Pulse List: 5 Alternative music artistes who improved their craft in year 2017

It has been a remarkable outing for some Alternative music artistes in the year 2017.

In recent months, Alternative music in Nigeria has seen good fortunes in terms of the awareness about the category.

A platform like the just concluded rock music festival, Rocktoberfest 2017, provided an opportunity for the artistes to reach their audience who if impressed can do nothing but good to the image of the songster concerned.

 

The music stars are no longer blaming the media for not getting enough care (at least their attention is away from it for now), they now organize hangout sessions - a very good marketing tool which these impeded stars have explored in a bid to showcase their craft.

This year has seen quite a number excel in their pursuit of more prominence for themselves and the genre which they have chosen to ply their trade. In a descending order, here are some who are proving to be great talents in the field.

1. Celeste: This is a female musician with an angelic voice who attained limelight this year simply by grabbing the opportunity presented to her and the Djinee "Rush Concert" was one of such. She wowed the guests at the event with her handling of the guitar strings accompanied by her melody. Her song listening event "An evening hangout with Celeste" which was held in August, introduced her formally to prospective fans, treating them to a list of amazing songs. She also starred alongside big acts in the Rock & Alternative Music genre at Rocktoberfest 2017, where she endeared herself more to the fans with a shared performance of her '1970' song with Nathmac.

2. Cill: She gathered attention following the release of her track 'Baby girl', produced by Mavin Records' Johnny Drille. Her rendition of the June 2017, released jam was captivating carrying along with a promise of better things to come. The singer told Pulse News that her previous song 'Sound the alarm' was never intended for attention but the quality of the piece would have made it a strenuous task to conceal its potency. Cill's story lies in the passion for the music - a factor that saw her abandon the profession of an account in exchange for the thrills of performing in front of a live audience. She has used the year judiciously and one can hope for more.

3. Nathmac: Simple dresser and a Romeo with a guitar, this artiste is clearly made for the big screens. He has a nomination in the "Best Artiste in African Rock" at the 2017 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) expected to hold in November to showcase as an evidence that he is a unique talent who can lay a footprint in Nigerian music. His last released song 'Kill myself' which also earned him the recognition is still get a lot of buzz below the stages and the followers are definitely not going to be complaining. The love from the fans section seems like the right reward for an artiste who should now be thinking of how he is going to take attention to the next phase - getting a recording deal with a top label. This will indeed establish his hold on the audience as an artiste of value who can be entrusted with the duty of simply delighting.

4. Johnny Drille: When Mavin Records, one of the biggest record companies in Nigeria signed this music star, it was certainly not what mainstream adherents were expecting. It was however meant to become a fruitful move for label executive Don Jazzy who admitted signing Drille was a risk. The singer has been able to perch on every part of the board. The music video of his 'Wait for me' track reached a million views and it was cause for celebration at Mavin, a group considered the Galacticus of Nigerian music. Johnny Drille has so far brought honour to the house and he will be hoping to continue the path down to the next year which should see him drop an album if he is looking build on the already gathered momentum.

5. Ric Hassani: This artiste has displayed so much drive this year, particularly since he released his "The African Gentleman" album in August. His music has the feel of one who is getting the needed support to be a successful musician. Most of the recording on the project had tracks like 'Police',  'Marry you', which can be considered exceptional based on the impressive amount of attention they have received from fans. Hassani appears to have found the blueprint to success and he is not likely to make a wrong turn in the process.