After Massive Attack, Sneaker Pimps, Morcheeba and Portishead, Comes Rainy.

Name: Rainy Milo

Where She’s From: London, England

When She Started: 2010

Sounds Like: Trippy soul

Most Similar: Lianne La Havas, Etta Bond

Sixteen-year-old Rainy Milo is the latest artist from the underground Brit-soul movement to make noise, above ground. Raised in south-east London, the singer of British and Guyanese descent found solace in singing at the age of 14, collaborating with local artists who had the same aim as her: use music to get out of the hood. The recent BRIT School graduate has a very signature sound, singing every word in a ‘I’m a young, cool chick from London and I know it’ kind of way (think Lily Allen circa 2006, but with ten times more soul and spunk) and she has owned every production that has been presented to her. Inspired by the likes of Kid Cudi, N.E.R.D and her reggae-DJing grandfather, Milo’s beat selection is edgier than your average soul sista, but her honest lyrics and silky tone connect where it matters most: the heart.

After spending hours on the net in search of jazz and hip-hop beats one day, Rainy Milo eventually came across a BLCK RSSN production, which she quickly turned into the catchy buzz track, “Bout You.” The subtle hip-hop-soul number became very popular with bloggers and Tumblr kids, and it caused the UK music industry – A&Rs, especially – to sit up and pay attention to the rising star. But she never let the pound sign lead her astray. Milo independently released her Limey EP earlier this year to prove to herself, and others, that she needed no backing from a major to create a compilation of timeless, forward-thinking soul music. She received outstanding reviews from the mainstream press for the five-track offering, too. Miss Milo’s dream is to open up an art shop in London but, until that day comes, she plans on painting beautiful pictures with her music.