BRIT Awards: PA Salieu Nominated For The Rising Star Award

PA Salieu joins Rina Sawayama and Griff in this years nominations for the BRIT Award's Rising Star prize.

PA Salieu (left), Rina Sawayama (middle), Griff (right)

The prestigious award, formerly known as the Critics' Choice award, aims to predict the future stars of pop music and has a history of spotting some of the biggest Artists to emerge from the UK early on in their career. Previously, the award has gone to the likes of Adele, Jessie J, Sam Smith, Jorja Smith and most recently Celeste.

This years shortlist of nominees includes Coventry bred Rapper PA Salieu, who has already picked up a major award this year. His nomination for the BRIT award follows him winning the BBC Sound of 2021, which fellow Rising Star nominee Griff was also shortlisted for.

Since making his debut in January 2020 with his hit song 'Frontline' (see below), Salieu has gone from strength to strength, being recognised for his "unique musical footprint", his seamless blending of genres and ability to take inspiration from his personal life telling captivating stories through his music. Speaking on his BRIT Rising Star Award nomination he said "I am very grateful to be shortlisted for this BRIT award. Love & blessings every time! Thanks to everyone supporting my journey so far."

Also amongst this years list of nominees is singer Rina Sawayama, who despite living in the UK for the past 25 years was previously not eligible for the award as a result of not holding a British passport or dual citizenship. However, Rina managed to persuade the BRITS to rethink their eligibility rules last month which now instead state that any artist is able to qualify for the award if they have been resident in the UK for more than five years. Sawayama has received worldwide praise for her futuristic pop sound and her debut album simply named 'Sawayama' was labelled album of the year by NME.

The third and final BRIT Rising Star nomination going to Griff, who was also nominated for the Ivor Novello Rising Star Award last year. By the time Griff left school she had signed a deal with Warner Music after teaching herself songwriting and production and just 2 weeks after finishing her A-levels released her first single. The 20 year old singer is now popularly known for her catchy Electro-Pop tunes.

The winner of the BRIT Rising Star award will be announced on Friday the 19th March ahead of the BRIT Awards ceremony which will take place on Tuesday 11th May after being postponed from its original date in February due to COVID-19.