Words by Axel Metz
A unique blend of lo-fi production and world-beating vocals make Finn Askew an artist to look out for in 2021.
Finn Askew is probably tired of the Kevin De Bruyne comparisons. It’s true – a quick glance at the 19-year-old lad from Somerset and you’d be forgiven for mistaking him as a Wolfsburg-era version of the Belgian playmaker – but don’t be fooled into thinking the likeness stops there. Sure, Askew might not have the ability on the pitch to rival one of football’s biggest stars, but he’s certainly got the creativity to match off it. Both, in their own ways, are artists, and if I’m the first to use looking like a footballer as a way to eulogise the talent of an up-and-coming musician, so be it.
Inspired by genre figureheads from Nirvana to Juice WRLD, the young artist’s sound is one that’s difficult to define. A quick Wikipedia search will uncover other influences including Lil Peep, The Smiths and The Beach Boys, so it follows that Askew’s music slaloms between indie rock, pop and R&B with ease. That’s not to say his sound is without identity – in the same way artists like Dominic Fike have emerged onto the mainstream by being reluctant stick to one brand of music, Askew’s track-list jumps between festival tunes, nightclub bops and evening drive melodies without losing focus on the vocal talent that has clearly brought him to where he is now. For a guy with only seven official song releases to his name, that’s some feat.
Armed with just a YouTube beat and a £20 microphone, a then-16-year-old Askew used GarageBand to record and produce his debut single, “Roses”. The track was featured in a live stream from a member of K-Pop band NCT and was quickly catapulted into the Spotify viral charts in 2020, thanks to its uplifting simplicity and obvious expression of the singer’s vocal range. “Same Old Love” followed in 2020, doing the rounds on streaming services’ respective release radars and bringing further acclaim to Askew’s unique sound.
Back in January, Askew dropped his debut EP, Peach, which saw him added to Vevo Dscvr’s Artists To Watch for 2021 playlist, alongside the likes of 24kGoldn, Giveon and Pa Salieu. It’s here you’ll find a live, remixed version of the EP’s titular track, “Peach”, which offers perhaps the best showcase of his potential as an artist. At one moment reminiscent of Post Malone and another The Weeknd, Askew seizes this opportunity to show the world what he’s all about. It’s one of those performances that keeps your eyes and ears glued to the screen, not only because it flips an original song on its head while somehow making it better, but also because it’s just so damn nice to listen to. Trust us – it’s goosebump-inducing stuff.
While it’s true there’s no shortage of lo-fi enthusiasts on the music scene right now, Finn Askew is a name to look out for among the admittedly-stellar crop of young British artists emerging in 2021. One of his many catchy tracks will probably makes its way to TikTok or TV soon, so expect him to take off regardless, but it’s always fun to claim you got there before the rest of the internet. Otherwise, keep an eye out for him in Manchester City blue – yes, that was a joke.
Listen to Finn Askew on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.
While you’re here, check out the other artists we’ve profiled as part of our Discover Weekly series.