MUMBAI: The long-list for the BBC Music Sound Of 2015 was announced recently. It includes bluesy vocalist James Bay, ethereal electronic artiste L?psley, Atlanta troubadour Raury and contemporary R&B singer Shura among others. Slaves, Sunset Sons, rapper Kwabs and grime artiste Stormzy are also featured on the list. Three piece electro-pop trio Years & Years, R&B singer Shamir, grime MC Novelist, rock act Wolf Alice, singer/songwriter SOAK, ballad singer Rae Morris and rapper George the Poet round up the long-list.

The BBC Music Sound Of 2015 aims to showcase the best and brightest rising stars. The list has been running annually since 2003, gaining a reputation as a democratic survey that gives a glimpse into the future of music. The acts that appear in the ‘Sound Of’ list are all hand-picked by a panel of impartial experts from the British music industry.

The BBC Music Sound Of list, along with other similar new music lists such as the BRITs Critics’ Choice, are generally thought to be used by the UK music and media industries to give a broad steer when it comes to promotion priorities and live bookings.

Previous winners have included multiple Grammy Award winner Adele, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Jessie J and HAIM.