Taken from this week’s Future Pop mailer. Click here to subscribe.
Q4 is just a few weeks away, and I’m ready to make my first prediction for who will be popping up on all the Sound of 2019 lists. Although still relatively unknown, 20-year-old Brighton singer Grace Carter was recently awarded the New Music Friday UK top spot for her single Why Her Not Me. I generally believe that position should be decided based on which track is of most interest to the playlist’s followers (i.e. the biggest release of the week) rather than the personal taste of its curators or the priorities of their major label friends. However, in this case I do think it was a fair choice, as the track feels like a real step up for Grace. It’s a big power ballad that would fit as naturally on Radio 1 as Heart or Magic. The gospel-inspired middle 8 is perfect for an X Factor-style surprise choir moment. I see her being the next Emeli Sandé, but hopefully her youth will help her to remain relevant and a bit more fun.