The BRITs Rising Star 2023 nominees have been revealed: RCA’s Cat Burns and Island acts FLO and Nia Archives.
The winner will be announced on 12/8. Here’s the lowdown…
Burns, whose “Go” is the fourth biggest-selling single in the U.K. YTD, is signed to Since 93/RCA. Hailing from South London, she’s a former BRIT School student, following in the footsteps of Adele, Amy Winehouse and FKA Twigs. In 2016, she released her debut EP, Adolescent, which preceded her debut single, “Sober,” in 2018. “Go” went viral on TikTok toward the end of 2021, peaked at #2 in the Official Singles Chart this year and became Burn’s first platinum-selling hit. Her six-track EP, emotionally unavailable, arrived in May and Burns supported Ed Sheeran on the European leg of his Mathematics Tour this summer. Next up, she’ll support Sam Smith on their U.K. & Ireland headline tour next spring.
FLO—a British R&B girl consisting of 20-year-olds Renée, Jorja and Stella—released their debut single, “Cardboard Box,” earlier this year. They’ve since performed on Jimmy Kimmel and Later…with Jools Holland, and were nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBOs. The recent Happi remix of “Cardboard Box” took over TikTok after a Polynesian-creator’s dance routine went viral on the platform, leading to more than 400k creations a day at its peak. FLO released their debut EP, The Lead, this summer, which has now amassed over 70m global streams. They’ve gained fans in the likes of Brandy, JoJo, SZA, Victoria Monét, Missy Elliott, Kelly Rowland and Sugababes and have been tipped by The Guardian, i-D, Dazed, NME, Complex and Pitchfork.
Archives is described as making “soft-hearted lo-fi jungle for introverted extroverts.” She takes inspiration from her Jamaican heritage and the gospel music she was exposed to as a child. After working with other producers in her teens, Archives taught herself production. Her music channels influences such as Roots Manuva, Burial, Amy Winehouse, Radiohead, Erykah Badu, Kelis, Lemon D, Jennifer Lara and her jungle hero, Roni Size. Archives first EP, Headz Gone West, was made mainly in the early hours of the morning in her cramped bedroom studio in August. After moving to London from Manchester, she’s expanded her base of collaborators, working with IZCO, Jakwob, Wu-Lu, V Recordings and others.
