This year's Brit Awards nominations have landed and - unlike last year's fiasco, when due to the new genderless awards categories, no female artists were nominated for artist of the year, which went to Harry Styles - there is a veritable army of representation of brilliant women in the running.
The Brits have clearly learned from last year's debacle, which caused a major backlash, and at this week's nominations launch at the Hilton Park Lane in London, the chair of the Brits, Damian Christian said: “Last year we listened to your views and expanded the artist of the year category”, adding, “It's important that we listen, consult and learn.” This was echoed by the new female CEO of the British Phonographic Industry which runs the Awards ceremony, Dr Jo Twist, who highlighted how women enjoyed a record year in 2023, with women artists spending the most time at the top of the charts since the charts began in 1952! As such, out of the new 10 - as opposed to last year's five - nominations for artist of the year 2024, six on the list were women.
Did anyone else see that coming?
So here, as we look forward to the biggest night in British music, we give you a roundup of some of the brilliant female artists to watch out for on Saturday 2nd March. While there are plenty of the usual suspects in the running - aka the global superstars that are: Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo and Dua Lipa (who will also be performing live at the O2), here's a selection of our lesser known favourites - some of whom you may not have even heard of yet.
Okay, we're pretty sure you'll have heard of Raye - but this lady from South London has broken all Brits records this year, racking up an amazing 7 Brit nominations including artist of the year, best album, best new artist, best pop act and two in the best song category - Escapism, featuring US rapper 070 Shake, and Prada, a collaboration with Casso and D-Block Europe. This is the most nominations for one artist in one year and she beats Craig David and Robbie Williams who previously held the record at six nominations each.
Raye's success is even more impactful as in 2021, after complaining that her major label was refusing to release her debut album, she decided to put it out independently instead. "As far as the industry was concerned, I was down and out," Raye said yesterday. "Never in my wildest dreams would I think that trying again would mean seven Brit nominations!"
Born in South Africa and raised in Southampton, 20-year-old Kenya Grace has been making music since she was 10-years-old. Her no. 1 single, Strangers, think vibey synth with a drum and base core is nominated for Song of the Year.
Best New Artist nomination R&B sensation, Mahalia, is in our opinion, already pretty well-established, with two past Brit nominations and even a Grammy nomination already under her belt. Stands a pretty good chance of winning we reckon.
“I know some incredible women who are still so shaken by their traumas.”
Another Best New Artist nomination for Pink Pantheress, aka Victoria Beverley Walker, who's also been on our radar for a while now. Check out her recent remix of her hit, That Boy's a Liar in collaboration with Ice Spice.
Secures her fourth Brit nomination with a Best British Artist nod. If Arlo wins, it'll be her second Brit after nabbing best breakthrough artist at the 2021 ceremony. Good luck Arlo!
Little Simz won her first Brit in 2021 for Best New Act, then stole our hearts winning the Best New Artist at 2022's Brits, when she brought her Mum up onstage. Since then rapper Little Simz has gone on to win the acclaimed Mercury Prize, star in Top Boy and The Power and this year is nominated for no less than three Brits: British Artist of the Year, British Album of the Year for No Thank You and Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act.
Jorja has been a long-term GLAMOUR girlie and we've been fans since she won her first Critics Choice Award Brit in 2017. Since then she's gone on to be nominated for the Mercury Prize, nabbed another Brit for Best Female Artist in 2018 and this year she's up for Best R&B Act.
Hailing from Kent, Venbee's track, Messy in Heaven, produced by Drum and Bass producer, Goddard is nominated in the Song of the Year category. We're excited to see what's instore for Venbee.
GLAMOUR's very own Woman of the Year Rising Star 2023 is nominated in the Best New Artist category and when interviewed in the Brits nominations video at the launch, she even called out winning one of our awards as one of her highlights of last year! We love you Olivia!
If you haven't checked out The Last Dinner Party, do so now. Their music is beautiful as is their gypsy folk floaty dress New Romantic style. Indeed 5-piece band, Emily Roberts, Lizzie Mayland, Georgia Davies, Abigail Morris and Aurora Nischevci might just be our current fave band of girlies, especially as they've now been named as this year's Brits Rising Star.
This West-London born R&B genius, whose real name is the magnificently monikered Cleopatra Zvenzdana Nikolic is also the lead singer of the band Sault. Both Cleo and Sault are nominated in the Best R&B Act category - which makes for an interesting night!
One of the International Artist of the Year nominations and also taking the R&B world by storm with her beautiful poetic lyrics, American artist, SZA is a worthy contender on the international stage.
New York born Caroline co-founded the Indie group Chairlift before breaking out on her own. Also deeply deserving of a nomination in the International Artist of the Year category.
Cameroonian and American singer and former US The Voice contestant is best known for her breakout Afrobeats single People, which has been nominated in this year's Best International Song category.
This Berlin-based South Korean DJ and singer is already one of our one to watch women in music and now her hit (It Goes Like) Na Na Na is nominated for Best International Song of the Year. Fun. Go Peggy!
This Irish dance-pop singer-songwriter's hit Givinh Me is also a strong contender for Best International Song of the Year. The video is pretty ace too.
If you haven't already, we implore you to listen to Water, Tyla's beautiful hit single. We love Tyla and so it seems does the rest of the world. We think she may well win the Best International Song of the Year (soz to the other ladies nominated, but that's our humble opinion.)
**The Brit Awards with Mastercard will be broadcast on Saturday 2nd March on ITV1 and ITVX from the O2 Arena. **
