The BBC has unveiled its Sound of 2014 longlist, with 10 UK acts amongst the 15 names confirmed.
The longlist was voted for by 170 music industry tastemakers including DJs, critics, broadcasters and bloggers - who were asked to name their three favourite new acts.
Nick Grimshaw will announce the top 5 acts, counting down to the winner, live on BBC Radio 1 each morning from Monday January 6, 2014.
The acts on this year’s list range from Chicago hip-hop act Chance the Rapper to 18-year-old Maidenhead pop solo artist Chlöe Howl and rock two-piece Royal Blood from Brighton.
Many acts on the list have become noticed through collaborations with other artists. 21-year-old Sam Smith first came to attention as vocalist on Disclosure’s Top 20 single Latch in 2012 and hit the no.1 spot as vocalist on Naughty Boy’s single La La La in May this year.
Uzoechi Osisioma Emenik, otherwise known as MNEK, is a 19 year old singer/songwriter/producer and remixer from Lewisham, whose writing and production credits have included Rudimental, Duke Dumont, Little Mix, The Saturdays and Sub Focus.
Vocalist and electronic producer Sampha from South London has worked with Drake, Jessie Ware and SBTRKT. He’s joined by R&B singer Ella Eyre, 19, who hit No.1 as guest vocalist on Rudimental’s ‘Waiting All Night’ this year and has also worked with Bastille and Wiz Khalifa.
LA-based songstress BANKS, 25, has just supported The Weeknd (a Sound of 2013 act) at the O2 Arena.
FKA twigs, 25, hailing from Gloucestershire will also compete for a place in the Top 5. She’s been described as a cross between Portishead, The XX and Janet Jackson.
Kelela, 30 is from Maryland but now based in LA. Her mixtape, ‘Cut 4 Me’ released earlier this year was praised for its experimental take on R&B.
Bristol’s George Ezra, 19, performed to a packed crowd on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury this year and has been described as ‘grizzly folk-pop’.
Luke Sital-Singh, 25 from South-West London was another familiar face on the festival circuit this summer and has been compared to a British Bon Iver.
Singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey is also in the top 15. Formerly part of the Mercury-nominated jazz band, Portico Quartet, he released his second solo EP in July this year and has toured with Laura Marling.
Swedish-Australian twin sisters Elektra and Miranda Kilbey form Say Lou Lou. Their brand of dreamy pop has seen them compared to Goldfrapp and Bat for Lashes.
Best friend duo Jungle from West London complete the list. They gained attention earlier in the year for their single ‘Platoon’, whose video featured 6-year old ‘best B-girl in the world’ Terra break-dancing. They’ve been described as ‘groove-laden, electronic soul.’
The Sound of 2014 longlist in alphabetical order:
BANKS
Chance The Rapper
Chlöe Howl
Ella Eyre
FKA twigs
George Ezra
Jungle
Kelela
Luke Sital-Singh
MNEK
Nick Mulvey
Royal Blood
Sam Smith
Sampha
Say Lou Lou
George Ergatoudis, Head of Music, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said: “Unless you happen to have a handy Tardis there’s no better way to get a glimpse into the future of music than the BBC’s Sound Of 2014. The annual longlist compiled by BBC News remains the definitive survey of the UK’s key musical tastemakers and in the highly competitive world of popular music a place on the list is highly prized. This year’s list features a fascinating and diverse range of talented artists, the majority from the UK, and all are definitely worth a listen.”
Hattie Collins, Music Editor at i-D Magazine said: “One of the strengths of the Sound of list is the democratic, diverse range of people that are invited to vote, with people from all musical mediums from the established rock critic to the upcoming urban blogger. This diversity is reflected in the 2014 longlist, which has a broad spectrum of emerging artists from a variety of scenes. While there might be two or three dead certs fighting it out for the top spot, the top 5 is definitely wide open for the likes of Sampha, Chance The Rapper, Chloe Howl and MNEK all looking likely to place high.”
The list was started in 2003 and has a history of predicting the acts that will make it big. Last year’s winners were LA pop band HAIM, who went on to have a No.1 in October with their debut album, ‘Days Are Gone’. Previous winners have included Adele, Ellie Goulding and Jessie J.