a broad audience in 2012. The voice had to hold its own inside an electronic arrangement with a large rhythmic presence, and its grain became one of the recordings’ clearest points of recognition.

Tribute followed in 2013, with “Love Me Again”, “Cheating” and “Out of My Head” placing the singer at the centre of his own album. The arrangements give the soul influence a bright, sharply defined frame. Rhythm and vocal force work together, so the records can feel urgent without every song relying on the same tempo or instrumental setting.

Revolve in 2015 extended that musical world through tracks including “Come and Get It” and “Tiring Game”, the latter bringing Charlie Wilson into the performance. The record makes the dialogue with funk and soul more explicit, while keeping the production tightly organised around the songs.

The distinctive quality is the way Newman can make a repeated phrase sound physically necessary. A chorus arrives with melodic clarity, but the voice keeps a rough surface inside the polish. That friction gives the early singles their character: the arrangement is ready for a crowd, while the singing still sounds as though it is pushing through something more personal.