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Context Wins Brand New For 2012 Unsigned Competition

Check out the acts who just missed out on joining the coveted MTV list...

Over the past couple of months we’ve been looking for the best unsigned acts in the UK as part of Brand New For 2012.
It’s been an incredible experience and we’ve been blown away by the quality and enthusiasm of all the entries. You’ve been voting for your favourites, and we’ve been monitoring the online buzz around every entry.

MTV’s team of music experts spent Sunday deliberating on the top 20 acts and have chosen our winner... the incredible Context!

With a dubstep & hip-hop infused feel that's bang on the money, Context is inspired as much by the low-key Bristol DnB sounds of Portishead and Massive Attack as London based producers like James Blake, The Streets or Burial.

Context now enters the MTV Brand New Shortlist with our 9 other acts and it’s up to you to decide who will become MTV’s Brand New Artist for 2012.


Check out the other 19 unsigned artists who made our shortlist but just missed out on the prize. Any one of these could be the stars of the future and prove that the UK's music scene continues to go from strength-to-strength...

Brand New For 2012 Unsigned Runners-Up:

Arjun
This slick track has a bit of everything. Layers of guitars and vocals make this at first understated ballad that has a fresh Urban twist. It’s diverse talents like this that make UK music what it is today.
'https://www.facebook.com/ArjunMusic
http://www.myspace.com/arjunproductions
http://twitter.com/#!/arjunartist'
CRIM3S
This is a chilling, squawling, tsunami of a tune that is as unsettling as it is fascinating. If you can imagine PJ Harvey guesting with The Knife you’re almost there. It’s THAT good!
'http://www.crim3s.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CRIM3S
http://crim3s.tumblr.com/'
Dede
There’s something so incredible about this track and it’s not just the amazing vocals or the doo-wop swagger of the rhythm. The chorus is big enough to turn the QE2 around inside it and about as relentless as a runaway train. Hats off to the sound of 2012.
'http://thisisdede.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thisisdede
http://twitter.com/#!/dedeuk'
Gabrielle Aplin
2012 is going to be a great year for Gabrielle Aplin. This is as close to perfect as anything you’ll hear today. Her voice is as fragile as Ellie Goulding’s, and can match Adele for soul.
'http://gabrielleaplin.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/gabrielleaplinofficial
http://twitter.com/#!/gabrielleaplin
http://www.myspace.com/gabrielleaplin
http://www.youtube.com/user/gaberrz'
Delooze
This girl has got a VOICE! An immense track, there’s a pomp and ceremony to it that brings to mind a sweeping cinematic industrial landscape. Like a collaboration between Kate Bush, Josh Homme and Hans Zimmer.
'http://deloozemusic.com/
http://delooze.bandcamp.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/deloozemusic'
The Dirty Beggars
The band name really doesn’t do justice where this track is concerned. We came to it expecting a cheeky jerky knees-up but this is a delicate, country-infused ballad with banjo and fiddle offset beautifully by block harmonies reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac in their subtler moments.
'https://www.facebook.com/thedirtybeggars
http://www.myspace.com/thedirtybeggars1'
Esco Williams
Following in the tradition of smooth Neo-Soul crooners like Maxwell, D’Angelo and John Legend, Esco Williams has served up a track that is steeped in the old school but with a fresh contemporary edge.
'http://escowilliams.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Esco-Williams/244892518719?sk=app_178091127385'
Little Eye
Little Eye’s Facebook proclaims them to be massive fans of Paramore and that influence is clear in the emotionally over wrought delivery and the catchy hooks, but there’s also a little bit of Biffy Clyro about them. Never a bad thing!
'https://www.facebook.com/LittleEyeOfficial
http://www.youtube.com/popchiken3
http://twitter.com/#!/Iamlittleye'
Lyracis
This guy is already MASSIVE and it’s not hard to hear why. Following in the footsteps of Tinie Tempah, Lyracis is doling out the same kind of enormously-chorused swagger- pop rap tracks as the great and the good of the UK scene.
'http://www.lyracis.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/lyracis
http://www.myspace.com/lyracisonline'
Sam McCarthy
Sam’s got the kind of voice you would give years to perfect but he makes it sound so effortless and pure. This is sweeping epic and sure to be huge in 2012.
'http://www.youtube.com/user/sammccarthy1981
http://www.myspace.com/sammccarthy
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-McCarthy/209925002358504'
Kobi Onyame
This intricately layered tune revolves around a fuzzed-out bassline with a block vocal chorus that is a minimalist gem! Easily one of our favourite tracks from the whole Brand New Unsigned competition.
'http://www.kobionyame.com/
https://www.facebook.com/kobionyame
http://www.youtube.com/kobionyame
http://www.myspace.com/kobionyame
http://twitter.com/#!/kobionyame'
Page 44
These guys feel like a trip down emo-memory lane for us. Like an updated version of Sunny Day Real Estate or Jimmy Eat World but with the rawness and energy of the best of British.
'http://www.myspace.com/page44
https://www.facebook.com/Page44official'
Jermaine Riley
If Labrinth is on the lookout for another act to buddy up with, he should look no further than Jermaine Riley. He’s got the voice, the look and the production to make the perfect Kanye to Lab’s JayZ.
'http://www.jermaineriley.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jermainerileymusic
http://twitter.com/#!/SUPERsays'
Saint Saviour
It's hard to believe this isn't Scandinavian. Everything about it screams icy winds and frozen blocks of ice cascading into a slate grey sea. This is pitch-black pop that is incomparable to anything in recent years.
'https://www.facebook.com/saintsaviourmusic
http://saintsaviour.co.uk/ http://twitter.com/#!/saintsaviour
http://www.youtube.com/user/oursaintsaviour
http://www.myspace.com/oursaintsaviour'
Scru Fizzer
It will hurt your brain if you try and keep up with Scrufizzer’s flow. Unlike absolutely everything else out there at the moment this guy matches his tommy gun delivery with a whip smart wit.
'http://twitter.com/#!/Scrufizzer
http://www.myspace.com/mrscrufizzer
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrufizzer/157300007619701?sk=wall'
The Stow
What you think is going to be a refreshing reimagining of House Of The Rising Sun suddenly transforms into a bombastic rock/rap epic before lurching into another dimension three bars later. The changes aren’t jarring, they’re liberating. The excitement is not knowing where The Stow will take you next but you can’t wait to get there!
'http://thestowonline.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/thestow'
Taylor Jones
This kid is going to be a huge star. Like a credible One Direction or the UKs answer to Justin Bieber. He’s only 17!!! Unbelievable.
'https://www.facebook.com/TaylorJonesMusic
http://twitter.com/#!/TaylorJonesTJ
http://www.youtube.com/TaylorJonesTJ'
Velvet Stream
This is the perfect antidote to this miserable December weather. The vocalist has something of a Debbie Harry at her most ecstatic about her and The Beach Boys backing vocals give this tune a distinctly West Coast 60s vibe.
'https://www.facebook.com/pages/Velvet-Stream/125221514209590
http://www.myspace.com/velvetstream
http://twitter.com/#!/velvetstream
http://www.youtube.com/velvetstream'
Vida
It's looking like 2012 could be the year of the girl group and Vida are primed to make a massive impact straight out of the gate. This massive ragga infused pop tune is going to be big next year.
'http://www.vidaofficial.com/
https://www.facebook.com/vidaofficial
http://twitter.com/#!/vidaofficial
http://www.youtube.com/vidatubeofficial'

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