Have you heard Jake Bugg? If you are anywhere but the U.K, possibly not. The 18 year old prodigy released his debut album this year and world domination through adoration is the tune to which he sings.
Adoration, yes. I hadn't even heard a lick of his music and I adored him instantly when I recently read that after friends encouraged him to audition for some god awful televised talent show, he responded with the following reason as to why he would not, " because it doesn't seem genuine, it doesn't feel natural."
At only 18 years of age Jake Bugg has been described as" a frighteningly talented songwriter," by NME and as a "precocious talent fusing retro folk with blistering contemporary rock riffs" by Clash Magazine. His music has invited comparisons from the media to Bob Dylan and Oasis. I suspect his music and his person are more a product of growing up in one of Europe's largest housing estates than his want or need to pay homage to Bob or the Gallagher brothers. Although, he is only young, so I couldn't begin to know where the music comes from.
What I do know after listening to a couple of songs from his self titled album on high rotation is that Jake Bugg has the soul of an old man who has lived hard, the wit of a person who has intelligently observed the lives of those around him and the humor of an eighteen year old kid that knows how to tell it like it is. Refreshingly, there does not seem to be an ounce of pretence about him. Hurrah!
Bugg got his break in 2011 when the BBC chose him to appear on their "Introducing" stage at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival. Apparently this gig got him a deal with Mercury Records and as such he formed a three piece with Tom Robertson on bass and Jack Atherton on drums in early 2012. This year has proved to be a formative one for Bugg, having supported Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Belsonic Music Festival, appearing on Jools Holland, BBC radio and of course releasing the debut self-titled album in October 2012 which reached number on the U.K album charts. Following on from these events Bugg has just been shortlisted for Best Breakthrough Act at the 2012 UK Festival Awards.
Hopefully the straight shooting Bugg will remain committed to his own integrity. If he does, only good things can happen for this 18 year old wunderkind.
Checkout the single "Two Fingers" below.
