UK singer/songwriter and F.O.K. (that’s “Friend of Kanye”) Mr. Hudson isn’t exactly a new artist, although he’s just now finding an audience Stateside thanks to some famous friends.  Prior to going solo, Mr. Hudson (first name: Ben) performed for years alongside his band The Library, who were just as quirky and enjoyably dorky as their name would suggest.  And while his bleached blonde hair has survived longer than his band mates, Mr. H also shed the baggy trousers and the Andre 3000-meets-Newsies style that defined his earlier wardrobe, opting instead for a more streamlined, minimalist look of understated, sleek solids.  And his sartorial transformation has paid off: he’s appeared in Italian Vogue and was featured in a GQ spread in September 2009 modeling some of fall’s best cardigans.  And he’s got the full thrust of the blogosphere behind him as a regular on such widely-read style blogs as Hypebeast and High Snobiety.  His music itself has been given a similar upgrade, keeping the confessional lyrics but accenting them with electro flourishes rather than a steel pan.  With a resume that already includes supporting The Police in concert, guesting on a Jay-Z album, performing at Glastonbury and scoring a #2 UK single, it’s clear Mr. Hudson’s hair won’t be his only highlights, but we’ll have to wait to see if 2010 can make this talented artist and budding style icon into an international phenomenon worthy of an all-caps post on Kanye’s blog.  See some more photos of Mr. H (including one that you heritage nerds will appreciate) and the video for “Supernova” below.

The WSJ’s Speakeasy today posted about a previously unreleased Whitney Houston track from 1985.  But more striking for me than the unpolished recording from a pop icon-in-the-making is the accompanying photo.  Not only is it a bit jarring to see Houston so fresh-faced and young in light of the unfortunate turn her life and career took in the 2000′s, but it’s kind of funny how she’s dressed exactly like a lot of girls today.  Place her as is in the East Village, and she wouldn’t even get a second look.  Unless she started screaming.

If Napoleon Dynamite dropped out of high school, discovered weed and got laid, his hair would probably look a lot like Erik Hassle’s unruly, asymmetrical mop.  But, as we learned from Snooki, there’s more to a person than just their problem hair.  In the case of Sweden-born, London-based singer-songwriter Hassle, that includes a soulful voice, some infectious pop songs and a personal style that leans toward the messy, tight and possibly unlaundered.  In short, he looks how a rockstar should look.

Whether it’s his ever-present leather jacket, his 90′s-era cross earring or his somewhat incongruous tats, Hassle looks refreshingly unpolished, saving the sheen for his music instead.  You can also see the influence of London in his Fred Perry polos buttoned to the top.  Throw in the occasional cardy and denim jacket, and you’ll find yourself looking past the hair.  Take a look at some more photos below.