Fifteen of the best rising music stars have been announced as the longlist for the BBC's Sound of 2009.
Fifteen of the best rising music stars have been announced as the longlist for the BBC's Sound of 2009.
The list is designed to find the best up-and-coming acts for the coming year, with the winner to be named in January.
The list is designed to find the best up-and-coming acts for the coming year, with the winner to be named in January.
More than 130 of the UK's leading music critics and broadcasters named their favourite new acts, and the 15 with the most votes have made the longlist.
More than 130 of the UK's leading music critics and broadcasters named their favourite new acts, and the 15 with the most votes have made the longlist.
Adele triumphed at number one in Sound of 2008, followed by Duffy, The Ting Tings and Glasvegas.
Adele triumphed at number one in Sound of 2008, followed by Duffy, The Ting Tings and Glasvegas.
Here is the longlist, in alphabetical order:
The longlist, in alphabetical order, is below. Click on the links to watch, hear and read about the acts.
This London duo use gritty beats, droning guitars, abstract effects and dreamy vocals to create a soundscape that is arty yet tuneful. They are currently supporting experimental rock heroes TV On the Radio.
Milo Cordell is son of 1960s pop producer Denny and runs the Merok label, which has released cutting-edge dance acts Klaxons and Crystal Castles. Robbie Furze is a former guitarist with electro-punk singer Alec Empire.
Dan Black, former frontman with indie also-rans The Servant, is attracting attention as a leftfield singer-songwriter who uses samples and beats as his backdrop instead of guitars.
The London-born, Paris-based singer caused a buzz with his radical reworking of US rapper Notorious BIG's song Hypnotize, featuring snippets of Rihanna's Umbrella.
VV Brown is a 24-year-old modern-day doyen of doo-wop, giving the sound of vintage girl groups a 21st Century twist with a quirky, savvy, squeaky sheen.
As Vanessa, she had a previous shot at fame three years ago as a straight-up soul singer. She sang backing vocals for Madonna, Westlife and the Pussycat Dolls, and signed a major record deal - but that fell through.
Looking like extras from a psychedelic Star Wars, Australian duo Empire of the Sun mould 1980s-influenced soft pop synthesisers with blissed-out space beats.
It is the work of Luke Steele, frontman of indie band The Sleepy Jackson, and Nick Littlemore of electronic outfit Pnau and their one-off album has made it into the Australian top 10.
Florence and the Machine's single Dog Days Are Over
A quirky singer-songwriter in the grand tradition of Kate Bush, Bjork or PJ Harvey, Florence Welch makes music that is familiar, joyful and accessible while still uncompromising, fresh and eccentric.
Accompanied by a harp and scary clowns on stage, her live shows have earned her a sizeable following over the past 12 months and her debut album has been produced by Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford, who helped shape the Klaxons' sound.
Dance singer, remixer and all-round whizz-kid Vincent Frank creates high-energy robopop in which fast neon beats jump out of '80s-tinged tunes.
Frank has remixed tracks for the likes of Mika, Radiohead and CSS. His debut album, Complete Me, has been co-produced by Stuart Price, who has worked with The Killers, Madonna and Keane.
Currently the hottest new hip-hop artist in the US, Kid Cudi has signed to Kanye West's label, features on the star's new album and has been supporting him on tour.
Like his mentor, the 23-year-old, from Cleveland, Ohio - known as Scott Mescudi to his mum - is at the adventurous end of rap and his single Day 'N' Nite bridges the gap between dance and urban.
Another hot new name on the electro-pop block, singer Elly Jackson and synth player Ben Langmaid are La Roux, creating playful, modern tunes informed by the likes of Prince and David Bowie.
Langmaid is a veteran of the dance scene, having worked with Faithless mastermind Rollo Armstrong, and La Roux are supporting Lily Allen on her UK tour next year.
Hip New York party princess Lady GaGa is making waves in the US, where her infectious top 10 single Just Dance has just been nominated for a Grammy for best dance recording.
Real name Joanne Stefani Germanotta, she went to the same school as Paris Hilton and named herself after the Queen hit Radio Gaga. She has also written songs for Britney Spears, Pussycat Dolls and New Kids on the Block.
Watch Little Boots perform Meddle on Later... with Jools Holland on BBC Two
Little Boots is the stage name of Victoria Hesketh, who left synth-rock girl group Dead Disco to pursue a solo pop path and has been guided by Hot Chip's Joe Goddard.
Like a British Kylie or a harder, shinier St Etienne, she plays catchy, credible futuristic pop. She was raised as an accomplished pianist but now prefers to play the tenorion, a flashing Japanese gadget, which has become her trademark instrument.
Tipped as the next star of British hip-hop, the fluorescent Master Shortie spans the roles of grime MC, cool club kid and teen-friendly pop singer, with a dash of indie influence thrown in.
London-raised Theo Kerlin, aged 19, had a spell at the Brit School and signed a major record deal before taking the DIY route and setting up his own label, Odd One Out.
Mumford & Sons have emerged from the London folk scene that produced Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale.
They play hearty country-tinged acoustic anthems featuring banjo, double bass and four-part harmonies.
Frontman Marcus Mumford is Marling's drummer and the quartet have supported the Mercury nominee widely on tour, winning wide praise for their live shows.
PASSION PIT
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Watch Passion Pit's video Sleepyhead
Passion Pit make colourful and cerebral electronica, combining layers of sunny vocals, warped samples, glitchy beats and euphoric effects with a sturdy rhythmic backbone.
It is the work of Michael Angelakos, who borrowed MGMT's cosmic kaleidoscope and Hot Chip's geeky gizmos while writing and recording all the music himself, enlisting four more musicians for his live band.
Two years after they released their initial EP in their native Australia, this quartet have recorded their first album with producer Jim Abbiss, who was at the controls for the debut albums by The Arctic Monkeys and Adele.
The Melbourne band aim for an atmospheric, captivating sound, created using grand guitars, pulsating rhythms and yearning vocals.
These moody London rockers can expect to be compared to the likes of The Killers and Editors, with epic vocals and dark, swirling guitars, plus a synthesiser giving them a pop sheen.
That, along with the poetic quality of their lyrics - mostly about death and doomed romance - is likely to win them a devoted following after they were the subjects of intense record label interest.
