2015 was a great year for pop music, but wait until you see what we can expect from 2016! These are the most promising new artists who will make their way to the top in 2016!

15. Celine Cairo
Age: 25
Country: The Netherlands
Style: Pop with an electronic twist
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Hello Love’

Celine Cairo had some success in the Netherlands already with her acoustic cover of the classic ‘Iedereen Is Van De Wereld’, but 2016 is supposed to be her year with a brand new style and album. She focuses on catchy pop with an electronic sound these days and the suspenseful and infectious first single ‘Hello Love’ sounds promising to say the least.

14. Fabian Secon
Age: 18
Country: UK
Style: Progressive R&B
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Red Light’

Fabian Secon is an upcoming R&B artist from London who is determined to become the next big thing. With his progressive sound he is gaining an online following and the new single ‘Red Light’ with a lush production and raps from Mic Righteous will definitely gain him more fans.

13. Raphaella
Age: 25
Country: UK
Style: Electronic pop with Persian influences
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Fall’, ‘In The Rain’

Raphaella, raised in London with roots in Iran, is ready to bring the world her unique brand of electronic pop with Persian influences. The singles ‘Fall’ and ‘In The Rain’, both released in 2015, are great examples of what we can expect from her next year!

12. Kerri Watt
Age: 24
Country: Scotland
Style: Singer-Songwriter Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Long Way Home’

After a few singles and EPs Kerri Watt launched her successful single ‘Long Way Home’ in 2015. The dramatic ballad with a gorgeous music video is her best work so far and if she can keep this up in 2016, she might be the next big thing!

11. Alex Maxwell
Age: 21
Country: UK
Style: Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Drive’

This young singer-songwriter created quite the buzz with her single ‘Drive’, a single which sounds influenced by the likes of Lana Del Rey and Lorde. The chorus is brilliant and Monsieur Adi must have thought the same, as he offered a remix of the song which sounds hit worthy as well. We will definitely hear more from her in 2016!

10. Démira
Age: 18
Country: the Netherlands
Style: Singer-songwriter folk-pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Dragons’, ‘Trophy’

Démira participated in the Dutch Best Singer-Songwriter competition and reached the finals. She started touring and writing new tracks and in 2015 we heard two very promising and new ones with a unique and distinctive sound, called ‘Dragons’ and ‘Trophy’. With equally interesting music videos, Démira has got what it takes to become big in 2016!

09. Marina Kaye
Age: 17
Country: France
Style: Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Homeless’

Marina Kaye is one of the biggest pop stars in France at the moment. After winning France Got Talent when only 13 years old, a few years later her heartfelt single ‘Homeless’ became a huge hit and the album Fearless turned out to be the great start of a very promising career, probably not only in France, as I expect her to become an international senstation in 2016.

08. Who Is Fancy
Age: 24
Country: USA
Style: Soulful Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Boys Like You’

Who Is Fancy is the stage name of American singer-songwriter Jake Hagood, who was the talk of the town online when he mysteriously released the single ‘Goodbye’. For ‘Boys Like You’ he received help from Ariana Grande and Meghan Trainor, but his soulful vocals are strong enough to carry his catchy brand of soul and pop alone!

07. BJ The Chicago Kid
Age: That’s a secret apparently
Country: USA
Style: Hiphop, Neo Soul, R&B
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Church’

BJ The Chicago Kid has been around in the hiphop world for quite a few years working with big names, but in 2016, we might see him explode on his own, as the single ‘Church’ is definitely good and instant enough to become a big radio hit. Let’s hope he has a few other tricks up his sleeve to wow us in 2016!

06. Izzy Bizu
Age: 21
Country: UK
Style: Pop, Soul, R&B
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘White Tiger’

Longlisted for BBC’s Sound of 2016, Izzy Bizu is definitely expected to blow up in 2016 and her fresh and summery single ‘White Tiger’ could help with that. Her sound is contagiously radio friendly and that voice just sounds like summer! Expect her to be all over your radio by the time the sun comes out again!

05. Whinnie Williams
Age: 27
Country: UK
Style: Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Too Strong’

When I watch the video for Whinnie Williams’ ‘Too Strong’, what I see is star quality. She shines and her styling is perfect, but more importantly she sounds like a star too. The bluesy rhythm of ‘Too Strong’ works perfectly with her vocals and it shows she knows how to write catchy tunes. Some of you might still know her as Sunday Girl, but her moment might really come now that she is Whinnie!

04. Stephen
Age: 23
Country: USA
Style: Electronic
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Crossfire’

Los Angeles based singer, songwriter and producer Stephen has a quickly groing online following and 2016 will be his year. After the release of the emotional and electronic single ‘Crossfire’, which he wrote about the contradiction between the suffering in the world while he lives a relatively luxury life, I am sure we can expect big tunes from him.

03. Billie Marten
Age: 16
Country: UK
Style: Singer-Songwriter
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Bird’

Billie Marten is only 16 years old, but she sounds exceptionally mature for her age. The singer-songwriter was nominated in the BBC Sound of 2016 as well and she will surely see her following growing over 2016. Her beautiful piano ballad ‘Bird’ is definitely worthy to become a hit and could actually be her very own Birdy moment!

02. Dua Lipa
Age: 20
Country: UK
Style: Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘Be The One’

Could Dua Lipa become the next big pop star? I think she could! She has a distinctive smoky vocal style that sets her apart from anyone else and she writes brilliant pop tunes. The London born singer who was raised by Albanian parents from Kosovo impressed online with ‘Be The One’, a tune with strong hook after strong hook. Bring on an album please!

01. Anna of the North
Country: Norway (and New Zealand)
Style: Electronic Pop
Song(s) you need to hear: ‘The Dreamer’

When Anna Lotterud from Norway met producer Little Dreamer from New Zealand in Melbourne, Anna of the North was born. Anna creates Scandinavian dream pop and the single ‘The Dreamer’ convinced me: Anna of the North will be big! The carefully building production with loud drums is lush and her voice is so, so good! Oh and the video is gorgeous too. Anna of the North got what it takes to be 2016’s next big thing!