New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The longlist for BBC
Music Sound of 2020 has been unveiled, tipping ten new artists for success next year. Last year Octavian became the first UK rapper to claim the top spot ahead of a strong longlist featuring the likes of Mahalia, King Princess and slowthai. Previous artists named on the list over the years include Stormzy, Adele, Sam Smith, Lady Gaga, Foals,
Dizzee Rascal and Lewis Capaldi.
This year's longlist has been chosen by a panel of industry experts and alumni artists including Billie Eilish,
Lewis Capaldi and Chvrches. The Sound of 2020 winner will be announced on
Thursday 9 January 2020.
The BBC
Music Sound of 2020 longlist (in alphabetical order) is:
Arlo Parks
Beabadoobee
Celeste
Easy Life
Georgia
Inhaler
Joesef
Joy Crookes
Squid
Yungblud
The countdown of the Top 5 will kick off across BBC
Radio and the BBC
Music website on Sunday 5 January 2020. The winner will be announced on
Thursday 9 January on BBC
Radio 1 and BBC News.
A range of music, videos, interviews and biographies from each of the Top 10 acts can be seen on the BBC
Music Sound of 2020 website and a playlist will be made available on BBC Sounds.
James Stirling, Head of BBC
Music & BBC
Music Introducing, says: "2020 is shaping up to be such an exciting year for British music. BBC
Music is proud to play a role in so many of the incredible musical journeys, from Yungblud's first session for BBC
Music Introducing in West Yorkshire back in 2017, to debut Glastonbury performances from Arlo Parks,
Celeste and Easy Life on the BBC
Music Introducing Stage earlier this year. Congratulations to all the longlisted artists and I am really looking forward to seeing what they have in store for 2020."
The list was compiled using recommendations from 170 influential music experts, including artists, DJs, radio and TV producers, journalists, streaming experts and festival bookers.
All participants were asked to name their favourite three new acts, who could be performers from any country and any musical genre, whether or not they are signed. They cannot have been the lead artist on a UK top ten album or more than one UK top ten single before 21 October 2019.
They must not already be widely known by the UK general public (for example, a member of a hit band going solo, a soap star or a winner of a national talent search show such as X Factor or The Voice in the last three years).
Further details of the panel and how the list was compiled are available on the BBC
Music Sound Of 2020 website.
Arlo Parks
19 year-old musician and poet Arlo Parks released her debut single little over a year ago, swiftly followed by a record label signing and gigs at Glastonbury and Latitude festivals. With Nigerian, Chadian and French heritage, Arlo grew up in London where she began writing at a young age, counting King Krule, Jimi Hendrix,
David Bowie and Sufjan
Stevens among her inspirations.
Beabadoobee
Born in the Philippines and raised in London, Bea Kristi began recording music as
Beabadoobee in 2017 aged just 16. Her brand of bedroom pop and DIY aesthetic has earned her a dedicated fan base already. Her latest single Space Cadet was
Annie Mac's Hottest Record, and she's set to support The 1975 on their UK arena tour in 2020.
Celeste
Brighton-raised British-Jamaican singer
Celeste started her journey with BBC
Music in 2014 when she uploaded her track North Circular to the BBC
Music Introducing website. She was recently named as BBC
Music Introducing Artist of the Year 2019 and is set for an even bigger 2020 as she embarks on a headline tour across the UK.
Easy Life
Leicester five-piece Easy Life are preparing to set out on a global tour off the back of a strong 2019 which saw their single Nice Guys named as one of
Annie Mac's Hottest Records. With their lyrics tackling subjects from the future of the planet to male mental health, they describe their style as "charismatic but confessional".
Georgia
After a 2019 which saw Georgia perform at Glastonbury and win AIM's One To Watch Award in partnership with BBC
Music Introducing, north-west Londoner Georgia is gearing up to release her second album in 2020. With a love of dance culture and a fascination with global sounds, she cites Fever Ray,
James Blake and
Depeche Mode as influences.
Inhaler
Dublin quartet
Inhaler formed after four schoolmates bonded over a love of similar bands, including The Stone Roses, The
Strokes and Interpol. With their handful of singles amassing a combined total of over 7m streams, they are looking ahead to a string of UK and
Europe headline shows in 2020.
Joesef
Scottish singer, songwriter and producer Joesef writes songs of heartbreak and redemption from his bedroom in the east end of Glasgow. His first headline show sold out before he had even released any music, such was the dedication of his online fan base garnered from teasing short clips of his tracks on social media.
Joy Crookes
South Londoner Joy Crookes grew up listening to an eclectic mix of genres thanks to the musical influence of her parents. She began writing her own songs aged just 12 and released her second EP in 2019, describing it as: "[a] personal celebration of history, London and my dual heritage".
Squid
Formed in Brighton, five-piece Squid describe their music as: "[T]he Coronation Street theme tune played on flutes by angry children" and have received support from BBC
Radio 6 Music. The band will take their high energy live show on the road in 2020 with a string of UK tour dates lined up for spring.
YUNGBLUD
22 year-old singer-songwriter YUNGBLUD released his debut album in 2018 and has already amassed a die-hard legion of young fans. Born in Yorkshire, he first picked up a guitar aged two and began writing his own songs at age ten, counting the likes of N.W.A and The
Clash among his influences.
Previous winners:
2019 - Octavian
2018 - Sigrid
2017 - Ray BLK
2016 - Jack Garratt
2015 - Years & Years
2014 - Sam Smith
2013 - HAIM
2012 - Michael Kiwanuka
2011 -
Jessie J
2010 - Ellie Goulding
2009 -
Little Boots
2008 - Adele
2007 - Mika
2006 - Corinne Bailey Rae
2005 - The Bravery
2004 - Keane
2003 - 50 Cent
