The BBC‘s annual tastemaking Sound of 2015 longlist has just been unveiled, featuring acts such as singer songwriter James Bay, indie punk duo Slaves and British spoken word rapper George The Poet amongst the 15 artists to watch in the coming year.
The list is compiled each year by a panel of 139 industry experts such as music editors, critics, producers, radio and television presenters and bloggers, who are asked to choose their three favourite emerging artists.
The list will be narrowed down to a top five in the beginning of January, with the winner to be named on on Friday 9 January. Last year’s winner was soul singer Sam Smith and other past winners include Californian trio Haim as well as Adele and Ellie Goulding.
See all this year’s long-listed artists in the gallery below, and head through to Page 2 to hear tunes from the longlisted artists.
Gallery: BBC Sound of 2015 Longlist
BBC Sound of 2015 Longlist
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George
George the Poet: A 23 year old London artist who cleverly blends politically charged spoken word poetry with futuristic beats. -
Bbc James Bay
James Bay: A young folk singer who has amassed a loyal fan following thanks to his gravelly voice and gospel-tinged songs. -
Kwabs
Kwabs: A South London native with a distinctly deep and emotive voice. -
Laapsley
Låpsley: An 18-year-old electro pop multi-instrumentalist already making waves, seeing as she recently signed to XL Records and already wowed crowds at Glastonbury this year. -
Novelist
Novelist: At just 17, this South London artist is already a major player in the UK grime scene. Now he's starting to branch out, signing with XL Records and already recording a collaboration with Jamie xx. -
Rae Morris
Rae Morris: Inspired by PJ Harvey, Kate Bush and Feist, this young singer-songwriter is on track to becoming the new generation's indie pop star. You can hear her on Bombay Bicycle Club’s single 'Luna' and her debut EP, out early next year. -
Raury
Raury: One of few non-British entries on the list, you might recognise the name of this Atlanta singer, rapper and producer. He's already caught the attention Lorde who invited him to contribute to her Hunger Games: Mockingjay soundtrack. -
Shamir
Shamir: This young star from Las Vegas has everyone talking thanks to his unique blending of diverse genres from folk to house to punk to hip hop. -
Shura
Shura: A singer, producer, remixer and video editor, who takes inspiration from her travels around the world to make a sultry blend of indie pop. -
Slaves
Slaves: A punk duo known for their visceral performances and unbridled raw energy. -
Soak
SOAK: An 18-year-old artist who crafts wistful and delicate folk-inspired tunes. She's already made fans out of CHVRCHES. -
Stormzy
Stormzy: A UK rap sensation who turned a huge following on YouTube into a fully fledged career, becoming the first unsigned rapper to play Jools. Holland -
Sunset Sons
Sunset Sons: The only longlisted act to feature Australian members, Sunset Sons craft beautiful indie pop tunes with a decidedly surfy sound. -
Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice: Grunge poppers with a folk underbelly, Wolf Alice are poised to make waves in 2015 with the anticipated release of their debut album. -
Years Years
Years & Years: This London trio meld synths and electro with a sound all rooted in '90s R&B. They have enjoyed a run of successful performances at UK festivals in 2014 and are sure to continue their winning streak.
