After consulting over 170 music industry experts—including writers and editors, radio presenters and TV producers—the BBC have announced their full longlist for the Sound Of 2017. Among the nominees are a few Complex favourites, such as Ray BLK, Jorja Smith and AJ Tracey, several of whom we tipped for big thingsthis year. The list has a pretty solid success rate in terms of predicting who will go on to have huge levels of success: Years & Years, Sam Smith and Adele have all won in the past, and last year saw Jack Garratt beat the likes of Loyle Carner and J Hus to the top spot.
Sharing his thoughts on this year's longlist, BBC Radio DJ MistaJam said that it shows how "next year is shaping up to be a big one filled with amazing music from homegrown talent that are already being supported on Radio 1 and 1Xtra. From the driving rock of The Amazons to Dave's 18-year-old inner city street tales via Maggie Rogers' folk-meets-electronic soundscapes—the list shows the breadth and quality of what we can all expect next year."
See the full list of nominees down below:
AJ Tracey
Anderson .Paak
Cabbage
Dave
Declan McKenna
Jorja Smith
Maggie Rogers
Nadia Rose
Rag 'n' Bone Man
Ray BLK
RAYE
Stefflon Don
The Amazons
The Japanese House
Tom Grennan
Complex caught up with two of the nominees, and here is what they had to say:
Stefflon Don: "I'm excited to be part of the BBC Music Sound Of 2017. I can't quite believe it! So much love to everyone who is supporting me and my music and I can't wait for 2017 #RealTing."
From January 2, the top five acts will be announced each morning on Clara Amfo's Radio 1 show alongside Huw Stephens and MistaJam, as well as on the BBC News and BBC Sound Of 2017 websites.
