Every year the Brit Awards seeks out the most promising of rising artists – tipping them for greatness in the year to come. The prestigious Critic’s Choice Award has been the closest thing to a foolproof prediction in the industry – concerning the winners’ success thereafter. The artists who have received this award are (in order):
2008 – Adele
2009 – Florence & The Machine
2010 – Ellie Goulding
2011 – Jessie J
2012 – Emeli Sande
2013 – Tom Odell
2014 – Sam Smith
2015 – James Bay
2016 – Jack Garratt
These artists have taken the world by storm – with Adele becoming one of the most iconic acts of our generation, and the others have followed in her wake.
This year, Rory Graham – a blues singer from Uckfield (yes, that’s a place) – took the prize, beating alternative grit girl Dua Lipa and the expressive, raw songstress Anne-Marie (known recently for her vocal on The Rudimentals’ Rockabye Baby).
Known mainly from his single ‘Human’, which has garnered over 35 million views in the last 6 months, Rag’n’Bone Man brings a rich, deep, soulful vocal to an urban sonic world of grit and honesty. Check it out below:
However, the performance that truly sealed the deal personally, was his honest, emotional and masterfully written song ‘Odetta’. Stripped back to simple piano and acoustic, his voice comes through with all its smokey warm tone. A self-confessed shy guy with no misguided sense of grandeur, his honesty in the track throws all his emotion at the listener. Although decisively melancholic, the lyric speaks of the beauty of love that has to be applauded. Check it out below:
You can tell when someone is doing what they were truly made to do. No delusion or unhealthy ambition – just straight up communication from soul. I can count a handful of moments in my life when I truly knew that I was exactly where I needed to be, no matter how I felt about the situation – and it grew my confidence. Personally, it all started with knowing God. To sense his smile on my life – to connect on every level with the One who made you and loves you – is the sweetest thing I have ever experienced. If you haven’t encountered God in this way, I want to encourage you to want it – want it with all you have. Click on the link below to find out more.