i’ve always had this weird fascination with the nme cool list. don’t know what it is but i guess it is some sort of curiosity with who the press consider cool. obviously i should probably put something about how those that really are cool don’t even know what cool is or something, but i don’t give a shit to be totally honest. anyway, my reason for mentioning the list is that when this year’s was announced at the start of the week it was topped by a young lady called azealia banks. i’ll hold my hands up and admit i had never heard of her before the list, so i have been delving a little bit this morning. what i have discovered, i like.

there are a few easy, lazy comparisons. mia and uffie are the two that spring to mind. i’m not sure that she can be qualified quite as easily as that though. just listen to her cover of interpol’s ‘slow hands’ below as proof of that. then look at who is producing her debut album. it’s only paul fucking epworth. what a man. i can’t wait to hear what the man behind silent alarm does with her. i don’t know whether she’s cool or not, but she’s definitely worth keeping an eye on. unless you’ve got sensitive ears because she’s got a fantastically filthy mouth.