UNIVERSAL ACTS RULE BRITS RISING STAR LIST

The shortlist for the 2024 BRITs Rising Star award has been revealed, with Caity Baser, The Last Dinner Party and Sekou in the running. All three are signed to Universal U.K.

Baser, a 21-year-old singer and songwriter from Southampton, on the U.K.’s south coast, is signed to EMI. Her first singles include “Friendly Sex,” “X&Y” and “Pretty Boys,” which hit #26 on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart earlier this year. She played the 2023 Reading & Leeds festival and in March will embark on her biggest tour, including a show at London’s 5k-capacity Eventim Apollo, and release a 14-track mixtape, Still Learning. Tipped as a Gen Z role model for self-confidence, honesty and female empowerment, Baser is managed by Dakota Hoven at Chosen Music.

The Last Dinner Party is a five-piece band that makes “guitar-heavy left-field indie-rock dramas.” Signed to Island, it had a breakthrough in July with “Nothing Matters,” which hit #16 on the U.K. singles chart. James Ford, who's worked with Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode and Haim, produced the track. Since then, the quintet has released the singles “Sinner” and “My Lady of Mercy” and played a summer of festivals in the U.K. and Europe. Its debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, will arrive in February. The Last Dinner Party is handled by Tara Richardson at Q Prime.

Sekou, a 19-year-old who hails from Leicester, in the East Midlands, gained recognition after posting soulful covers online. That led to his being discovered by Nick Raphael and Christian Tattersfield’s company, NWS Music; he later signed with Island/Republic. Sekou’s music is described as “a blend of classic soul and contemporary pop” with inspiration from Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé. His breakout single, “Better Man,” arrived in May and has tallied over 4m plays on Spotify. He’s since released “Forgiving Myself” and his debut EP, Out of Mind. Sekou is managed by Raphael and Tattersfield.

The BRITs Rising Star will be announced on 12/7.