Pop hitmaker Caity Baser, all-female indie rock band The Last Dinner Party and teen pop/soul singer Sekou are the three finalists for the Rising Star Award at the 2024 Brit Awards.
Baser’s “Pretty Boys” reached No. 26 on the Official U.K. Singles Chart in February. She has had three other entries on that chart: “X & Y”; “Feels This Good,” a Sigala feature which also featured Mae Muller and Stefflon Don; and “Dance Around It” with Joel Corry. Baser is also a member of Loud LDN.
The Last Dinner Party’s “Nothing Matters” reached No. 16 on the Official Singles Sales Chart in July. The band, which was formed in 2021, consists of Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals, guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, flute), Georgia Davies (bass) and Aurora Nishevci (keys, vocals).
Sekou was born in Leicester but is now based in London and Los Angeles. He attracted label interest after a video of him performing in a car park went viral. He lists his main influences as Beyoncé, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.
Previous winners of The Rising Star award, which is now in its 16th year, include Adele, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, Ellie Goulding and last year’s recipient, FLO. The award is open to British artists who, as of Oct. 31, had not yet achieved a top 20 placement on the Official Album Charts or achieved more than one top 20 chart placement in the Official Singles Chart.
The shortlist and winner are determined by a panel of music editors and critics from the national press, online music editors, heads of music at major radio and music TV stations plus songwriters, producers and live bookers — those working with new rising talent on a regular basis.
While the roster of winners includes some of the biggest British talent of the past two decades, the show has also missed a few. Lewis Capaldi was nominated in 2019, but lost to Sam Fender. Dua Lipa was nominated in 2017, but lost to Rag ‘n Bone Man.
Here’s a full list of past winners and other finalists for The Brits’ Rising Star Award.
2008: Adele; other finalists: Duffy, Foals
2009: Florence + the Machine; other finalists: Little Boots, White Lies
2010: Ellie Goulding; other finalists: Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds
2011: Jessie J; other finalists: James Blake, The Vaccines
2012: Emeli Sandé; other finalists: Michael Kiwanuka, Maverick Sabre
2013: Tom Odell; other finalists: AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula
2014: Sam Smith; other finalists: Ella Eyre, Chlöe Howl
2015: James Bay; other finalists: George the Poet, Years & Years
2016: Jack Garratt; other finalists: Izzy Bizu, Frances
2017: Rag’n’Bone Man; other finalists: Anne-Marie, Dua Lipa
2018: Jorja Smith; other finalists: Stefflon Don, Mabel
2019: Sam Fender; other finalists: Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia
2020: Celeste; other finalists: Beabadoobee, Joy Crookes
2021: Griff; other finalists: Pa Salieu, Rina Sawayama
2022: Holly Humberstone; other finalists: Bree Runway, Lola Young
2023: FLO; other finalists: Cat Burns, Nia Archives
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