Ahead of the “Worth It.” mastermind’s return to Canada, RANGE is highlighting five equally impressive South London artists you should be adding to your early-adopter playlist.

Bursting onto the scene with a joint in one hand, a lighter in the other, and baby pink curlers fixed in her hair, Skye Newman makes sure to leave a lasting first impression. Her songs are oozing with authenticity, each packed with her unapologetic attitude and raspy vocal delivery on lines like “I’m not your man, so why do I provide?”

At the ripe age of 22, Newman already has two UK top five singles to her name, “Hairdresser” and “Family Matters.”  Just last year, she was rubbing shoulders with legends like Elton John, featuring on his Rocket Hour radio show. Now, the vocal powerhouse has won Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 award. If it wasn’t clear already, Newman is establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the global music scene.

Writing about topics like addiction and broken friendships, Newman’s music is raw, honest, and vulnerable. Her latest EP even bares her South London postcode, SE9 Part 1.

Her bio might simply say “I make good music,” – but that undersells her. Jaz Karis’ discography has some unreal numbers, and it seems music fans agree too. She performed her mellow-toned single “Petty Lover” on COLORS YouTube channel in 2018 with the video amassing close to 18 million views.

As you listen to Karis, there’s a clear nod to Erykah Badu in her instrumentals, and this isn’t any coincidence – the UK singer-songwriter notes the neo-soul icon as one of her biggest influences. The vintage-sounding “MET YOU AT A BAR” is formidable, Afro-pop cut “TEQUILA” is heavenly, and the easy-listening ballad “NICE GIRLS” with R&B peer Mahalia showcases an artist in full control of her sound. “DEAR JAZ,” which kicks off her EP of the same name, has echoey vocals and a striking guitar that feels undoubtedly RAYE-esque. With an EP released in 2025 and an album in 2024, her fans are never left starved.

Nia Smith’s debut single released in mid-2024, but it was a cover of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” that made people fall in love with her. From the Reggae-fused “Personal” to the soulful ballad “Don’t Cry,” there’s no musical obstacle that she can’t cross. If her sincere melodies don’t catch your attention, her stellar street-style surely will.

Smith saw “Personal” grabbing music lovers’ and mega music acts’ attention worldwide. One of which was dancehall giant Popcaan, who hopped on a remix of the track, adding distinctive adlibs and a brand-new verse to the already brilliant single. The Brixton singer-songwriter even supported R&B heavyweight SZA at her BST Hyde Park date in 2024, as well as opening for Tems, Elmiene, and Mahalia.

Recently, Smith shared her latest hit “Limit.” It’s a promising track for fans anticipating more new music from the singer this year.

Blu’s debut album blessed music listener’s ears late last year, and her soft-toned vocals feel like one big hug. There’s some insane instrumentation scattered throughout songs like “shadow,” which has a cinematic violin moment, or “swimming in pity” with its own guitar solo.

The South-East London performer started out by joining various community-oriented music groups including Flames Collective, who have performed alongside RAYE during some of her most pivotal moments – her Pyramid Stage performance at Glastonbury and her headline show at Royal Albert Hall, which produced the exemplary My 21st Century Symphony LP.

Blu’s tracks have a unified soundscape, one that most aligns with alt-R&B. They’re relaxing and packed full of tranquil melodies that are usually paired with introspective prose.

Keable pairs her rich vocals with an array of drum patterns and loops to create some huge R&B numbers like “act right,” “WHY,” and “can’t stop.” Her most recent effort is titled “TAI CHI,” and much like the Chinese martial art, is stress-reducing, strengthening, and balanced.

As well as some exemplary solo efforts, the red-headed R&B singer has been mastering the art of collaboration with huge names like Leon Thomas (“move it along”), Destin Conrad (“Auction”), and Jorja Smith (“Killing Me”). If you’re wondering why her name sounds familiar, in late October she visited Toronto, performing a handful of hits as an opening act for respected R&B act Givēon.

Her songs are beautiful disasters, turning bad situations into elegantly arranged three-minute productions with instant replay value.