TOP 10 - MUSIC ARTISTS
Elmiene
Born Abdala Elamin and raised in Oxford, the British-Sudanese singer-songwriter has captivated audiences with his soulful voice. Elmiene’s remarkable talent has resonated across diverse fields, from the club scene to high fashion. His breakthrough track “Golden” was chosen to soundtrack Virgil Abloh’s final runway show, and Stormzy personally reached out to collaborate with him.
Emeli Sande
Emeli Sandé was born in Sunderland to a Zambian father and an English mother. Her debut album, Our Version of Events, was the best-selling album of 2012 in the UK and the second highest of 2013. Certified 7x Platinum, it sold over 2.3 million copies and won the 2013 BRIT Award for Best British Album. The album spent seven weeks at No.1 and set a record by staying in the top 10 for 63 consecutive weeks. Sandé has discussed the challenges of being the only mixed-race family in her area and how music helped her find her identity.
Jay Sean
Known by his stage name Jay Sean, the British singer and songwriter first made waves in the UK’s Asian Underground scene as a member of the Rishi Rich Project. Today, the West London-born artist has achieved global success, earning widespread acclaim and adoration. His Indian heritage has been a key element in his remarkable journey, and he continues to be recognised as the most successful solo British Asian male artist in history.
Naughty Boy
Shahid Khan, professionally known as Naughty Boy, is a Pakistani-English DJ, record producer, music programmer, and songwriter. The GRAMMY Award-winning producer dedicated over a decade to building his music career, ultimately achieving remarkable collaborations with stars such as Beyoncé and Rihanna.
RAYE
RAYE is an English singer and songwriter of Ghanaian-Swiss descent. Her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, was released independently and garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success. At the Brit Awards 2024, RAYE made history by winning six out of the seven categories for which she was nominated.
Rina Sawayama
Rina Sawayama is a Japanese-British singer, actress, and model. Born in Japan, she moved to London with her parents at the age of five. Rina released her debut album during the height of the global pandemic, and her bold move paid off. The alternative-pop album has garnered over 100 million streams worldwide and earned a spot on more than 50 “Album of the Year” lists for 2020. Sawayama is also a vocal advocate against racism and misogyny in the industry.
Saloni
Saloni is a singer-songwriter whose music blends Pop, R&B, and Bollywood influences, seamlessly merging her Eastern and Western worlds. Known for singing in over 10 languages, this British Asian artist with deep Indian roots aims to weave multiple languages into her original music, creating a universal appeal for South Asians everywhere.
Tinie Tempah
Better known by his stage name Tinie, this British rapper and singer, born to Nigerian parents, has achieved as many UK #1 hits as Michael Jackson and Elton John. In 2020, Tinie appeared in the Channel 4 documentary The Talk, which explored the conversations Black Britons have with their children to help them navigate racism.
ZAYN
Zayn Malik, known as Zayn, is a British singer who first gained attention as a solo contestant on The X Factor in 2010 before rising to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction. This year, he made a notable return to music with his latest solo album, Room Under the Stairs. The album debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, marking Zayn’s first top 40 entry as a solo artist.