BBC Sound Of 2019: Meet the Introducing artists on the longlist
The BBC Sound Of 2019 longlist was unveiled Monday 10 December 2018. We're very pleased to say that five of the ten acts have previously shared their music via the BBC Music Introducing Uploader and gone on to be supported by their local and national BBC Radio shows. Find out more about each one...
On The Playlist: Grace Carter - Silhouette
Grace Carter performs Silhouette from her Saving Grace EP.
Searingly personal, piano-led pop
Supported by: BBC Music Introducing in The South & BBC Music Introducing in London
About:
Grace Carter is a songwriter from Brighton who first uploaded to Introducing in May 2017. She was Introducing artist of the week on Radio 1 in March 2018, securing airplay across the network. She has toured with Dua Lipa and Dermot Kennedy on some huge live shows and has played major festivals including The Great Escape.
What the critics say:
"The Brighton-raised singer-songwriter’s arresting, piano-led pop exists on a sliding scale between strength and vulnerability, each track hinged on the 20-year-old’s robust and emotionally bracing vocals." - The Guardian
Flohio
Introducing... Flohio
British Nigerian artist Funmi Ohiosumah is one of Mary Anne's hot tips for 2018.
Hard-hitting, genre-bending beats and bars
Supported by: BBC Music Introducing in London
About:
Flohio (AKA Funmi Ohio) is a British-Nigerian artist, rapper and songwriter hailing from Bermondsey, South London. The 25-year-old started rapping at her local youth club, inspired by the likes of Eve, Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino. She first uploaded to Introducing in 2018. Her single Watchout was dubbed Best New Music by Pitchfork and she was hot ticket at The Great Escape festival this year.
What the critics say:
"she raps with great clarity over a hybrid sound drawn from the U.K.’s most forward-looking underground cultures, equally adept at going in on an old-school grime beat as she is at working with boundary-pushing electronic producers." - The Fader
Mahalia
Mahalia - Proud Of Me (Biggest Weekend 2017)
Mahalia performs on the BBC Music Introducing Stage at Swansea.
'Psycho-acoustic' soul from Leicester
Supported by: BBC Music Introducing in the East Midlands & BBC Music Introducing in London
About:
Leicester-bred Mahalia Burkmar started playing guitar and writing songs as a child, and first performed in session for Introducing in the East Midlands when she was just 13 years old! Since then she has been Introducing artist of the week twice (on 1Xtra in 2017 with Sober and on Radio 1 in 2018 with Proud Of Me), performed at various Introducing showcases and hit the stage at The Biggest Weekend (above). She also featured in 1Xtra's Hot For 2018 list.
What the critics say:
"With songs that stay both down to earth and close to home for those unlucky in love, Mahalia looks set to define British music in 2019" - The Line of Best Fit
Fired-up indie anthems from Leicester
Supported by: BBC Music Introducing in the East Midlands & BBC Music Introducing in Northampton
About:
With three EPs under their belt already, Sea Girls have established themselves as purveyors of ridiculously catchy indie pop. They first uploaded to Introducing in 2016 and went on to Radio 1's Introducing track of the week slot with Call Me Out in 2017. They also graced our stage at Biggest Weekend in Swansea (above). Fun fact: they’re named after a misheard lyric in the Nick Cave song Water’s Edge.
What the critics say:
"Dropping their debut track last year, every single song they’ve followed it up with has been bold and beautiful and destined to be yelled – hands in the air, eyes shut – as the sun sets at a festival" - Wonderland Magazine
Slowthai
On The Playlist: slowthai - Ladies
On The Playlist: slowthai - Ladies
Raw and truth-telling UK rap
Supported by: BBC Music Introducing in Northampton
About:
Born Tyron Frampton, Slowthai’s moniker is adapted from a childhood nickname (“slow ty”) based on his sleepy speaking voice. Northampton born and bred, his machine-gun delivery is laced with clever wordplay and sharp observations on British life. After uploading to Introducing in March 2018, it only took a couple of months before he found himself in the Introducing track of the week slot on 1Xtra with Ladies. A couple of months after that his track Polaroid was picked up by Radio 1's Annie Mac as her Hottest Record (Monday 25 June).
What the critics say:
"the most exciting—and excitable—new UK rapper out right now" - Pitchfork