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Brits 2019 predictions: Who will win – and who should win – each award

The mood for the Brits in 2019 is one of hope, that they will continue to acknowledge just how diverse the UK music scene really is

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Wednesday 20 February 2019 14:24 GMT
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Brits 2019: Jamie Laing runts through all the nominees

The Brits have often struggled to represent the true modern landscape of UK music. In the past few years, however, organisers have been undergoing considerable efforts to improve that by introducing a more diverse voting panel and inviting a wider range of artists to perform on the night.

When it comes to the awards, too, last year was a drastic improvement on 2017, which many considered to be a whitewash, after early pledges from organisers to do better. Stormzy triumphed with wins for British Male Solo Artist and also the most prestigious award of the night, for British Album of the Year. Kendrick Lamar, who actually graced the stage at the O2 (a rarity considering so few international nominees actually turn up at the Brits), won for International Male Solo Artist; Lorde received the international female prize, and Jorja Smith won the coveted Critics’ Choice award.

A year on from that night and just a few weeks after the Grammys finally acknowledged the achievements of so many undervalued female artists (including Kacey Musgraves, Cardi B and Dua Lipa), the mood for the Brits in 2019 is one of hope that they will continue to acknowledge just how diverse the UK music scene really is. The nominations are certainly female-led in some of the biggest categories, including Best British Single, Breakthrough Artist and Album of the Year. There also appears to be an attempt to recognise genres outside of pop and mainstream rock, with nods to rapper Giggs, jazz musician Kamasi Washington, and electronic artist Aphex Twin.

Here are The Independent’s predictions for this year’s winners, plus who we think should win.

Best British Female

Jorja Smith performs at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

This is one of the most uninspiring categories of 2019. Florence + the Machine, Jorja Smith, Anne-Marie, Lily Allen and Jess Glynne have all released commercially successful, and often critically praised, albums – but looking at the list there is a definite sense of: “Is that the best we’ve got?” The Brits have some history of handing awards to their former Critics’ Choice winners, so Smith and Glynne are both in with a shot. Anne-Marie and Glynne have also enjoyed major commercial successes in the past year but are less popular among critics (although that’s never stopped the Brits in the past).

Florence + the Machine released the most widely acclaimed album of 2018 and also had a successful string of sold-out arena shows. Smith is rapidly gaining a fanbase over in the US and is just back from being nominated for New Artist at the Grammys (beaten by fellow Brit, Dua Lipa). She appeared on the Mercury Prize shortlist in September and already has a number of successful collaborations to her name, including Drake, Stormzy and Kali Uchis.

Will win: Jorja Smith

Should win: Jorja Smith or Florence + the Machine

Best British Male

George Ezra had the UK’s bestselling album last year 

The appearance of Sam Smith on this list is rather baffling given his album came out in November 2017, and he could have made way for one of several young UK rappers who killed it last year, including Dave, Fredo, Novelist and AJ Tracey. However, it seems unlikely that Smith, Craig David or Aphex Twin are in with a shot, given the phenomenal 2018 had by singer-songwriter George Ezra, whose recent album Staying at Tamara’s was the bestselling in the UK last year. It would be a huge win for UK rap if Giggs took home the prize, but I doubt he’s holding his breath.

Will win: George Ezra

Should win: George Ezra or Giggs

Best British Single

Dua Lipa poses backstage with her Grammys

There are 10 tracks up for this prize, with a double nomination for Dua Lipa (“One Kiss” with Calvin Harris and “IDGAF”). If they’re going with a female-led stance then “Woman Like Me” by Little Mix would be a good bet. Anne-Marie’s “2002” was a huge single last year and was cowritten by Brits darling Ed Sheeran. Dua Lipa is fresh back from her triumph as Best New Artist at the Grammys (one of the only major wins for British artists at this year’s ceremony) and is one of the biggest bets for a UK female succeeding in the US.

Will win: “One Kiss”– Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris

Should win: “One Kiss” – Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris

Breakthrough Artist

Post-punk band Idles

This award is chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners, who have to pick between Tom Walker, Ella Mai, Jorja Smith, Idles and Mabel. Walker had huge success with his song “Leave the Light On” but hasn’t really established an engaged fanbase yet. Smith, Mabel and Ella Mai all have an equal shot, but Mai and Smith are the most likely to achieve success over in the US. A real upset would be if the punk rock band Idles win, simply because the Brits are so far from their own scene (they called the nod “f***ing stunning” and said they were being recognised “in a vapid chamber”).

Will win: Jorja Smith

Should win: Jorja Smith or Ella Mai

Best British Group

Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander

There are some serious rock and pop veterans competing for the Best Group award this year, including Arctic Monkeys, who released their daring album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino to critical raves, The 1975, Years & Years, Gorillaz and Little Mix. The Brits often like to acknowledge at least one rock band (makes them look cool) each year, and Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz and The 1975 are all historic favourites. However, Little Mix have also had a lot of success at past ceremonies, and you can bet their fans will have something to say if they don’t win at least one award.

Will win: The 1975

Should win: Arctic Monkeys or Years & Years

Best Video

Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa in the video for ‘One Kiss’

Most of the videos nominated this year are actually quite naff, particularly considering the bold and often socially conscious efforts by so many artists in 2018 (think “Black Rose” by Ghetts, The 1975’s “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME”, LCD Soundsystem’s “oh baby”…). This year’s contenders are likely more to do with streaming numbers, hence why the absolute dross that is Rudimental’s “These Days” ft Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen being nominated, and the bland visuals for Rita Ora and Liam Payne’s “For You”. Personally I’m a fan of the oversaturated colours and tropical themes of “One Kiss”. Calvin Harris looks pretty good as a waiter, too.

Will win: Little Mix – “Woman Like Me”

Should win: Dua Lipa and Calvin Harris – “One Kiss”

Best International group

Beyonce and Jay Z in the music video for Apeshit – a track from their joint album ‘Everything Is Love’

There’s an interesting mix in this year’s international group category, with one or two industry veterans jostling for space alongside relative newcomers. The Carters (Beyonce and Jay-Z) have been honoured multiple times by the Brits so they’re definitely in with a strong chance. More of a curveball, but just as deserving, would be hip hop collective (or self-defined “best boy band in the world”) Brockhampton, who released their fourth studio album Iridescence last year and scored the top spot on the Billboard 200 Album Chart.

Will win: The Carters

Should win: Brockhampton

Best International Male Solo

Drake wins Best Rap Song for God’s Plan at the Grammys

Drake is a British fans’ favourite and is famously a huge fan of the UK music scene. However, while his streaming numbers were as ludicrously high as ever with latest album Scorpion, the record received rather lukewarm reviews. Travis Scott, meanwhile, is a first-time Brits nominee and had an incredible 2018 thanks to the release of his album Astroworld, which achieved a number one in the US, received widespread critical acclaim, and scored him one of the coveted performance slots at this year’s Grammys. Given Eminem’s propensity to use homophobic slurs and misogynistic language (still), plus the averageness of his surprise album Kamikaze, hopefully the Brits will realise he’s hardly an appropriate winner.

Will win: Drake or Travis Scott

Who should win: Literally anyone apart from Eminem

Best International Female Solo

 Cardi B performs during the Grammys at the Staples Centre (Getty)

This is the toughest call out of any category. How can you possibly choose? There’s Ariana Grande, who released two great albums in the space of six months and managed to overcome an awful lot of personal strife while under an obscene amount of public scrutiny. Camila Cabello’s debut was one of the best pop albums of last year, ditto Christine and the QueensChris. Janelle Monae’s Grammy-nominated Dirty Computer was outstanding… but so was Cardi B’s Grammy-winning Invasion of Privacy. Arghhh.

Will win: Ariana Grande

Who should win: Any one of them would be well deserved, but I’m rooting for Cardi B

Album of the Year

Jorja Smith may not be mainstream enough to win 

While there are definitely a number of great albums missed off this category (Novelist’s Novelist Guy, Shame’s Songs of Praise, Gaika’s Basic Volume and Nao’s Saturn, to name but a few), all five of the nominees managed to achieve major commercial success and, for the most part, were also praised by critics. Anne-Marie doesn’t really get enough praise for how well she does in streaming and sales (she had the biggest-selling debut of last year), and I think that trend may continue at the Brits, although it would be strange if she didn’t win at least one of the four awards she’s nominated for. Smith probably isn’t mainstream enough for the Brits’ liking, ditto Florence. So it’s looking like The 1975, who have done very well at the Brits in the past, or Ezra, who dominates every other nominee when it comes to album sales.

Will win: George Ezra

Who should win: Jorja Smith

The Brit Awards take place on 20 February 2019 at the O2 Arena in London, and will be broadcast live from 8pm on ITV

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