Herefordshire music sensation Ellie Goulding marked a tremendous rise to stardom this week when she collected a Brit Award as the critics’ choice of 2010.
Goulding, whose music has been branded ‘folktronica’, was named as the act ‘most likely to break through next year’ at the nominations show on Monday. She will collect her award at the main event on February 16.
The 22-year-old has already topped the BBC Sound of 2010 list, which has previously heralded the careers of artists such as Adele, Mika and 50 Cent.
The list of promising music acts, who more often than not go on to chart success, is compiled with the help of 165 music experts including NME editor Krissi Murison, BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe and Alison Howe, producer of Jools Holland’s TV showcase Later.
As well as being named critics’ choice in this year’s Brit Awards,
Goulding, whose music blends traditional acoustic singer-songwriter style with electronica, said: “I didn’t expect to get anywhere a few years ago. I didn’t even expect to have a record deal. I’m very happy.”
Goulding, from Kington, learned to play the guitar and write her own folk-inspired music at the age of 15.
It was when she was studying drama at university that she was exposed to electronic music and, with the help of chart act Frankmusik, who she contacted on MySpace, she developed her own sound which has been likened to the music of Imogen Heap and Lykke Li.
The Brit Awards 2010 will feature performances by Florence And The Machine – duetting with Dizzee Rascal – plus Lady GaGa, JLS and Kasabian. In addition to the usual clutch of award categories, organisers are searching for winners of two further categories drawn from the past 30 years – best Brits performance and best album since the event began.