The full shortlist for the BBC Sound of 2014 poll has been unveiled.
Prediction? It’s a mug’s game. If music journalists really were clairvoyant there’d be a lengthy queue for lottery tickets, and a lot of wealthy hacks.
Yet still we persevere. The BBC Sound Of… list remains a perennial bellwether, a sign of appetites within the music industry and an indication of where the next 12 months might take us.
Without further ado, here is the shortlist for the BBC Sound Of 2014 poll:
BANKS (pictured)
Chance The Rapper
Chlöe Howl
Ella Eyre
FKA twigs
George Ezra
Jungle
Kelela
Luke Sital-Singh
MNEK
Nick Mulvey
Royal Blood
Sam Smith
Sampha
Say Lou Lou
(Click the names for more Clash content on each act.)
George Ergatoudis, Head of Music, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, said: “Unless you happen to have a handy Tardis there’s no better way to get a glimpse into the future of music than the BBC’s Sound Of 2014. The annual longlist compiled by BBC News remains the definitive survey of the UK’s key musical tastemakers and in the highly competitive world of popular music a place on the list is highly prized. This year’s list features a fascinating and diverse range of talented artists, the majority from the UK, and all are definitely worth a listen.”
So who's your money on? Let us know on Twitter.
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The new issue of Clash magazine is out right now. It's always on the money with breakthrough acts worth listening to. So, go and see.