Music plays a vital role in shaping cultures, educating and informing. Artists who have taken the effort to compose quality music relevant to the times have found a loyal fan base beyond their home turf. With current technological advancements, it’s now easier than ever for an artist to be heard worldwide but being relevant to the global markets is another thing. You must have a knack to impress and find the best way to occupy a space in the international music lover’s heart. Here is a list of the musicians who have managed to maintain a hold on the global music stage.
Jacob Collier
Multimedia Polyphony Wizard
This guy is a one-man band, but he has refused to be confined to a street and now he has broken into the global audience through YouTube. He has so far reached more than seven million listeners who have been impressed by his skills in choral arrangements and instrumental prowess. He has managed to do all that, including creating intricate videos, direct from his music room at home. He’s truly destined for greatness and continues to take the international market by storm.
Here you can get more info about Jacob Collier.
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
Stage name: The Weekend
A Canadian singer, record producer, and songwriter. He also started breaking out onto the global stage through YouTube, where he could post his music videos. Being inspired by Michael Jackson and influenced by R&B artists like Missy Elliott, Aaliyah and Timberland, he was able to start his musical career with mixtapes, which played a major role in creating a loyal fan base. He started on a low note due to shyness and avoided interviews, but was able to overcome his anxiety when his music started topping charts worldwide. So far, he has worked with the likes of Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé and Kanye West among others.
Read his full story, including the secrets behind some of his biggest hits by following this link.
Elena Jane Goulding
Stage name: Ellie Goulding
By the age of 23, Ellie had already conquered the UK music and was already winning the fans worldwide. She had started exhibiting her talent at a young age when she told her mother she would one day become famous. In her teenage years, she was already writing music and learning how to play instruments. She went on to win Brit Awards while in college. Some of her studio albums include Halcyon, Delirium and Lights.
Delirium is her most successful album which debuted at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200.
You can read more about Ellie Goulding on her official website.
Ciara Princess Harris
Stage name: Ciara
Ciara is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress. She became famous with her debut song and album Goodies. In her teens, she was a member of the disbanded group Hearsay (not to be confused with Hear ‘Say, the winners of UK TV talent show Pop stars) where she launched her music career. Jazze Pha-a producer, helped her to sign a recording contract with LaFace Records who produced her debut single Goodies, a sensational hit which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and also went to number one on the UK Singles Chart. Afterwards, she released the album of the same name, which earned her four Grammy Awards. She followed with another successful album, Ciara, later on releasing Basic Instinct, Jackie and Fantasy which didn’t do as well.
You can click here to learn all about Ciara’s musical and acting journey.
Rita Sahatiu Ora
Stage Name: Rita Ora
Rita was the main vocalist for the DJ Fresh hit Hot Right Now which put her on the world music map. That’s where Jay-Z noticed her talent and gave her a chance to record her debut album Ora under his record label. Immediately her singles climbed to the top of charts in the UK. She entered the UK as a refugee and was able to climb to fame through sheer hard work and perseverance. This actress and singer is a philanthropist as well and also advocates for women rights. She has also been a judge on UK TV talent contests The X Factor and The Voice. In June 2016, she signed a new record deal with Atlantic Records.
You can listen to some of Rita Ora’s music by clicking here.