Octavian leads BBC’s Sound Of poll for 2019


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Photo: Paul Bachmann




“That’s lit,I don’t even know how to feel right now,” Octavian has said after becoming the first rapper since 50 Cent in 2003 to top the BBC’s Sound Of poll.

Octavian heads the list above other longlisted acts such as Sea Girls, King Princess and Grace Carter. “From the very first moment I heard his music I was hooked,” Radio 1 DJ Benji B has said.

“The first couple of tunes he released – Party Here and Hands – were some of the most futuristic, forward thinking, raw and inspiring tunes to come out of the UK in the last two years.”

While these industry start-of-the-year lists often closely resemble one another, this time the BBC has differed more greatly from the BRITs Critics’ Choice with only Mahalia making both final cuts, while the BRITs’ overall winner, Sam Fender, was not highlighted at all by the BBC.

“Being nominated was crazy enough, never mind winning it,” Fender said upon his win. “I’m so grateful to everyone back home for believing, and to my band and team for all their hard work.”


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