Tom Odell, Laura Mvula and AlunaGeorg: Trio of new acts tipped for Brits gong

Tom Odell, Laura Mvula and AlunaGeorge (Rex/Getty)

Three new acts have been tipped to follow in the footsteps of Adele and Jessie J after being shortlisted for a prestigious award.

Tom Odell, Laura Mvula and AlunaGeorge will battle it out for the 2013 Brits Critics' Choice Award.

Previous winners of the award also include Emeli Sande who hit the top of the album and single charts and performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Mvula, described as a cross between Nina Simone and Bjork, is classically trained and started writing songs on her laptop while working as a supply teacher in a Birmingham secondary school.

She said: "It's unbelievable and I'm in total shock. I don't think I've experienced this kind of shock before. It's such a huge honour to be included in this prestigious shortlist, I don't think that I can put it in to words. Thank you."

Odell, a 22-year-old singer-songwriter who studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, started songwriting as a teenager and made his TV debut on Later ... With Jools Holland last month.

AlunaGeorge are producer George Reid and singer Aluna Francis whose brand of soulful electronica has been hotly tipped for success.

The trio were chosen by a series of music industry insiders and the winner is announced on Thursday 20 December.

PA