Now Hear This: New music from AJ Tracey, slowthai, Ashnikko and Tommy Cash, plus spotlight artist The Wandering Hearts

In her weekly column, music correspondent Roisin O'Connor goes through the best – and worst – releases of the week

The Wandering Hearts in Nashville

You might think there are better things to do than wait around in a freezing skatepark on a Tuesday night, but what if I told you it mean you got the first taste of AJ Tracey's debut album?

Yep, the west London MC turned up at BAYSIXTY6 to tell a select group of fans (and a few journalists) that he's releasing his self-titled record early next year, and warmed us up with a performance of his new track “Doing It”.

Produced by Swifta Beater, the track has AJ delving back into his grime roots and ramping up the bravado (“Now I got a house in the west / Now I'm put the ice on my chest / Now I got plaques on the wall / Now I never answer a call”). I'm very excited about the album.

In slightly warmer conditions, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Jeff Goldblum and his jazz band perform at the legendary Ronnie Scotts club, in Soho. You might know him better as the guy running away from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, but Goldblum is also a massive jazz fan and just released his own album of recordings at Capitol Studios. Watching him swap jokes with the audience, conduct a pop quiz, and play the piano with the most blissful expression on his face reminded me of something Chrissie Hynde wrote in her new book, Adding the Blue: “It really is never too late to start doing something you love.”

It's not out just yet, but I'm looking forward to Tyler, the Creator's Christmas EP (you can read more about that in our shiny new column from Lucy Jones). A bunch of artists have started releasing Christmas covers, some good, some... terrible. I don't know what he did to make Pale Waves hate him so much, but George Michael must be turning in his grave right now. The band's cover of Wham!' classic “Last Christmas” is so very, very bad that I asked a lawyer if it could qualify as a hate crime.

“Doorman” is the product of one of my favourite collaborations of late: rapper slowthai with producer wunderkind Mura Masa. You've got angry, low-buzzing beats and slowthai's distorted vocals spitting out cold, sharp observational lyrics that drip with wry wit. A$AP Rocky did a brilliant sample of Tame Impala's “Why Won't You Make Up Your Mind” (he loves them) on his surprise new single “Sundress”, which was co-produced by Danger Mouse.

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There's a new rapper emerging on the UK scene and that is the London-based Ashnikko. Her latest track “No Brainer” has blown my mind a little bit, it's brash and catchy and different to much of what's currently happening in British rap at the moment. That might have something to do with the fact she was born in North Carolina (decent rap scene there), before relocating to Estonia and then Latvia in her late teens (she’s described herself as a “walking identity crisis)”, where she apparently used to receive death threats as a woman trying to make music in the “very patriarchal” Baltics.

The track from Estonian rapper and conceptual artist Tommy Cash is BONKERS, and so is the video that comes with it. The guy is making some seriously “out there” art – these latest visuals have him as a cult leader styled in the same vein as Netflix’s Wild Wild Country. The song itself is a breathless rollercoaster ride that pounds out the 90s rave influences like there’s no tomorrow.

A band you might be more familiar with just because I rave about them a lot is Stereo Honey, who released their What Makes a Man EP today: “A Place Called Home” is the only track you won’t have heard yet, as their brilliant singles “Icarus”, “Don’t Speak” and the title track were all out over the past few months. The new one plays on doubts and ideas of self-worth (or lack of), and those times in your life where you feel kind of adrift.

I was feeling kinda country this week since my boss refused to let me add Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” to our albums to hear before you die list (check that out here), but I’m contenting myself with the Wandering Hearts, who are rapidly becoming a new favourite over in the US (which is very impressive, given they’re a UK act). On their debut album Wild Silence, which came out earlier this year, they go for gorgeous harmonies, foot-stomping rhythms and epic, soaring choruses. What’s not to like?

Read my Q&A with the band, below, and watch an exclusive look at their recent trip to the country music capital: Nashville.

First up, what was it like receiving an endorsement from Marty Stuart?

Marty is one of our favourite people on this planet. His kindness and generosity is boundless. He talked about taking us out to the States when we toured with him last October but so many things had to line up to make it work so we didn’t get our hopes up too much. It wasn’t really until our plane landed in Nashville that it sank in and we let ourselves get excited! He really did believe in us. To see the love and passion he has for his music and for supporting others is so heartwarming and to be a part of that, we truly feel so lucky to have crossed paths. He really is one of a kind.

Nashville can have a reputation for being a little frosty with outsiders, but that doesn't seem to be the case for your band?

We had such a wonderful time in Nashville and it’s such a special place for us now. On our first trip, we landed and played the Ryman 24hours later. The audience were so generous and we got a standing ovation which was crazy and overwhelming. As a band of Brits coming over to play in the mother church of country music, we had no idea we would have such a warm reception. And that just continued for the rest of trip. We really do love it there.

How did you all first get into country/Americana music?

We grew up listening to so much of our parents’ music, and these influences have definitely helped shape our love of country & Americana. At the time, we probably weren’t all that aware of what genre we were listening to, we just knew them as incredible artists. Be it Simon & Garfunkel, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac or Tom Petty - they all have an impact on the way we write music now. When we got together as a band, there was never a discussion about wanting to sound a certain way or even about key artists that we wanted to emulate, our sound is genuinely just the sum of each of our influences and musical inspirations.

Why do you think we're seeing such a surge in UK Americana and country acts breaking through?

The music has undoubtedly been a big influence on a lot of people with Americana music and roots music being a big part of our cultural exchange with the US for a long time. The genres have gained more momentum in recent years and more attention as a result: we’ve certainly seen country/Americana music blossoming at festivals, featuring in popular TV shows and music reaching a wider audience over here. The more that momentum builds, the more artists with a love of country and Americana must realise that there is an outlet for them. A big part of it is the storytelling aspect, the simplicity of well written and accessible music that sounds great played live and just resonates with people.

What have you got lined up for 2019?

In 2019, we will be doing much more writing, recording and touring. We want to continue getting our music out as far and wide as possible and hope it will take us to new places. The deluxe edition of Wild Silence comes out in January and from there, it’s going to be a busy year of new music, festivals, gigs and hopefully more amazing experiences!