Jack Garratt, winner of the 2016 Brits Critics’ Choice prize, has revealed it feels like he’s “dreaming” after he made it onto the longlist of the BBC Sound Of 2016.
The 24-year-old musician from Buckinghamshire, who has drawn comparisons to Ed Sheeran and James Blake, joins Neneh Cherry’s daughter Mabel McVey and Pulp and Jarvis Cocker’s former backing singer NAO to make the list of 15 rising acts for the coming year.
Jack tweeted: “What is going on right now. I’m dreaming. I have to be. S***s too real.”
Canadian R&B singer Alessia Cara, singer-songwriter Frances and witty rap collective Section Boyz are also on the list, alongside soul singer Izzy Bizu and British-Kosovan pop singer Dua Lipa, who was talent-spotted by Lana Del Rey’s managers.
Rap and grime artists J Hus, Loyle Carner and WSTRN also feature, with Stockport psych-rock quintet Blossoms, Essex indie rocker Rat Boy, electronic producer Muru Masa and 16-year-old folk singer Billie Marten rounding out the year’s longlist, which has been compiled by a panel of 144 industry experts.
Welsh pop trio Years And Years – Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Turkmen – were chosen as the 2015 champion of the prize, with Adele, Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding all former winners.
The top five shortlist will be announced on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show from January 4-8, 2016.
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