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Posted by: ░░░░ Nov 24 2014, 12:56 AM

it's that time of year again where the hype express begins to build for up and coming new acts who have yet to see any chart success. who are you heralding for success in the new year? who do you see making the critics' list for the bbc in 2015?

remember they can't have already had a top 20 uk hit, though an act can be included even if they have been featured on somebody else's track.

the long list is published in the first week of december~

Posted by: { bré } Nov 24 2014, 01:01 AM

I think this rule was taken out last year (as Sam Smith and Ella Eyre were on the list and in fact were the top 2). Thankfully I don't think there's anyone that predictable this year anyway.

Ones I think could be on there:

Rae Morris (a given, probably the winner already)
James Bay
Years & Years (unless they are deemed too big already, as they could have a top 20 single this week + they had 'Sunlight' already)
Prides
Raury
George The Poet

Most of those are of course just read off the current R1 playlist as that's usually a pretty good indication.

Posted by: Qassändra Nov 24 2014, 01:01 AM

i thought features didn't count? wouldn't that have ruled out sam smith + ella eyre before?

Posted by: ░░░░ Nov 24 2014, 01:04 AM

sorry love, i didn't mean to confuse you i meant they do count in terms of them being allowed onto the list.

i'll rephrase the opening post in due course so as in not confuse anyone else.

Posted by: Qassändra Nov 24 2014, 01:04 AM

you said features do count in the opening post hun

Posted by: ░░░░ Nov 24 2014, 01:08 AM

and here is a picture of susan sarandon playing ping pong

Posted by: SavenSeize's Cat Nov 24 2014, 01:26 AM

i could certainly see most (maybe all) of those on there! not sure about a Rae Morris win though, i think they're more likely to give it to Years & Years (unless Desire makes the top 20 this wk, which is highly unlikely anyhow)

some other possibilities~

Slaves (they'll be on for SURE)
Becky Hill (though she's a former talent show contestant, so maybe not)
Kwabs
Tourist
Darlia
Seinabo Sey
Real Lies
Ibeyi
Hudson Taylor
Elliphant
Shamir
SOAK
Lapsley

Posted by: TeamChezWombat Nov 24 2014, 01:40 AM

Surely Becky Hill has a strong chance of winning?

Posted by: Mrs Lee Wallace Nov 24 2014, 01:46 AM

Posted by: ✖ ketalina ✖ Nov 24 2014, 05:43 AM

TALA a very notable omissions so far. hoping for toyboy & robin but we'll SEE

Posted by: Joe. Nov 24 2014, 08:49 AM

Is MO, a possibility? Or has she been around too long? Elliphant is a good shout

Posted by: SevenSleighz Dec 1 2014, 12:05 AM

list out:

George the Poet
James Bay
Kwabs
Lapsley
Novelist
Rae Morris
Raury
Shamir
Shura
Slaves
SOAK
Stormzy
Sunset Sons
Wolf Alice
Years & Years

g'wan Shamir!!

Posted by: Mistletoahspike Dec 1 2014, 12:09 AM

Kwabulous

Posted by: Joe Ho Ho. Dec 1 2014, 12:09 AM

For some reason I thought Wolf Alice were on it last year?

Years and Years, Rae Morris and James Bay look like front runners to me. At least none of them have already had a number 1 this year

Posted by: Suedehead2 Dec 1 2014, 12:10 AM

That list shows outrageous bias towards the second half of the alphabet. Only four acts in the first half and only one in the first quarter (listing James Bay under B).

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 1 2014, 12:11 AM

Shame Prides didn't make it but SOAK is there so one of my Unknown Pleasures acts still made it

The rest of my predictions made it on. Psychic. (Although they were all quite obvious TBF). The list must have been finalised before today's chart as James Bay is on there anyway despite having a top 20 single - so there was no need to worry about Years & Years either.

Really good list anyway! George The Poet, Kwabs, James Bay, Låpsley, Raury, Shura and SOAK are all fab from what I've heard from them and Rae Morris/Stormzy/Years & Years are also good. Three acts there I don't think I've heard of (Novelist, Slaves and Sunset Sons although the latter name seems familiar from somewhere).

Calling a top 5 of James Bay, Years & Years, Rae Morris, Kwabs and George The Poet/SOAK in that order (I take back saying Rae Morris is the winner already, partially due to her snub from the BRITs but also because I've realised James Bay is a much more likely safe pick).

Posted by: Reindeer Froot Dec 1 2014, 12:18 AM

Oh yey Kwabs!!

Too many artists beginning with S though...

Posted by: BillyH Dec 1 2014, 12:23 AM

Where the hell is the annual "[Female Name] and the [Noun]"? Florence and the Machine? Marina and the Diamonds? Esben and the Witch? Niki and the Dove?

Petition for George the Poet to change his name to George and the Poet and KEEP THE TRADITION ALIVE.

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 1 2014, 12:24 AM

George The Poet to collaborate with Years & Years under the name 'George & The Years' or 'Years & The Poet' obvz.

Posted by: ¿ REY CARLOS ? Dec 1 2014, 01:12 AM

Slaves will presumably miss out on the top 5 as Years & Years will be the token band in there. Both are good though, and should do well next year.

Posted by: mr_aly Dec 1 2014, 01:28 AM

But that still wouldn't be a female name.

Posted by: Doctor Blind Dec 1 2014, 07:04 AM

I predict Years & Years will win this, with a re-release of "Real" or "I Wish I Knew" will go Top 10 in the new year.

James Bay will probably win the critics' choice.

Tomorrow at 0830 the Blog Sound of 2015 will be released, featuring (in addition to the BBC list) I would expect the following:

* Laura Doggett
* Seinabo Sey
* Josef Salvat
* Chløë Black
* Ryn Weaver

Posted by: Eric_Blob Dec 1 2014, 08:21 AM

There's a few I like on the list, but I'd hope Novelist wins out of all of them.

Posted by: Jack Dec 1 2014, 09:47 AM

Was really hoping Tinashe could be on there Still hope she manages a hit out of 2 On anyway.

Posted by: ML Hammer95 Dec 1 2014, 12:21 PM

Some great artists on here, nice to see quite a diverse list too!

George the Poet is on quite a few of these lists and its not hard to see why; a spoken word artist with an urban sensibility, hopefully he becomes massive!! Wonder how the public will react to his songs though.

Kwabs too deserves to be big, think it may help if he guested on a dance track a la Sam Smith or John Newman to create more awareness of his talent. Wrong or Right is outstanding and Pray For Love and Walk are excellent. He's the sort of artist people of all ages can get into I think

Great to see Novelist and Stormzy on here and grime getting some mainstream recognition. Stormzy won the MOBO for best Grime artist, amazing considering he's unsigned and the renaissance grime has had in 2014. Not That Deep is a tune, and he's collobarated with Wretch 32, Jacob Banks, Wiley and Chip recently.

Novelist should have a good year seeing as he's been signed, surprised to see he's only 17!!

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 1 2014, 01:03 PM

Chip[munk] is still around? Haven't heard anything about him for AGES.

Posted by: ML Hammer95 Dec 1 2014, 01:06 PM

He's gone back underground Him, Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder have seemingly stopped doing pop songs and jumped back onto grime.

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 1 2014, 01:25 PM

I still hear about Dizzee and Tinchy a bit though (I do pay some attention to 'underground' grime shockingly enough!), I literally don't think I've heard a single thing about Chip since 'Reload'.

Posted by: ░░░░ Dec 1 2014, 02:17 PM

it's a very banal list this year in all honesty, pretty much shows where the industry is at currently i.e. something of a stalemate. though i believe the composition of the list has altered somewhat this year with the exclusion of music bloggers and therefore the list is made up entirely of individuals who earn a paid living from the music industry and are of course naturally out of touch and clueless...

Posted by: ML Hammer95 Dec 1 2014, 02:30 PM

Didn't expect many people on Buzzjack too tbh (nice to see though )

Chip's done a few guest verses this year, like Krept & Konan's Don't Waste My Time and Maverick Sabre's Emotion but I assume he's just been working on his new album. The song I mentioned with Stormzy is called "I'm Fine" and premiered last week. Its decent enough, but more of a buzz track than anything.

Posted by: Liаm Dec 1 2014, 02:48 PM

The only one I'm particularly taken by is Rae Morris from those... Her voice is sublime <3 Shura's Touch is great too. Then again there are a few I've not heard of or have heard of but never really bothered listening to, so if I give them a chance I'm sure I'll like a few of the others.

Posted by: Santa Martin Dec 1 2014, 03:25 PM

Lapsley to do well please, her material is pretty good.

I wouldn't mind Wolf Alice and Years & Years to feature inside the top 5.

Posted by: SLlewellyn Dec 1 2014, 10:24 PM

Reckon James Bay could go on to do the double for 2015 - strange to think that it's been females dominating these polls from 2008 and in the past few years it's been males (Michael Kiwanuka, Tom Odell, Sam Smith...)

Slaves, Rae Morris, Years & Years, Wolf Alice, George The Poet and Kwabs all deserving of some success too - I think Years & Years will get it with or without this poll tbh.

Posted by: FrostytheWallaby Dec 1 2014, 10:30 PM

I hope Rae Morris can win, if just because I like it when this isn't the same as Critics Choice and they are slightly more risky, I know Michael Kiwanuka was this and wasn't the best choice in retrospect, but I feel Rae would be more commercial. Would be quite disappointed by a predictable Years & Years/James Bay top 2 (though they'll botth be top 5 easily).

Fairly solid list, I like what I've heard of SOAK & Shura (all of one song each whoops).

Posted by: Brett-Butler Dec 1 2014, 10:57 PM

Yay at Soak making it. Having seen her all the way back in 2012, I knew she'd make the list at some stage. I'll still never forgive Bre for stealing her for Unknown Pleasures (even though my alternate entry ended up finishing above her)

As one of the bloggers who voted on this year's poll, who has seen the longlist, I can say that your selection of artists is very interesting indeed.

Posted by: Ice Dec 1 2014, 11:05 PM

It does feel a bit threadbare this year really, Rae and Years & Years are reliably great but from what I have heard of the others none of them hugely excite me, based on their descriptions about half I'd never go near anyway and the others are...variable. Slaves could be interesting but I don't know much about them. Wolf Alice for example are 50/50, their heavier songs are very much in the right direction for me, their lighter stuff is by contrast very dull and off-putting.

Commercially, I would be rather surprised if any more than Rae, Bay, Years & Years and perhaps Kwabs too, went anywhere.

Posted by: Michael Bubré Dec 1 2014, 11:09 PM

I could see Raury being big if he actually gets support. R1 have already playlisted at least one of his tracks I think so there's a chance.

People should check out this song if they have not already ~

Posted by: harryflynn0908 Dec 2 2014, 06:09 PM

Love James Bay, hope he wins. Also hope Rae Morris, Slaves, Wolf Alice, Kwabs, Shamir, Shura, George The Poet, Raury, SOAK, Years and Years and Sunset Suns do well next year.

Not sure on Lapsley and Stormzy yet. Never heard of Novelist so will need to hear something of his

Posted by: Doctor Blind Dec 2 2014, 08:56 PM

He's renowned for being incredibly cheap and stealing others' potentials with his entries for BJSC and UP, you were just the latest victim.

Here is the Blogger's Sound of 2015.

*All We Are - Liverpool 3 piece who describe their music as 'psychedelic boogie'.

*Black Honey - Brighton based indie band formerley known as Kill Moon

*Chløë Black - Tags her music as 'goth 'n' soul'

*Coasts - Indie rock band from Bristol who have comparisons with Foals

*Deers - A band from Spain who first created a stir with some lo-fi demos earlier this year.

*Fickle Friends - Danceable indie music from another Brighton based band.

*Flyte - Classic old fashioned songwriting with an indie pop twist.

*Halfrican - Glasgow based punk rock

*Honne - R&B influenced electronics and soul pop.

*Låpsley - Solo artist from Liverpool making downtempo electronica with a range of influences.

*Prides - Synth pop group from Scotland, who performed at the Commonwealth Games

*Shura - Singer songwriter and producer using synths to create a mellow pop sound.

*Soak - Singer songwriter from Derry whose real name is Bridie Monds-Watson.

*Sophie Jamieson - Singer songwriter who has been compared to Daughter. Was also on last year's list.

*Tei Shi - Describes her music as 'mermaid music'. Make of that what you will!


A much better list (no Years & Years D: because they had a Top 10 hit this year).

Posted by: FrostytheWallaby Dec 2 2014, 10:10 PM

Finally, a former Terra Avium act breaks through to the real world! *.* (I'm aware not many of you will get that) Fickle Friends seem very good, a bit like a slightly more upbeat/guitar based CHVRCHES. Glad for Prides as well, shame they couldn't make the actual Sound of list this year

Posted by: steve201 Dec 3 2014, 12:03 AM

So is the album worth the purchase?

Posted by: ► ▲ N T ▲ Dec 3 2014, 07:10 AM

not the first time that's happened too Although I doubt Fickle Friends will get half as big as Bastille

Posted by: titty Dec 3 2014, 08:36 AM

It's all about Shamir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp9GgdCgMXk

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 4 2015, 10:21 AM

Bump. The top 5 will be announced by Huw Stephens Monday-Friday, starting tomorrow.

I've given them all a listen now and am hoping the T5 will comprise of: Years & Years, George The Poet, Rae Morris, Kwabs and James Bay. Enjoying Shamir strangely enough too, and both Slaves and Wolf Alice (will the poll rate highly a rock act after the success of Royal Blood in 2014?) I can't see them ignoring James Bay as they did Tom Odell sadly, which I think they should given he's already won the CC award.

Posted by: ░░░░ Jan 5 2015, 07:54 AM

buzzjack antithisis george the poet roles in at #05 ::

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/229DTVzPlwsFVNrtYb6ZHHs/5-george-the-poet

Posted by: RebelHaus Jan 5 2015, 08:20 AM

His song didn't really wow me on first listen but it was interesting enough, and I'm sure he has a lot more to come. It seemed really safe somehow, lyrically, and i expected something more daring.

Posted by: Addy K!ng Jan 5 2015, 09:00 AM

I'm sure Rae or Years/Years got this but I would like Kwabs and/or Shamir to win it.

Posted by: Frozen Ice Jan 5 2015, 10:35 AM

I think the name George has got me thinking Ezra too much as I was expecting something really really safe from his name, but '1,2,1,2' is very pleasantly refreshing. Definitely feels like he hasn't reached his peak either. I say that's a good start.

Posted by: Robot Jan 5 2015, 05:30 PM

Not feeling it, to me he feels like the sort of person I'm not surprised that blogs and all these credible critics are eating up; a rapper who seems to be quite philosophical, rounded, very intelligent, makes intriguing music that's quite incomparable to anyone else. His lyrics are thoughtful. But, can I see this sort of thing being particularly successful? Not really, he's just a bit out of the norm which excites the blogheads, but actually as a piece of music (and I say this having heard 1212), it seems so overthought to try and differentiate himself that the actual art of making a good song seems to have been left as an afterthought.

Posted by: jsilv Jan 5 2015, 05:37 PM

I agree with the above comment that the lyrics are definitely the best thing about the song and the music itself is kind of lacking but I feel that the lyrics make up for that. It definitely has a unique charm that I can't compare to any other song but I do agree I can't see him being commercial at all and being big in 2015. Hopefully the Critic's choice nomination and 5th place in Sound of 2015 can be a platform for him to get a few producers in to help build up an atmosphere in the songs that still complements his style and have a successful year but I don't think that's what he's all about really and he's one of those people where the lyrics do the talking (hence the name George the Poet I guess).

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 5 2015, 09:25 PM

From his interview this morning, it just seems that he's happy to have his name out there, go touring and plans on releasing some poetry books - which is all I'd expect really. A decent sounding guy that produces some fantastic spoken word, while it might not be chart worthy he's sure to do well on tour.

Shamir ("On the Regular") and Lapsley ("Fall Short") both added to the R1 playlist - indicators that they are in the top 4 or that they have both missed out so they have added them to the INMWT list to compensate.

GTP was never going to miss out on the T5, I'm standing by Years & Years, Rae Morris, Kwabs and James Bay for the remaining positions, though Slaves could well replace Kwabs or James Bay (the latter if they decide he doesn't need to top another 2015 poll).

Posted by: ░░░░ Jan 5 2015, 09:29 PM

babe this is the first year that blogs have no involvement in the selection process. this isn't the sort of thing i ever really see on blogs. it's middle class critics who pick up on this sort of trash.

Posted by: ¡bré! Jan 6 2015, 07:24 AM

Raury is 4th! Wonderful, wasn't expecting him to be in the top 5.

Posted by: ░░░░ Jan 6 2015, 07:55 AM

i'd say it is either lapsley/rae morris at three and then james bay/years & years to fight it out for number one...

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 6 2015, 11:04 AM

Hmm... Really wasn't expecting Raury to feature in the T5 - I was counting on Kwabs instead. I'm fairly confident they won't ignore Years & Years (I'm getting a #2 vibe) and Rae Morris seems to be a good shout. So hard to call - I just hope they leave James Bay out (it's only happened once with the Haim/Tom Odell situation, so unlikely).

Posted by: mack25 Jan 6 2015, 11:19 AM

So happy for Raury that he made the top 5; I get Frank Ocean vibes off this guy, am so sure he's gonna be big!!!

GOOOOOOOOO RAURYYYYYYYYYY


I wanted him to win THE SOUND OF 2015!! He would be in my top 2 no doubt about it!!

Posted by: ► ▲ N Jan 6 2015, 04:54 PM

hopefully Years & Years / Rae Morris are both top 3. would love a Y&Y win but James Bay will obviously get it.

Posted by: Mango Jan 6 2015, 04:55 PM

Not necessarily, they might decide someone else needs more support since he's already bagged the Brits Critics Choice award.

Posted by: ► ▲ N Jan 7 2015, 07:18 AM

grime artist Stormzy is at #3

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/1GKz45wNxWRkFSBTWTntxCk/3-stormzy

Years & Years new single premieres tonight so I assume they're #2 so that it can be tomorrow's TOTD. If that's the case then hopefully Rae Morris is #1 instead of James Bay anyway

Posted by: ░░░░ Jan 7 2015, 07:29 AM

WHAT

that is the most ridiculous / unexpected placing i can remember for years

Posted by: ¡bré! Jan 7 2015, 07:55 AM

The return of the token rapper at #3! They've snubbed at least one of James Bay, Years & Years and Rae Morris then.

To be fair Stormzy is probably more likely to get a hit single than about half of the rest of the list. There is a lot of love / hype for him in grime circles.

Posted by: ML Hammer95 Jan 7 2015, 09:13 AM

Yes Stormzy!!

Not That Deep was one of THE underground smashes of last year and now he's signed he can do even better!

Posted by: Mango Jan 7 2015, 09:34 AM

Well that was unexpected. Years & Years for #2 and Rae Morris for #1 please

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 7 2015, 10:15 AM

Shocked to see Stormzy at #3, especially given they didn't shortlist Dot Rotten a few years back. Promising though. Years & Years and Rae Morris for the T2 please!

Posted by: Joe. Jan 7 2015, 10:34 AM

Shocked! I can't believe one of the three Bre mentioned have been snubbed. It's Tom Odell all over!

Posted by: Uptown Froot Jan 7 2015, 10:48 AM

Was hoping that Kwabs would get a Top 5 placing...

I wa going to suggest that I think it will be Rae Morris who gets snubbed but then I realised that would make it an all male Top 5

Posted by: ML Hammer95 Jan 7 2015, 11:30 AM

Dot Rotten got lots of support from Radio 1 in 2012 though. He was on the 'Sound of' longlist and I swear they A Listed 'Are You Not Entertained?' and 'Overload' - both amazing songs.

Posted by: liamk97 Jan 7 2015, 03:43 PM

James Bay has a Top 20 solo single to his name so surely he should have been ineligible?

Posted by: ¡bré! Jan 7 2015, 03:44 PM

...he is on the longlist though.

Posted by: zenon Jan 7 2015, 03:45 PM

I predict Rae will win with Years and Years second.

Posted by: liamk97 Jan 7 2015, 03:45 PM

I realised so I edited my post! So why is he on the list despite the Top 20 hit?

Posted by: Joe. Jan 7 2015, 03:46 PM

Sam Smith and Ella Erye technically had number 1s by the time they were on the Sound Of lists.

- I didn't even realise there was a top 20 rule?!

Posted by: JosephStyles Jan 7 2015, 03:46 PM

This happened just a day or two before the list was revealed so I presume it was too late to impact his placing in the list. Wouldn't surprise me if the label planned the release carefully for that, same for Years & Years who had a single out the same week (but missed the top 20 due to streaming).

Posted by: liamk97 Jan 7 2015, 03:49 PM

That was on featured singles though (I'm just going by the first page, this might just be nonsense! ).


Ah I see. Sneaky.

I would love Rae Morris to appear in the Top 2 but James Bay and Years & Years seem too recognisable already to be snubbed.

Posted by: mack25 Jan 7 2015, 05:00 PM

REALLY SHOCKED TO SEE STORMZY MAKE THE TOP 5, LET ALONE #3

INEVITABLY YEARS AND YEARS WILL BE #2 AND JAMES BAY WILL BE #1 I'M ALMOST 100% SURE!! UNFORTUNATELY THAT MEANS RAE MORRIS WILL BE SNUBBED, JUST LIKE SHE WAS FOR THE CRITICS CHOICE AWARD!!

Posted by: ► ▲ N Jan 7 2015, 05:19 PM

If JME features on his single, that is. It seems to be the only way for grime artists to get top 40 hits.

Posted by: Robot Jan 7 2015, 05:33 PM

I actually think Rae Morris will be #1, I don't know who will miss out (I'm thinking James Bay is more likely to) but I get the feeling, listening to Radio 1 a bit more frequently, they're really trying to drum up hype for her, similarly to how it kind of felt with Haim.

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 7 2015, 06:23 PM

They all talk non-stop about James Bay though...

They could do the reverse of 2013 (Haim, AlunaGeorge, Angel Haze, Chvrches and Laura Mvula) and give us an all male T5 and ignore Rae Morris - though I hope they don't.

Posted by: Brett-Butler Jan 7 2015, 06:32 PM

Aww, completely agog that Soak hasn't made the top 5. As much as I'd like it, she's unlikely to be #2 or #1. Oh well, at least her album's going to do things when it's out.

Posted by: Cremey Jan 7 2015, 08:02 PM

The top two has leaked, both easily predicted really. Still, I think a pretty strong top 5 from what I've heard of them (not much)!

Posted by: Doctor Blind Jan 7 2015, 08:17 PM

Yep, totally called it.

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 7 2015, 08:43 PM

A link here for anyone who wants the results ahead of time - http://diymag.com/2015/01/07/have-radio-1-accidentally-revealed-whos-won-the-sound-of-2015.

Seems my gut feeling of an all male top 5 came true.

Posted by: Uptown Froot Jan 7 2015, 08:46 PM

YES! Should have been the result of the Critic's Choice as well instead of another male singer-songwriter. Very happy with that result although it's still a shame Kwabs hasn't made it in the Top 5, like MNEK before him.

Posted by: ░░░░ Jan 7 2015, 08:49 PM

sorry where has it leaked

Posted by: Qassändra Jan 8 2015, 12:09 AM

FABULOUS result

Posted by: ► ▲ N Jan 8 2015, 07:15 AM

James Bay is at #2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2dvBHQkKM3ywB7zJ3CPy1KD/2-james-bay

which means Years & Years is #1. YESSSSSSSSSSSS

Posted by: Mart!n Jan 8 2015, 10:16 AM

Best result ever... I really wanted Lapsley inside the top 5 though, there are some great tracks from her Station, Falling Short. if anyone wants to check them out.

Posted by: Mango Jan 8 2015, 10:48 AM

If that's true then poor Rae Morris

Posted by: Joe. Jan 8 2015, 11:01 AM

I don't think it matters THAT much. Royal Blood didn't come top 5 last year but had a much bigger year than 3/5 of the actual top 5.

Posted by: mr_aly Jan 8 2015, 01:34 PM

Years & Years to rule 2015!

Posted by: Chez Wombat Jan 8 2015, 02:09 PM

Very glad we didn't get an extremely predictable James Bay win here as well as the Critics Choice, I hate when that happens as it doesn't give any act a chance, I think this'll be good for the winners, reminds me of Haim beating Tom Odell in 2013.

Posted by: ¡bré! Jan 8 2015, 04:12 PM

James Bay is the obvious big new act of 2015, I'm guessing the only reason he didn't win this is that he already won the BRITs one and the BBC don't want to be that predictable (not that that stopped Sam Smith last year but nonetheless).

Posted by: steve201 Jan 8 2015, 11:30 PM

Does Rae Morris have a chance of winning this or has she already been announced in the top 5?

Posted by: Mango Jan 9 2015, 09:33 AM

No, Rae Morris didn't finish in the Top 5 sadly. Years & Years have won.

Posted by: mack25 Jan 9 2015, 09:33 AM

She didn't even make the top 5 unfortunately!

Posted by: mack25 Jan 9 2015, 09:35 AM

YEARS & YEARS ARE THE SOUND OF 2015 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/2gq3Wwh84grDgqm61mq8Crj/1-years-years

Congratulations guys, well deserved!

Posted by: Joe. Jan 9 2015, 09:38 AM

Yes! Love Years & Years. 'Take Shelter' is still my favourite from them. Really hoping it gets a re-release this year.

I can't see them doing as well as Ellie Goulding/Jessie J/Sam Smith/Adele but if they could match Haim's success I'd be happy. Hopefully better than Michael Kiwanuka...

Posted by: gooddelta Jan 9 2015, 09:40 AM

Rae does seem like she's shaping up for Laura Mvula type success, if that, sadly. The album's out in a couple of weeks and should go top ten but I doubt it will do much more than that.

Woo for Years & Years, I'm getting into them a lot recently.

Posted by: mack25 Jan 9 2015, 09:43 AM

You need to hear their next single 'King' . 'Take Shelter' is a decent track but this blows all their other stuff out the water, and i can see it going close to #1! I think personally they will have a great year, and might surprise a few people!!

Frank Ocean should have won that year the Kiwanuka guy won!!

Posted by: Mango Jan 9 2015, 09:45 AM

Yeah, I think I've accepted now that she isn't going to be the next Ellie Goulding like I was hoping she would. A shame really, she sounds like she has great potential. Years & Years are deserved winners though, just heard 'King' and love it already

Posted by: Eth▲n Jan 9 2015, 08:16 PM

Years & Years are the best 'Sound Of' winners yet!

Posted by: SLlewellyn Jan 9 2015, 09:47 PM

Years & Years stand the most chance of international success from that t15, so I'm glad it was awarded to them. "King" sounds like it'll be huge, I'm hoping they'll put it up for streaming soon/push forward the release date - March 1st is ages away!

How do people think James Bay will fare? Album is looking to sell well with all these pre-orders. "Let It Go" has been added to iTunes again as a pre-order, so that could well be a T10 hit for him - though it makes me think there isn't anything else particularly commercial on the album. Great songwriter though, so hopefully the likes of Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, Sam Smith and Ben Howard will all have quietened down by March/April to let him have a turn dominating the charts.

Posted by: ¡bré! Jan 9 2015, 09:57 PM

Well that is extremely annoying. But I understand it being re-released, regardless of whether or not he had anything else worthy of being a single. Similar situation to 'Another Love' and 'Budapest' (with both charting via EPs then being deleted and re-added as a pre-order) and I expect its success will fall somewhere between the two.

Heard it for the first time this morning and I like it a lot, though not as much as 'Hold Back The River'.