Introducing: Rumer

The ability to pick a song that will be a hit is an art.  That was one area in broadcasting where I missed the mark.  Some people have an ear on what makes a song popular.  These days, however, the art of a disc jockey or music director of a radio station picking which hits will click are rare.  A lot of music played on the radio is determined by the big music companies and consultants.

There are some signs that this is changing.  With the advent of the internet and websites like SoundCloud and YouTube, the listener has a greater role as far as what makes a song popular.  The antiquated formula or sales and times a song is played on the radio is being replaced by the number of times a song is streamed online.

I mention this because I discovered an artist a few weeks ago who I think will make a big splash in the music world in the coming year.  May I present for your listening pleasure, Rumer.  

One of my hobbies online is to check out music and I frequently check out the offerings on iTunes.  Under the "Featured Pre-Orders" section I found an album called "Into Colour" by Rumer.  I honestly thought that the performer was the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.  There were two tracks that you can purchase now.  I listened to the samples and was blown away. 

The album has already been released in Europe, and will be available here in the U.S. this coming February.  "Into Colour" is her third album and she has received lots of acclaim in her native England.  Fans of her work include Elton John, Burt Bacharach, and Jools Holland.  The Guardian and many other critics have compared her voice as being reminiscent of Karen Carpenter's.  

She hasn't had much notice here in the United States except for an episode of Live From Daryl's House and a segment on CBS' Sunday Morning in 2012.  That could all change this coming February.  I predict that her label, Warner Music, will work to land her on a lot of talk shows.

The song that won me over is "Dangerous."  Forget that this song was produced in 2014.  It sounds like it was produced in 1978.  One response I read on SoundCloud nailed the song's arrangement perfectly: a mix of Thom Bell's Philadelphia sound mixed with Burt Bacharach's trumpets.  

The video is outstanding as well.  It tells a story in less than five minutes.  I don't know if the words in the song match up with story, but it's better than most of the videos out there today.

Check out Rumer's website here.  Included is a free download of the song "Sam" off of "Into Colour."  I've downloaded it and it is great.  I can definitely hear the Karen Carpenter similarity in her singing of this song.

So there you have it, my vote for the breakout artist of 2015.  I have a feeling that you'll hear a lot from her soon.