The UK’s publicly owned BBC have announced the lineup for their choice of who’s going to be big and have full playlist support from them in 2012. Being the most listened to radio station and having huge online and TV presence – this is quite a big deal for the winner.
The lineup is really interesting, from folk to dubstep and also holding some familiar names… [cough] Skrillex [cough]… with others still awaiting the limelight. The rules sate that the winner can’t of had a UK top 20 before November and also they can’t be previously famous – eg. X-factor. Previous winners of the award include Ellie Goulding, Adele, 50cent and Jessie J, all of whom have achieved success with the award helping them along the way. The BBC have only missed the mark a couple of times – little boots & Mika were 2 artists who for me were very over hyped and very over rated.
Who do you think deserves the award?
BBC Sound of 2012
Our Favourite Nominees:
Friends
{Bandcamp | Soundcloud}
Formed in Brooklyn in 2010, the five piece group recently landed NME’s top 50 artists of 2011 (no mean feat). Self titling their music as “weird pop” – it’s catchy and leaves you feeling a bit more hip!
Freinds – I’m His Girl
Azealia Banks
{Official | Facebook}
Brutally in your face lyrics, the Harlem girl really made her mark with the track ‘212’. Spawning from the same Manhatten based LaGuardia High School as Al Pacino and Nicki Minaj she’s now signed to XL Records after making appearances on the 1Love video series and Major Lazer EP Lazers Never Die. Having won NME’s coolest person of the year 2011 and also having her next release produced with Florence + The Machine producer Paul Epworth – 2012 is looking bright for miss banks
Azealia Banks – 212 ft. Lazy J
Lianne La Havas
{Official | Facebook}
I first saw Lianne on the BBC’s ‘Later with Jools Holland’ and her performance was simple – yet stunning. Think of her like a quieter Janelle Monae and let her voice gently bring some sunshine into your day. The 22 year-old has been making music since she 7 and having previously performed backing vocals for Paloma Faith, she’s seems set to make her own path in the music industry.
Lianne La Havas – Age
Dry The River
{Official | Facebook}
Sitting somewhere between Bombay Bicycle Club, Weezer and Metronomy and hotly tipped in 2011’s SXSW festival, Dry The River describe their music as “folky gospel music played by a post-punk band”. Frontman Peter Liddle formed the band in Norway and moved to London in 2010 in set for a huge UK tour in the 2011 spring. Personally I can’t stop playing this song – it’s so bloody epic!
Dry The River – No Rest
Flux Pavilion
{Official | Facebook}
For me, Flux came on the scene with his DJ Fresh remix waaaaaay back in 2010 so this nomination is a bit late! His 2011 year was amazing and saw the British producer move from a one off top remix, to world touring DJ – working closely with fellow Circus Records label artists. We like Flux, we like his music. We like his face. We like Flux.
Flux Pavilion & Doctor P – Superbad
Skrillex
{Official | Facebook}
After 5 grammy nominations – Skrillex had a mamouth year in 2011. His evolution of the dubstep sound is still a constant hot topic in the dubstep forums and Skrilex’s sound has the power to both divide and unite wobbling bass fans. Whether you love or hate it, it’s impossible not to be impressed by what the 23 year old producer has managed to achieve with his releases, record label and tour. Personally, I love how Skrillex’s sound just makes people completely go nuts and is unashamedly OTT. This track ‘Cinema’ is still my favourite from the LA producer, so crank it and loose yourself for a moment:
Skrillex – Cinema
Other Nominees:
A$AP Rocky
A$AP Rocky – Peso
Dot Rotten
Dot Rotten – Normal Human Being.
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean- Novacane
’Frank Ocean
Novacane.mp3′
Jamie N Commons
Jamie N Commons – The Preacher
Michael Kiwanuka
Michael Kiwanuka – Tell Me A Tale
Niki & The Dove
Niki & The Dove – DJ Ease My Mind
Ren Harvieu
Ren Harvieu – Cryin’ (Roy Orbison cover)
’Cryin – Roy Orbison cover.mp3′
Spector
Never Fade Away.mp3
Stooshe
Stooshe – Betty Woz Gone
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A great month too for house producer 
