Pink Pantheress has been crowned the Sound of 2022. The pop/drum and bass artist won the the well-respected Sound of 2022, awarded by BBC radio 1.
The previous winners of this award have included Pa Salieu and Celeste in the last two years, with Pa receiving the award for 2021 and Celeste in 2020. The awards have been going since 2003, and since then have been won by the likes of Adele in 2008, Sam Smith in 2015 and Michael Kiwanuka in 2012. The accomplishments of these artists since being crowned the Sound of by BBC is endless with awards such as Grammys, Brits, Mercurys and more.
The list is created by the BBC and includes a poll of music critics and industry figures, the 10 name shortlist was named by the BBC in early December and contained a number of impressive artists who will look to 2022 as the year they look to become household names. The full shortlist included Baby Queen, Central Cee, Enny, Lola Young, Mimi Webb, the eventual winner Pink Pantheress, Priya Ragu, Tems, Wet Leg and Yard Act.
Alongside the Winner of their annual award, BBC radio 1 also announced the Top 5 for 2022Central Cee placed fifth; 2021 saw the west London rapper go from a somewhat unknown to an international rap star, and we can hope 2022 sees him further his already impressive career. In fourth place was 20-year-old singer Lola Young, who had a breakout year that saw her record the John Lewis Christmas song. 21-year-old pop star Mimi Webb came in at third place, releasing a number of Top 20 singles in 2021 as well as a Top 10 debut project. In second place is indie duo Wet Leg; the pair from the Isle of Wight are childhood friends who broke out in 2021 with their debut single which they released in June, which amassed 3 million streams and 1 million video views.
Pink Pantheress was the ultimate winner of the BBC sound of 2022. The 20-year-old boasts a reasonably inconspicuous life after becoming an online sensation after her track “Just For Me” went viral on TikTok, the platform she now uses to gauge reactions for upcoming releases. Born in Bath, the artist gained her recognition while living in her university halls in London. Her sound mixes pop, drum and bass, garage and jungle, however she dubs it as “New Nostalgic”.
