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BRITS HONOR JORJA SMITH

Rising British singer Jorja Smith has been crowned winner of 2018’s BRITs Critics’ Choice Award, becoming the second indie artist to win. The accolade comes after an eventful year for the young singer who has collaborated and toured with Drake.

BRITs Chairman and Sony Music U.K. boss Jason Iley said: “The Critics’ Choice Award has an incredible track record of showcasing some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists for the last 10 years. Jorja Smith has a huge future ahead of her and looks set to follow in the footsteps of the most successful past Critics’ Choice winners.”

Smith released her debut EP, Project 11, in 2016, Vevo funded her video for early 2017 single “Beautiful Little Fools,” and she sang with Drake on “Get It Together” from his More Life playlist, which dominated the U.K. Singles Chart after being released in March. Smith's own singles “On My Mind” and “Teenage Fantasy” have more than 17m plays on Spotify, where she has over 2.2m monthly listeners.

All of her releases have been independent to date and will continue to be, despite fierce label interest. She plays two sold out dates at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire in February; Summer Marshall and Mike Greek at CAA rep her on the live side.

The award will be given at the BRITs nominations launch on 1/13. Smith was part of an all-female shortlist this year which included Polydor acts Mabel and Stefflon Don. And that other indie artist who won? Adele in 2008.

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