North London soul singer named as star of the future

Soul singer Michael Kiwanuka has been tipped for the top in 2012 in a poll of music business insiders. The north Londoner topped the BBC Sound of 2012 list of most promising musical stars for the year ahead, with his acoustic soul sound.

He said: “I think it’s every musician’s dream to have any sort of recognition for their art, something that is so personal. This is something that I don’t take for granted.”

Kiwanuka was joined in the top five by US singer-songwriter Frank Ocean and rapper Azealia Banks.