ONES TO WATCH 2006
Sara Hawley

When you first hear Sara Hawley's voice, it certainly makes you forget that she's just a 17-year-old girl from our fine city of Manchester. While recording The Strokes album ‘Room on Fire’ in NY, producer, Gordon Raphael heard Sara’s version of the Janis Joplin track, Piece of my Heart, got in touch and has been one of Sara’s biggest supporters and producer ever since. Sara’s debut EP was recorded when she was 16.

Sara formed her band ‘The Bang Bang Club’ later that same year and together they continue to captivate audiences with Sara’s punk style and incredible vocals. Over the past few months Sara's songs have been played and downloaded on her various internet sites over 720,000 times. Of course, like many new acts of the 21st Century, MySpace is playing a major role in Sara's career, and she is planning on continuing to utilise the internet to reach new fans and keep in touch with those she has already.

She told entertainment manchester: "This time last year I hadn’t heard of MySpace or pure volume, let alone joined up! I was looking for sites to promote my music and most of the British sites I looked at seemed either uninhabited by life or required some sort of payment to join. As 2005 drew to a close those American sites have rewarded me in a way I had never dreamed of. With over 725,000 plays and downloads across all the sites (including my main website) and a growing army of loyal fans I am starting the New Year with incredible optimism.

"A new (American) site has asked me to become involved with a reality-style TV show, more independent radio stations (the latest being SIRIUS in New York) and pod casters are requesting my tracks and adding them to their play lists and the word is spreading. Everything is down to the internet. If bands use it properly it can open up the world to your music, wherever you live. Its so exciting!

"The new album is taking shape with Pete Saul (drums) and Steve Marsden (guitar) writing on the new tracks. Although we have decided to record the whole album ourselves, my producer Gordon Raphael has offered to be involved whenever and wherever we might need him. The album will be released as a download both here in the UK and in the States. I think the future for major corporations is looking less bright, with TV for the internet growing rapidly (MTVU and VEOH to name just 2), pod casting and now video iPods, the emphasis and control has returned to the artist. Its up to us to seize the opportunity!"

Check out some of Sara's music on Pure Volume and catch up with her on MySpace. She's playing in Oldham in March, so make sure you get down there for that...

Helen Boulding

Having trekked round the country just before Christmas with Glenn Tilbrook and Alex Parks (check out our interview/review here), Helen Boulding releases her excellent new single I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know What I Need early this year. Born and raised in Sheffield , she has written songs with the likes of Rick Wright from Pink Floyd, Phil Thonalley and Marcella Detroit. Now she's out on her own and on the basis of her forthcoming single, she's really one to listen out for. Check out her MySpace page and her official website

Five O's

This punk trio from Billinge got off to a flying start when they supported Bryan Adams at two stadium gigs, and they kick off 2006 with the release of their debut album and a show at the Late Room on January 19th. They told us: "We are releasing our debut album entitled "Emotion Distortion", which contains 11 original songs. We are playing loads of shows locally and will be doing a full UK tour in August. We hope to reach everyone with our music and by the end of the year start work on our second album. And then by the start of 2007 we plan to have sex with the current pop girl bands, and make headlines by driving them to cocaine abuse. Hahaha..."

Plan B

Coming fourth in the BBC's Sound Of 2006 poll has certainly given this rapper-with-a-guitar something to smile about at the start of the year, though hopefully he's not too happy, as his best songs so far have all been very VERY angry. Being white, he's inevitably being lumped in with Eminem, particularly as his lyrics are a bit intense, but he does bring something completely different to the table with his guitar, and it's certainly an intruiging mix.

Foreign Born

Here's a band to watch out for this year. Foreign Born are LA natives who are more than a little influenced by New Wave bands and their keyboard-led debut single We Had Pleasure (released late last year) is very atmospheric and hints at some great things to come. Definitely tipped to do very well in 2006 if they can come up with more songs like this.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah was conceived in the belly of the Great Whale. Upon departure, its members floated to shore. Five arrived alive: Alec Ounsworth, Sean Greenhalgh, Tyler Sargent, Lee Sargent, and Robbie Guertin. They are multi-instrumentalists under the age of 48. Apparently. What is for certain is that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (another act doing well in the BBC Sound of 2006 poll) are set for big things.

Wolfmother

Myles Heskett, Chris Ross and Andrew Stockdale are the key holders to the future of all things Wolfmother... together they write all their songs while contributing drums, bass/keyboards and guitar/vocals respectively. These Aussies are aiming high with their very accessible music. Check out their debut single Mind's Eye, with Stockdale's vocals soaring before a Doors-esque keyboard break twists things into a whole new shape.