WHAT IT IS: 24-year-old Bristol native Stevie Parker’s appeal in this world of hybrid sounds can be attributed to her pure quality, which harks back to the late-’80s sounds of bands like The Sundays and the fragility of singers like Portishead’s Beth Gibbons. She came to UMG via Jeannette Lee at Rough Trade management, who was instrumental in the launch of Duffy and whose management clients include eccentric British musician and style warrior Jarvis Cocker. The album has been made by a very small circle of collaborators and is mixed by Dave Wrench. Her live craft is currently being honed, with a series of dates in London running to the end of the year, and the album has been planned for May. Radio is handled by Rob Lynch at Airplayer (U2, Two Door Cinema, Lorde).