The neo-soul singer described the award, previously won by Adele and Sam Smith, as ‘such a special way to end the year’

The Brits critics’ choice award, typically a bellwether of pop music success, has been won by Jorja Smith.

The Walsall neo-soul singer has already been featured on two tracks by Canadian rap superstar Drake, and scored a club hit with On My Mind, a collaboration with grime and garage producer Preditah. Her solo singles Beautiful Little Fools, Teenage Fantasy and Where Did I Go? have all earned millions of streams and YouTube views. The chairman of the Brit awards, Jason Iley, said she had “a huge future ahead of her”.

Smith said it was “such a special way to end the year … it’s been an unforgettable 2017 during which I’ve fulfilled so many of my dreams.”

The award, voted for by figures in the music industry from major labels to the media, is designed to “highlight and identify future British recording talent”, and has previously been won by Adele, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith. 2017’s winner, Rag’N’Bone Man, went on to score the second-fastest selling album in the UK this year.

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Also nominated for this year’s award were rapper Stefflon Don, who has already hit the Top 10 with her track Hurtin’ Me, and soul singer Mabel, daughter of Neneh Cherry, whose slow-burn hit Finders Keepers also recently reached the Top 10. It was the first all-female shortlist, and Smith ends a run of five years of solo male winners.