The Last Dinner Party
Nominated for: Group of the year, Album of the year, Best new artist, Best alternative/rock act
Prelude To Ecstasy - British indie rock band the Last Dinner Party are razor-sharp on their epic debut album, Prelude To Ecstasy. With their distinct sound and style, the quintet from London are a well oiled machine, delivering infectious melodies and exciting orchestral arrangements. Recipients of both the Brits Rising Star and the BBC Sound of 2024 awards, their debut record is well crafted and produced, captivating from start to finish. Judging from this, fans will be thrilled to find out what’s next.
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Nia Archives
Nominated for: Artist of the year, Best dance act
Silence Is Loud - English record producer, DJ, singer and songwriter Nia Archives compliments the synergy between vocals and instrumental on her debut album Silence Is Loud. Regarded as being at the forefront of the post-2020 drum and bass revival, Nia cleverly fuses jungle with Britpop and leading on from her last EP, said this record was “more song-focussed, putting interesting sounds on jungle.” With 90s drum and bass legend Goldie listed as one of her mentors, the Bradford producer is incredibly charismatic, bringing pounding, pulsing beats and exuding energy throughout. Artful and full of passion - it’s a triumph.
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Rachel Chinouriri
Nominated for: Artist of the year, Best new artist
What A Devastating Turn of Events - What A Devastating Turn Of Events is the debut album from English singer-songwriter, Rachel Chinouriri. Through a culmination of the experiences, challenges and joys of Chinouriri’s life so far, it takes inspiration from the noughties era, from the likes of The Libertines and Oasis. On the albums title, Chinouriri states “You’ve been hit with something and it forces you to change your perception on things.” Writing through her own traumas the Londoner’s raw emotion and shift in tone is masterful. Full of creativity, it’s an exceptional indie pop record.
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Lola Young
Nominated for: Best pop act
This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway - English singer and songwriter Lola Young introduces her second studio album, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway. The straight-talking Londoner is a wonderful storyteller, and Young carefully balances a huge voice with her fearless energy and emotionally-charged lyrics, fuelled by rage. Speaking on the albums title, Young said the record was a “First of many and if you don’t like it, then this wasn’t meant for you anyway.” Full of rebellion, Young’s sophomore album is intense, refreshing, disarmingly honest and even in its darkest moments, it’s packed full of wit.
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Charli XCX
Nominated for: Artist of the year, Album of the year, Song of the year, Best dance act, Best pop act
Brat - Brat is the sixth studio album by English singer Charli XCX. With influences from the likes of Avril Lavigne, Rihanna and Siouxsie Sioux, Brat uses a wide range of styles from electropop, club-pop, electroclash, and dance. The album's pop sound draws on both the illegal London rave scene of her teenage years and her more recent experimental releases, and balances an aggressive, confrontational and brash attitude with moments of vulnerability. A record which will be getting heavy rotation this summer. It's cool, blunt and full of swagger and flair - its a masterpiece. Charlie XCX has produced the pop album of the year.
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beabadoobee
Nominated for: Artist of the year, Best alternative/rock act
This Is How Tomorrow Moves - Following opening for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour, Filipino-English singer beabadoobee introduces This Is How Tomorrow Moves, her third studio album. beabadoobee has pivoted to new themes, moving away from the angst on her previous records, saying “In my previous records, I would consistently sing about my reaction towards other people's doings, like a blame game. But in this record, it's accepting that there's an inevitability of my fault in there too.” Carefully crafted production from Rick Rubin, mature and full of emotion, beabadoobee pours her heart on her powerful and complex new record.
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Jamie xx
Nominated for: Artist of the year
In Waves - Recorded over a four year period, James xx describes the inspiration behind his second studio album, saying “I think I basically just went back to how I started making music when I was a teenager, which was listening to the music of my youth, which was basically soul music, jazz music, and sampling and doing production similar to how I was when I was starting out”. With its pulsating rhythms, it’s a bold electronic record that effortlessly flows, rivalling its successor, In Colour. With an interesting soundscape, In Waves is a remarkably eclectic mix of sounds and guests, which is abstract, creative and polished to perfection.
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The Cure
Nominated for: Group of the year, Album of the year
Songs of a Lost World - Several years in the making, Songs of a Lost World is the fourteenth studio album by English rock band the Cure. The band's first release of new material in 16 years, since the release of 4:13 Dream in 2008, is both cohesive and full of beautifully crafted melodies. Once at the forefront of the emerging post-punk and new wave movements of the 80s, Smith’s ageless voice alongside the bands dynamic chemistry immediately transport you back there. This certainly isn’t a farewell, with two more albums on the way, its clear they still have so much more to give.
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Michael Kiwanuka
Nominated for: Artist of the year, Best R&B act
Small Changes - It’s a welcome return for one of Britain’s most talented songwriters, as Michael Kiwanuka introduces Small Changes, his fourth studio album. For his latest record Kiwanuka says Gene Clark, Sade and Beth Gibbons were his influences. Talking about the sound on his latest album, Kiwanuka’s said “It sounded the way I felt about change - part hopeful, part excited, but also with the melancholy of realising that, sometimes change is hard and it's overwhelming and you've got no control over it." Genuine and inventive, with lyrics full of hope, Kiwanuka’s is at his creative peak, with stunning ballads, orchestral soul and dreamy grooves.
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