When the team from the Brit Awards unveil their prestigious annual Critics Choice Award, the global media sits up and takes note. Because usually the artists they pick for international stardom go on to achieve just that.
The Critic’s Choice was first awarded back in 2007. To Adele, no less. Florence & The Machine walked away with the prize in 2008. In late 2009, it was Ellie Goulding who was awarded the honour. It was Jessie J’s in 2010. In 2011, it was Emeli Sandé. The 2012 gong went to Tom Odell and last year, it was Sam Smith’s turn to take the price.
Now they’ve tipped a long-haired man in a hat to be 2015’s next big thing.
James Bay may not be a household name in Australia just yet, but with a Universal Music contract, its employees singing his praises and three EPs under his belt (the most recent of which was released in the middle of last month), it appears there’ll be no stopping Mister Bay when we tick over to 2015.
Stylistically, think a little bit James Morrison (no bad thing); he may even remind you a little of our own Taylor Henderson, with a great knack for storytelling and an emotion-filled vocal that begs to be heard.
Check out James’ EPs ‘The Dark Of The Morning’, ‘Let It Go’ and ‘Hold Back The River’, all of which are available now.
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