Jack Garratt does strange things to Justin Timberlake in the Live Lounge

Congratulations to Jack Garratt and his big ginger beard, who are officially the Sound of 2016, as you can discover over here.

To celebrate his not-at-all-inevitable win, Jack popped into Radio 1's Live Lounge to play his new single Worry (it's very good), followed by a cover of Justin Timberlake's Senorita mixed with Craig David's 7 Days.

Yes, Really.

It turns out that Garratt has a bit of a man-crush on Justin Timberlake (don't we all), telling Radio 1: "He is one of the main reasons I went into performing as a kid. Listening to Justified and watching him do incredible shows, he ignited something in me about performing great music live on stage."

I wonder what JT would make of this?


The runner-up for this year's prize was compact Canadian chanteuse Alessia Cara. She did the business yesterday with an impeccable version of her "wallflower's anthem" Here, followed by a sweet, guitar-led rendition Hotline Bling, originally by her fellow Ontarian Drake. But you knew that already.

Watch below.




I had the pleasure of interviewing Alessia for my proper job - we talked about Sesame Street and Taylor Swift amongst other things. Read it here, along with reams of other Sound of 2016 coverage.

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Dua Lipa - Be The One (live)

The BBC's Sound of 2016 countdown kicks off today - with two acts tied for the number five position (here are my interviews with Mura Masa and WSTRN, if you're interested).

The winning artist will be revealed on Friday - but ahead of that, BBC Music is putting sessions with the 15 shortlisted acts on their YouTube channel. My favourite so far is raven-haired pop innovator Dua Lipa - so here she is, performing Be The One live from her own personal Times Square.

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Haim dance like Britney Spears

Hooray for Haim, who have topped the BBC's Sound Of 2013 list. This year's poll was an odd one. I can't see any of the artists in the top 15 shifting crateloads of CDs to Asda, in the way previous winners Jessie J and Adele (with the possible exception of Laura Mvula), but for the first time I genuinely like every act in the top five.

Haim, especially, have done something very special by cross-breeding Californian folk-rock and girlband R&B. Imagine The Mamas and The Papas covering Say My Name and you get the idea. Or maybe you don't. It might be easier if you just listen to their single, Don't Save Me.

Haim - Don't Save Me

I was lucky enough to interview the girls when they were in London last year - and that article is running on the BBC news website this morning. But I'm gutted I didn't get to attend the video shoot that runs alongside the text story, because Este Haim stood in Madam Tussauds and unabashedly performed the dance routine from Oops! I Did It Again for the camera. Twice.

The rushes are amazing but I'm afraid you'll have to make do with the edit. Here it is.

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Michael Kiwanuka is trying to make me cry

So, the longlist for the BBC's Sound Of 2013 is out. Regular readers will know I'm very excited to see Haim and AlunaGeorge and A*M*E get nominations, while Laura Mvula, Kodaline, Palma Violets and Chvrches are all strong nominees, too. (You can see the whole list here.)

A couple of the papers are carping on this morning about how the 2012 winner, Michael Kiwanuka, has "flopped". True, he never quite set the world on fire - he'd be more likely to buy the world a cocoa - but his album quietly sold over 100,000 copies, making it one of the year's most successful debuts (although still a long way behind Emeli Sande's million-selling Our Version Of Events).

With impeccable timing, Michael just released the video for his latest, and presumably final, single from Home Again. Set in Spain, the clip for Always Waiting is a heart-rending little story, which unexpectedly brought a lump to my throat first thing this morning.

Tissues at the ready, then...

Michael Kiwanuka - Always Waiting

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Jessie J: Dressed for success

Here are some pictures of Jessie J, who is officially the SOUND OF 2011, because everybody said so.



Singing a song in front of lights spelling out your name: Classic pop star behaviour.


Dressing up as the Chrysler building: Amazing!


Wearing a hat: Due to the inclement weather conditions.


Doing a poo in front of a loudspeaker: Unhygenic.


Coming to eat your brains: Like a zombie, yo.


Doing that thing with her eyes: Probably another illuminati puppet.


Naked except for a double semi-quaver: Because she is baring her soul in her music.
DO YOU SEE?


Sorry: This appears to be Cher Lloyd.

So, well done to the Jessie J (or Jessica Cornish, as her mum calls her). She is displaying all the signature traits of a deranged pop star / psycho serial killer. I wish her nothing but the best for 2011.

Meanwhile, here are some things I did for the radio about Jessie, and the rest of the Sound Of 2011 "crew". They are above average at best.

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