BBC Asian Network announces Future Sounds 2020 list

14 January 2020 - Press release

BBC Asian Network has announced its Future Sounds 2020 list. Celebrating the next generation of British Asian talent tipped for great things, the 10 emerging artists are Amrit Kaur, Ava Sehra, Deesh Sandhu, Harris J, Hyphen, Jazz Aulakh, Junaid Malik, Nayana IZ, RVHEEM and Shaima. 

Bobby Friction unveiled the artists on BBC Asian Network’s Future Sounds 2020 list during his show, with Amrit Kaur, Junaid Malik and Hyphen joining him live in the studio to talk about making the list. 

This year’s list of emerging talent includes West London’s Ava Sehra who has recorded and performed with Krept and Konan, Liverpool’s RVHEEM who is creating a buzz with his smooth R&B in Merseyside, and 17-year-old Jazz Aulakh from Wolverhampton who is forging his own R&B and Punjabi sound. 

Now in its third year, BBC Asian Network’s new music campaign cements the station’s commitment to championing and discovering new British Asian talent. 

Among the artists named on last year’s Future Sounds list were Joy Crookes, who recently took the No.4 spot on BBC’s Sound Of 2020 poll; RIKA, who performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Middlesbrough; and Celina Sharma, who has since been signed to Virgin EMI. 

Bobby Friction, BBC Asian Network DJ says: “I’m so excited about Future Sounds 2020 on the Asian Network. What we can definitely see this year is the emergence of a whole new generation of multi-genre, multi-talented artists who’ve literally got the world in their hands. All the artists represent a new musical vibe coming out of the UK in 2020. More importantly than that, so many of them are operating in a brown musical space, which is always a bonus for us fans of Desi music worldwide.” 

Mark Strippel, Head of Programmes for BBC Asian Network says: “Asian Network continues to proudly champion the best and brightest emerging British Asian music talent, and this year’s Future Sounds artists are no different. From Liverpool’s RVHEEM to West London’s Ava Sehra, there’s a really diverse line-up of talent and I look forward to seeing what they all achieve in 2020 and beyond.”