One To Watch: Rat Boy

In early 2014, Jordan Cardy was tired of trying to form a pop-punk band, so taking matters into his own hands, Rat Boy was created.

Influenced by The Streets, The Clash and A Tribe Called Quest, the 18-year-old hailing from Chelmsford, Essex has built momentum with his British style of hip-hop. His first mixtape was played on Radio 1, XFM and 6 Music.

Hints of Jamie T and The Streets, Rat Boy comments on daily life. Songs, ‘Fake ID’, ‘Sign On’ and ‘Sportswear’ are indictments of modern youth culture and issues mashed with indie guitars, electro beats and old film samples.

‘Neighbourhood Watch’ is a scramble of styles. Recorded conversations, reggae beats, Wild West film samples and scratchy guitars, it shouldn’t work, but somehow it just does and the infectious track is a stroke of creative mastery.

Making music from his bedroom and listing his interests as skating and creating art, he quit his job as kitchen hand in Wetherspoons to pursue music. This Essex teenager will be a perfect antidote of syrupy pop in 2016, including a UK tour beginning in January.

By Jo Gerrard