The BRIT Awards have announced the shortlist of three acts for the 2024 BRITs Rising Star (supported by BBC Radio 1) as Caity Baser, The Last Dinner Party and Sekou.
The Rising Star award has, since its inception in 2008 (originally known as Critics’ Choice), successfully predicted the future stars of music through a roll call of nominees and winners.
Those who have been awarded The BRITs Rising Star award previously include Adele, Sam Smith, Sam Fender, Ellie Goulding, Florence + The Machine, Griff and the 2023 winner FLO (the first group to receive the award), and artists nominated for the award previously include Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie, Lewis Capaldi, Cat Burns, Michael Kiwanuka, Mabel, Years & Years.
Global track streams for all previous winners has surpassed 60 billion.
The BRITs Rising Star award shortlist is selected by an invited 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.
The award is open to British artists who, as of October 31 2023, have not yet achieved an Official Album Charts Top 20 placing or achieved more than one Top 20 chart placing in the Official Singles Chart.
The 2024 Rising Star award winner will be announced on December 7.
“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,” said Caity Baser after hearing the news. “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!”
Baser is 21-year-old singer-songwriter from a council estate in Southampton who has gone from working in a supermarket, writing songs in her bedroom to being the UK's one to watch pop star.
Her first singles include Friendly Sex, X&Y and recent breakthrough record Pretty Boys from her forthcoming mixtape. The Slaysers – her fan base – have helped make Baser a Gen Z role model for self-confidence, honesty and female empowerment.
Recently - as a thank you to those fans - she capped her ticket prices during the cost of living crisis, a pledge which earned her headlines across the UK. This year Baser packed out the stage at Reading & Leeds Festival, appeared on national TV and radio and received widespread acclaim for her music.
Baser is set to embark on her biggest tour, including a show at London's Hammersmith Apollo and will release her highly anticipated 14-track mixtape Still Learning in March 2024.
“We’re so honoured and thrilled to be nominated for the Rising Star award!” said The Last Dinner Party. “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!”
At the turn of the year, The Last Dinner Party was little more than a new name being shared by those that had inadvertently caught them live. Great songs, strong aesthetic. Five women writing and performing melody-rich, guitar-heavy leftfield indie-rock dramas.
Spending much of 2022 adding to their older songs, writing new ones, road-testing them all, and taking the fruits of that process into the studio to record with producer James Ford, it wasn’t until April 2023 that the band released Nothing Matters and seemingly everyone had quickly formed an opinion on them.
By July, The Last Dinner Party had released Sinner followed by My Lady Of Mercy as they prepare for their debut album, Prelude To Ecstasy, which will be released in February 2024.
“Being nominated for BRITs Rising Star is absolutely crazy,” said Sekou. “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. Thank you BRITsssssss!!!!”
Born and raised in Ashby, Leicester, Sekou is a rising star. At the age of 16, he gained recognition after posting soulful covers online, leading to his discovery by NWS Music. With roots in the church and an appreciation for Gospel music, Sekou's powerful and emotive vocal ability has captivated audiences.
Drawing inspiration from legends like Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and Beyoncé, he brings a blend of classic soul and contemporary pop to his music. His breakout single, Better Man, performed for the first time at BBC Introducing's tent at Glastonbury in 2022 (selected by Arlo Parks and presenter Dean Jackson), showcased the now 19-year-old’s vocal range and heartfelt songwriting.
Sekou's up-tempo follow-up single, Forgiving Myself and debut EP, Out of Mind further highlighted his artistry and solidified his place in the music industry.
Past BRITs Critics’ Choice / Rising Star winners and nominees:
2008 Adele (Duffy, Foals)
2009 Florence + The Machine (Little Boots, White Lies)
2010 Ellie Goulding (Delphic, Marina and the Diamonds)
2011 Jessie J (James Blake, The Vaccines)
2012 Emeli Sandé (Michael Kiwanuka, Maverick Sabre)
2013 Tom Odell (AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula)
2014 Sam Smith (Ella Eyre, Chlöe Howl)
2015 James Bay (George The Poet, Years & Years)
2016 Jack Garratt (Izzy Bizu, Frances)
2017 Rag ’n’ Bone Man (Anne Marie, Dua Lipa)
2018 Jorja Smith (Stefflon Don, Mabel)
2019 Sam Fender (Lewis Capaldi, Mahalia)
2020 Celeste (Beabadoobee, Joy Crookes)
2021 Griff (Pa Salieu, Rina Sawayama)
2022 Holly Humberstone (Bree Runway, Lola Young)
2023 FLO (Cat Burns, Nia Archives)
The BRIT Awards 2024 with Mastercard will take place on March 2, broadcast live on ITV1 and ITVX from The O2 arena.
Mastercard returns as headline partner of The BRIT Awards for the 26th year.
Further campaign announcements will be made in the coming months.