10 for 2010: Washed Out

Oh Ernest, as much we get peeved at the babble of bloggers proclaiming the best thing since sliced anything or the naysaying of folk who say you're no better than any other artist relying on a heavy dose of nostalgia to make a [pun alert] splash, we can't help but love you.

Washed Out is the project for 27 year old Ernest Greene and he had a great 2009. From glossy fashion magazines to the broadsheet press they analysed his 'hipster' credentials, mused over his real story ["surely he's no boy from Georgia...] and whipped up a frenzy around a new 'Chillwave' scene kind-of characterised by the fact that they'd got fed up of buzzing about lo-fi.

But getting lumped with lo-fi has led to some people ignoring his more obvious origins. Ernest spent time at University in Georgia and was influenced by dirty south crunk, chilling to Outkast or working with dance producers. In the US there's another set of long standing producers, from NYC's Excepter and bay area Lazer Sword that give blown out hip hop a softer edge. He's looking as much to the disco than scuzzy basement shows. If he's big in 2010, the mainstream press will be exposed to a lot more than just one man. He could allow us to rediscover a whole section of awesome electronic hip hop.

Underground sensation spent 2009 making music, getting married, and checking his emails to see who was covering him next. Now he's settled down, we expect 2010 to be even better.

Washed Out's music is accompanied by Ernest's photography. Here's a selection including a lakeside shot of his friend and ours, Toro Y Moi