BBC Sound of 2015 longlist: Wolf Alice and Stormzy among hotly-tipped acts

George the Poet and Sunset Sons are also nominated for the prestigious prize

Rae Morris, George the Poet and SOAK are among the up and coming acts to feature on the BBC’s Sound of 2015 longlist.

Chosen by around 140 music industry experts, the annual award highlights promising new talent for the coming year and will be announced in January.

Sam Smith won last year’s prize after featuring as a vocalist on Naughty Boy’s chart-topping single “La La La”. Other past winners have included Adele, Ellie Goulding, Michael Kiwanuka.

Adele has gone on to achieve global acclaim (Getty)

The 2015 list features a diverse range of acts, including indie punk band Slaves; 23-year-old singer, producer, remixer and video editor Shura; electropop trio Years & Years and folk pop singer James Bay.

Sunset Sons, Wolf Alice, Raury and Kwabs also feature, alongside young South London rapper Stormzy who became an online sensation with his #wickedskengman freestyles before topping the iTunes hip-hop chart with first project Dreamers Disease.

Completing the list of 15 contenders are Lapsley, Novelist and Shamir.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens will count down to the winner early next year live on the breakfast show.

“It’s always an exciting time of year to take stock and look at what might be making us dance, cry and jump for joy into the year ahead,” he said.

“I’m excited because there are a lot of artists I and my fellow DJs have supported on the list, and it’s another great chance to share the music we love with an even bigger audience.”

The Sound of 2015 longlist

George the Poet

James Bay

Kwabs

Lapsley

Novelist

Rae Morris

Raury

Shamir

Shura

Slaves

SOAK

Stormzy

Sunset Sons

Wolf Alice

Years & Years