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12 musical acts to listen for in 2012

Music

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 22, 2012

From left, Lana Del Ray, Adam Hood, and Michael Kiwanuka. (Nicole Nodland/Handouts )

AZEALIA BANKS

Like a mash-up of Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., and Santigold, this rising star from New York is a triple threat: a fierce rapper, a strong singer, and a charismatic actress who attended the same performing arts high school as Minaj. With recent singles (including the deliciously potty-mouthed “212’’) blowing up on blogs and a string of sold-out shows coming up in Europe, Banks is poised to have a breakthrough year. JAMES REED

JAMES McCARTNEY

Yes, that McCartney. Sir Paul’s boy is following in his footsteps and recently released “The Complete EP Collection,’’ a two-disc set (co-produced by his dad) that combines two earlier digital-only EPs and five new tracks, including a cover of Neil Young’s “Old Man.’’ While some may hold him to an impossible standard, the younger McCartney’s promising pop-rock tunes make clear he’s learned a few lessons about melody, phrasing, and charm. He’ll appear on “The Late Show With David Letterman’’ on Jan. 30. SARAH RODMAN

KING KRULE

Outre-minded blog-trawlers with YouTube time to spare first encountered Brit squirt Archy Marshall when he surfaced as Zoo Kid, sporting a hypnotically minimal video, a serious ginger pompadour, and a sound that combines stark bedroom pop, trip-hop (yes, that’s right, trip-hop!), Lynchian roadhouse blues, and a smidge of grit from the streets of southeast London. Once he finishes high school this year, expect big things from this young stunner. MICHAEL BRODEUR

THE STAVES

Between them, father and son producers Glyn and Ethan Johns have worked on albums by everyone from the Rolling Stones and the Who to Ryan Adams and Kings of Leon. So it’s significant that the Johns will share production credit on the same album for the first time ever on the debut from the Staves, due later this year. This trio of English siblings - Emily, Camilla, and Jessica - can currently be heard working a beautiful blend of pastoral English folk and classic Laurel Canyon harmonies on their just-released three-song “Mexico’’ EP. [SR]

PORCELAIN RAFT

By turns forlorn and sweeping, the music on Porcelain Raft’s forthcoming debut, “Strange Weekend’’ (out on Tuesday), lays acoustic textures over warm, electronic backdrops. The band is the vision of Italian native Mauro Remiddi, who loops his melodies and vocals to dazzling effects. (Porcelain Raft performs at Paradise Rock Club on Jan. 29, opening for Smith Westerns.) [JR]

MICHAEL KIWANUKA