Who Is On The BRITs Rising Star Shortlist For 2024?
By
12 months ago
Read on to meet your new favourite musician
Every year, the BRIT Awards recognises our best homegrown musical talent, plus commends the year’s best acts from overseas. The likes of Harry Styles, Oasis, Taylor Swift and even The Beatles have won a BRIT award, the latter bagging British Album of the Year at the very first awards ceremony in 1977 for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Since 2008, the BRITs have also presented a Rising Star award, and the nominees for 2024 are in.
The BRITs Rising Star Shortlist 2024
Three artists are nominated for the BRITs Rising Star Award, and the 2024 nominees are:
- Caity Baser
- The Last Dinner Party
- Sekou
The winner will follow Flo, the girl band which became the first group act to bag the award in 2023, beating Cat Burns and Nia Archives to the prestigious prize. This is all not to say that the two runners up won’t still reach the lofty heights of musical stardom. Previous acts who have missed out on the Rising Star award include Duffy, The Vaccines and Dua Lipa.
Caity Baser
Twenty-one year old singer songwriter Caity Baser has gone from living on a Southampton council estate, working in a supermarket and making music in her bedroom to being one of the UK’s fastest rising stars. She has sang to full crowds at Reading and Leeds Festivals earlier this year, and also made headlines for capping the ticket prices for her shows amid the cost of living crisis.
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‘When I heard that I’ve been nominated for the BRITs Rising Star award this year, I literally screamed for five minutes and chucked everything around my room,’ Caity says. ‘I used to watch the awards on TV every year when I was a kid, but had no idea how a kid from an estate in Southampton would ever get there. Now to be shortlisted for the Rising Star award for next year… Me! Little old me… All I have to say is I am so happy and thank you so much. It’s really a dream come true!’
The Last Dinner Party
This five-women-strong group didn’t officially release music until April 2023, but has quickly become known for its melody-rich, guitar-heavy, moreish indie-rock songs. It was the culmination of years of growing organically on the road, gathering fans who inadvertently caught a performance at a festival or show. After another festival-filled summer, we can expect the band’s debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, in February 2024.
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‘We’re so honoured and thrilled to be nominated for the Rising Star award!’ the band told the BRITs. ‘It’s very overwhelming and exciting to be up for something as prestigious as a BRIT at this stage in our career and we’re so grateful. We’ve had an amazing year and can’t wait for all that’s to come!’
Sekou
Leicester native Sekou gained recognition for his soulful covers, posted online when he was 16, which attracted the attention of NWS Music. Drawing inspiration from legends like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé, his gospel-inspired music blends classic soul with contemporary pop, captivating audiences with his breakout single ‘Better Man’. His follow ups – the single ‘Forgiving Myself’ and debut EP ‘Out of Mind’ – have all cemented his place as one to watch.
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‘Being nominated for BRITs Rising Star is absolutely crazy,’ Sekou says. ‘I grew up in a small town and watched the BRITs every single year. The performances were always amazing – Adele, Amy, Sam Smith, Beyoncé. I remember being 10 years old when Adele sang “Someone Like You” for the first time and being like… YES, that’s gonna be me one day. Don’t even get me started on Beyoncé. I’m so grateful to be considered for this. For me, this feels like God telling me to continue to work harder and keep pushing.’
Who Has Previously Won The BRITs Rising Star Award?
Rising Star has a stellar alumni list – a testament to the incredible forecasting skills of the BRITs’ team of critics and musicians. Previous winners are:
- 2008: Adele
- 2009: Florence + The Machine
- 2010: Ellie Goulding
- 2011: Jessie J
- 2012: Emeli Sandé
- 2013: Tom Odell
- 2014: Sam Smith
- 2015: James Bay
- 2016: Jack Garrett
- 2017: Rag’n’Bone Man
- 2018: Jorja Smith
- 2019: Sam Fender
- 2020: Celeste
- 2021: Griff
- 2022: Holly Humberstone
- 2023: Flo
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Other Awards At The BRITs 2024
The full list of awards for 2024 is as follows, including a brand new R&B award:
- Artist of the Year
- Group of the Year
- BRITs Rising Star
- Best New Artist
- Song of the Year with Mastercard
- Mastercard Album of the Year
- International Artist of the Year
- International Song of the Year
- International Group of the Year
- Alternative/Rock Act
- Pop Act
- R&B Act
- Dance Act
- Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
- Producer of the Year (honorary award as decided by a separate expert panel)
- Songwriter of the Year (honorary award as decided by a separate expert panel)
WATCH
The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard will take place at the O2 Arena on Saturday 2 March 2024, and will be broadcast live on ITV1. Viewers can also stream the ceremony on ITVX.
