Image by Francesca Allen via PR
Pop music might be at its healthiest in a long while. As if to prove it, the BBC's list of critics and music industry experts has bestowed its annual 'Sound of…' honour on the sparkly starlet Sigrid – she of one of 2017's most infectious successes with the track "Don't Kill My Vibe". Hailing from Norway, Sigrid is the first non-British act to scoop the accolade since HAIM in 2013. Here she is receiving the news that she won (it's very cute):
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In a statement, Sigrid expressed her delight at having been named the BBC's most hotly tipped artist of the next year:
She's joined in the top five by Rex Orange County, IAMDDB, Khalid, and Pale Waves, which actually represents a pretty decent slice of what's popping in the UK right now. However, it is also true that other choices from the longlist – like Nilufer Yanya, Yaeji, or Superorganism, say – might have been a little more daring, especially when it comes to exposing listeners to sounds which feel genuinely new (Khalid and Rex Orange County, for example, have already released albums).Sigrid's win, though, as I mentioned, is nothing if not a victory for pop's standing – both critical and commercial – in the UK. It's alive and well with a sharply beating heart: let's hope that in 2018, Sigrid (an artist from whom I feel sure we've not yet seen the best) continues to show that.Follow Lauren on Twitter.It’s a lot to take in to have won something as prestigious as BBC Music Sound Of. I feel honoured as there are so many other artists I look up to who have won this before me, and honestly, I’m just really happy and proud of what my team and I have achieved together. I’m from a small town called Ålesund in Norway. I’m still 21 and it’s quite crazy to get this recognition. I’m very excited about the year ahead and sharing new music with everyone. I want to thank the panel for voting and the team involved in BBC Music Sound Of 2018.