The BBC have just announced their longlist for the Sound of 2013, a predictive list of 25 up’n’coming artists expected to leave a strong impression on the listening public next year.
Chosen from across the genres by a wide variety of tastemakers (including SoulCulture’s founder/editor in chief Marsha Gosho Oakes), the acts cannot have appeared in the UK Top 20 singles or albums charts and must not be “well known to the British public”.
Only one rapper, Angel Haze, appears on this year’s list, but she finds herself nestled alongside acts such as Laura Mvula, The Weeknd, AlunaGeorge, and Nas collaborator Arlissa, whose different styles are influenced by R&B, garage and bass music to some extent. Last year’s choices included the likes of Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky and Dot Rotten, so expect big things from those who made it onto the longlist.
The winner and top 5 will be announced on January 4th. Previous artists to top the list include Michael Kiwanuka last year, Adele (2008), Corinne Bailey Rae (2006) and 50 Cent (2003).
BBC Sound of 2013 longlist:
A*M*E
AlunaGeorge
Angel Haze
Arlissa
CHVRCHES
HAIM
King Krule
Kodaline
Laura Mvula
Little Green Cars
Palma Violets
Peace
Savages
The Weeknd
Tom Odell
Would’ve been cool to see some new UK soul on the list…Paloma Faith sounds/looks gorgeous in this video for “Never Tear Us Apart” http://vevo.ly/U5GUCk