Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement By Ian Youngs

Music reporter, BBC News

Electro-pop singer Little Boots has come top of the BBC's Sound of 2009 list, which aims to highlight the best new music talent for the new year. Little Boots is 24-year-old singer and keyboard player Victoria Hesketh from Blackpool, whose influences include David Bowie, Gary Numan and Kate Bush. The Sound of 2009 list is based on tips from 134 leading UK tastemakers, who named their favourite three new acts. Last year, Adele came top, followed by Duffy, The Ting Tings and Glasvegas. BBC SOUND OF 2009 TOP 10 1. Little Boots 2. White Lies (above) 3. Florence and the Machine 4. Empire of the Sun 5. La Roux 6. Lady GaGa 7. VV Brown 8. Kid Cudi 9. Passion Pit 10. Dan Black

See music videos and interviews with the Sound of 2009 acts Send us your comments This year, dark London rock trio White Lies came second, with spirited singer-songwriter Florence and the Machine in third and Australian fantasy pop duo Empire of the Sun at four. The tastemakers were asked to pick their favourite three new acts for 2009, with the tips counted and compiled to create the list. The participants ranged from magazine editors and newspaper critics to DJs, radio and TV heads of music and influential bloggers. Victoria Hesketh adopted the Little Boots name a year ago after splitting from indie trio Dead Disco, and settling out on a synthesiser pop sound. She was spotted by Joe Goddard of electronic darlings Hot Chip, who has championed her and produced some of her songs. "It is amazing that so many people want to write about me and give me opportunities, and I'm so grateful for that," Hesketh said of her place at the top of the BBC Sound of 2009 list. "For enough of those pundits to pick me as their favourite act is absolutely incredible and really mindblowing. I'm just so happy that it connects to those people. "I hope it goes beyond that and translates and it isn't just some bubble. Adele (left) and Duffy came in the top spots on last year's list

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"I really hope that for every one of those amazing people who writes about you or plays you on their radio show, that will reach 1,000 people. Because that is what is going to make me be able to keep doing what I love." Peter Robinson, editor of Popjustice.com, which has supported Little Boots, described Hesketh as "the perfect pop star". "She knocks out great tunes and takes her music seriously while celebrating the giddy heights of pop at its best," he said. "As a result, she understands pop in a way that puts her miles ahead of her nearest rivals." Alison Howe, producer of BBC Two's Later... With Jools Holland, put Little Boots on the show in November. "Imagine if Debbie Harry had come from Blackpool and played the synthesiser," she said. "2009 looks set to be dominated by the sound of electro-pop and Ms Boots should be one if its stars with her wonderfully catchy pop songs." The BBC Sound of... series is now in its seventh year. Mika, Corinne Bailey Rae and Keane are among the previous winners. Little Boots will be in session on BBC 6 Music's George Lamb show on Friday between 1000 and 1300 GMT.



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