![WSTRN: A RnB trio that channel the talents of The Weeknd into a vibrant, less morose fusion of pop and hip-hop. Their melodies are reminiscent of The Fugees and pack more soul than was ever thought possible in a group that have been frequenting both the charts and dancefloors for the last few months.]()
WSTRN: A RnB trio that channel the talents of The Weeknd into a vibrant, less morose fusion of pop and hip-hop. Their melodies are reminiscent of The Fugees and pack more soul than was ever thought possible in a group that have been frequenting both the charts and dancefloors for the last few months.
![Rat Boy: Much has been made of Rat Boy's knack for comical realism, waxing lyrical about the pitfalls of searching for a job and scuffling with the law, but he's so much more than Jamie T's louder little brother. Rudimentary attitudes and understated musicianship shouldn't deter from the chipped-tooth storytelling of cracked pavements and hearts.]()
Rat Boy: Much has been made of Rat Boy's knack for comical realism, waxing lyrical about the pitfalls of searching for a job and scuffling with the law, but he's so much more than Jamie T's louder little brother. Rudimentary attitudes and understated musicianship shouldn't deter from the chipped-tooth storytelling of cracked pavements and hearts.
![Alessia Cara: Starting up doing acoustic covers on YouTube, Cara has far outgrown those humble beginnings with her confident and striking RnB. Spinning stories of crowded isolation packed in smoke filled rooms and banal conversation, Cara captures the mystical mundanity of millennial development.]()
Alessia Cara: Starting up doing acoustic covers on YouTube, Cara has far outgrown those humble beginnings with her confident and striking RnB. Spinning stories of crowded isolation packed in smoke filled rooms and banal conversation, Cara captures the mystical mundanity of millennial development.
![Blossoms: Raised by The Coral's James Skelly, Blossoms' 'part swagger, part sentimental' demeanor is obviously the result of heritage. Their wry charm is reminiscent of the cheeky-indie attitude of the mid-noughties whereas the tracks themselves are sharply pronged and guaranteed to find a rapturous welcome during festival season 2016.]()
Blossoms: Raised by The Coral's James Skelly, Blossoms' 'part swagger, part sentimental' demeanor is obviously the result of heritage. Their wry charm is reminiscent of the cheeky-indie attitude of the mid-noughties whereas the tracks themselves are sharply pronged and guaranteed to find a rapturous welcome during festival season 2016.
![Mura Masa: 19 year old Alex Crossan is on track to be the hugest producer of next year. One not to take a day off, Crossan has been prolifically bleeding material this year at the rate unmatched. His subterranean soundscapes make use of distinct timbre and samples amalgamating a sound that will sound become a synonymous to the Masa name.]()
Mura Masa: 19 year old Alex Crossan is on track to be the hugest producer of next year. One not to take a day off, Crossan has been prolifically bleeding material this year at the rate unmatched. His subterranean soundscapes make use of distinct timbre and samples amalgamating a sound that will sound become a synonymous to the Masa name.
![Loyle Carner: UK hip-hop needs a leader and Loyle Carner might just be it. Stepping away from the Grime explosion, Carner focuses on the lyrical and appreciates the significance of barchitecture above all things. Carner encapsulates the sky-grey palette of inner-city encased in introspective, melancholy hip-hop.]()
Loyle Carner: UK hip-hop needs a leader and Loyle Carner might just be it. Stepping away from the Grime explosion, Carner focuses on the lyrical and appreciates the significance of barchitecture above all things. Carner encapsulates the sky-grey palette of inner-city encased in introspective, melancholy hip-hop.
![Nao: Breaking through with the sleek hit 'Zillionaire', London songwriter Nao is harnessing the power of late 90s RnB and pointing it in the direction of a digitised future. Stepping out of the shade, Nao is pushing forward authenticity in electronic music, encouraging young artists to step away from their sequencers and just superimpose themselves with their production.]()
Nao: Breaking through with the sleek hit 'Zillionaire', London songwriter Nao is harnessing the power of late 90s RnB and pointing it in the direction of a digitised future. Stepping out of the shade, Nao is pushing forward authenticity in electronic music, encouraging young artists to step away from their sequencers and just superimpose themselves with their production.
![Jack Garratt: With the BRITs critic choice award under his belt, this Buckinghamshire producer-songwriting is destined to be massive; with or without The 'Sound Of' title. His songs are what Ed Sheeran's would sound like produced by Bombay Bicycle Club's Jack Steadman, if you haven't already heard Garratt on record.]()
Jack Garratt: With the BRITs critic choice award under his belt, this Buckinghamshire producer-songwriting is destined to be massive; with or without The 'Sound Of' title. His songs are what Ed Sheeran's would sound like produced by Bombay Bicycle Club's Jack Steadman, if you haven't already heard Garratt on record.
![Billie Marten: To say that Marten has been making waves wouldn't fit the case, it's a far too forceful cliche to assign her. Barely 17 but her voice has been transfused with a history of mature and affecting vocals. Citing Nick Drake has one of her main influences, we could believe it - the simplicity and conviction of Marten's songwriting is timeless.]()
Billie Marten: To say that Marten has been making waves wouldn't fit the case, it's a far too forceful cliche to assign her. Barely 17 but her voice has been transfused with a history of mature and affecting vocals. Citing Nick Drake has one of her main influences, we could believe it - the simplicity and conviction of Marten's songwriting is timeless.
![Dua Lipa: A guaranteed hit machine, this 19 year old London singer has just signed to Lana Del Rey's management team. Blissed out and sunburst tinted, Lipa's intoxicating songwriting has all the ingredients for future smash hits, all it would take is a title as The BBC Sound of 2016.]()
Dua Lipa: A guaranteed hit machine, this 19 year old London singer has just signed to Lana Del Rey's management team. Blissed out and sunburst tinted, Lipa's intoxicating songwriting has all the ingredients for future smash hits, all it would take is a title as The BBC Sound of 2016.
![Frances: The flowing red hair of Frances will soon be considered the trademark aesthetic for her beautiful piano ballads. Finding a fireside home on Communion records, 21 year old Frances' honest and soulful songwriting deserves all the love it can be afforded.]()
Frances: The flowing red hair of Frances will soon be considered the trademark aesthetic for her beautiful piano ballads. Finding a fireside home on Communion records, 21 year old Frances' honest and soulful songwriting deserves all the love it can be afforded.
![Izzy Bizu: Possibly the most photogenic human on the planet, Bizu is also one of the leading young voices in the UK. A self-proclaimed fan of]()
Izzy Bizu: Possibly the most photogenic human on the planet, Bizu is also one of the leading young voices in the UK. A self-proclaimed fan of "jazz-fusion mixes and a lover of squat parties and warehouse raves", the 21 year old has already supported the likes of Foxes, Rudimental and previous Sound Of winner, Sam Smith.
![J Hus: A geuine hustler, when J Hus is spitting rhymes about acquiring wealth he's digging into the disappointing realism of navigating the self-involved nature of 2015 relationships. Cooking up some controversy after throwing gang signs following his stabbing. For all his talent, it'd be fair to say it's going to be a few years until we see J Hus jump on a Frances track.]()
J Hus: A geuine hustler, when J Hus is spitting rhymes about acquiring wealth he's digging into the disappointing realism of navigating the self-involved nature of 2015 relationships. Cooking up some controversy after throwing gang signs following his stabbing. For all his talent, it'd be fair to say it's going to be a few years until we see J Hus jump on a Frances track.
![Section Boyz: The most notorious artists on the longlist, for sure, this South London group are the real deal, full-body essence of UK hip-hop. Section Boyz are on a six man crusade to convince the world that 'Trappin' Ain't Dead' - whatever 'trappin' actually is.]()
Section Boyz: The most notorious artists on the longlist, for sure, this South London group are the real deal, full-body essence of UK hip-hop. Section Boyz are on a six man crusade to convince the world that 'Trappin' Ain't Dead' - whatever 'trappin' actually is.
![Mabel: Having Neneh Cherry has a mum can't hurt your chances of getting into music, but what Mabel possesses surpasses commercial connections - her voice is an unique instrument. Blowing away the cobwebs of a neo-soul framework that has lurked the charts for far too long, Mabel is bringing hard-hitting production and a Lauryn Hill essence back to pop.]()
Mabel: Having Neneh Cherry has a mum can't hurt your chances of getting into music, but what Mabel possesses surpasses commercial connections - her voice is an unique instrument. Blowing away the cobwebs of a neo-soul framework that has lurked the charts for far too long, Mabel is bringing hard-hitting production and a Lauryn Hill essence back to pop.