With the launch of ANCHOR-Reeperbahn Festival International Music Award, the 2016 Reeperbahn Festival launched a talent competition that offers up-and-coming artists the springboard for an international career and at the same time serves as an indicator of the current music industry. Over three days again this year, the nominees will perform in two locations in front of the festival audience and the top-class ANCHOR jury. This year's jury includes pop artists Kate Nash and Peaches, two veteran producers Bob Rock and Tony Visconti, Beatsteaks singer Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß and radio presenter and journalist Zan Rowe.

The Ukrainian alyona alyona is currently one of the most unconventional new artists on the scene. With disarming self-confidence she combines slick bedroom beats with urban poetry in her mother tongue.

Using air to generate electricity - the British Drahla have mastered this in an experimental way, making their no-wave, jazz-oriented post-art punk perhaps the most unusual British band experience since Wire.

When it comes to songwriting, Feng Suave weren't born yesterday either. Sexy as a vanilla milkshake, the two multi-instrumentalists purr their blissful vocals over warm, psychedelic memories of the best grooves of the Motown-era: funk, soul and pop pulled into the present by the retro-filter.

Moyka is definitely part of the now with her crystal-clear electro-pop. The 21-year-old Norwegian masters the signature sound of her homeland flawlessly and with the expansive synthscapes of singles such as "Colder" or "Bones" conjures up the vastness of blue shimmering fjords.

The four young women of The Hormones come from the other side of the world and play post-punk, which relies on catchy riffs with hypnotic rhythms and stylish effects. With this formula, the quartet became one of the most promising acts in China, and will undoubtedly make the leap to the international stage soon.

Some people are just born to sing, and soulful R&B vocalist Celeste Waite is one of them. She crafts languid, jazzy numbers that are elevated by her powerful voice and poetic lyrics. No wonder Celeste is hailed as one of the most promising new voices in British soul!

photo collage: © More Zhukov Agency, MCT Agentur, de-agency, Feng Suave, Coda Agency, FakeMusicMedia