Emeli Sandé, a soulful Scottish-born newcomer on the English pop scene, emerged as the big winner at the 2013 Brit Awards in London on Wednesday, winning best British female artist and taking the album of the year prize for her debut “Our Version of Events,†according to wire reports.
“This is a dream, really,†said Ms. Sandé, who bested Alt-J, Mumford & Sons, Plan B and Paloma Faith for the album prize. She thanked everyone “who made me feel like I’m part of something much bigger.â€
Another newcomer, Ben Howard, a somber folksinger, also won two awards â€" for best British male artist and British breakthrough act. Fresh off their success at the Grammys, where they won album of the year for “Babel,†the folk-rock band Mumford & Sons were best British group.
Most of the awards, England’s version of the Grammys, are chosen by more than 1,000 musicians, critics and record industry figures, though sme are decided by a public vote. Though it has been criticized as dull in the past, the awards ceremony has become a lively affair with a dinner for hundreds of artists and industry figures followed by a televised concert at the O2 Arena. The rock band Muse opened the show with their song “Supremacy.†Among the performers were Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake.
The Black Keys were named best international group, while Lana Del Rey took the trophy for international female solo artist. (She won the international breakthrough award last year.) The international male solo trophy went to the R&B singer Frank Ocean, who remarked it was “definitely a long way from working fast food in New Orleans.â€
