Arlissa

With a powerful voice similar to Dua Lipa, Leona Lewis, and Rita Ora, London-based singer Arlissa, an avowed Kate Bush fanatic, was signed to London Records before she turned 20. An early version of her song "Hard to Love Somebody" reached rapper Nas, who asked to put his touch on it. Arlissa flew to Los Angeles to watch Nas -- a favorite MC of her ex-boyfriend, the song's subject -- add his rhymes, and the single was released in November 2012. She finished the year by performing her second single, "Sticks and Stones," on a New Year's Eve Top of the Pops celebration and was subsequently long-listed for the BBC's Sound of 2013 poll. She followed with "Into the Light" and "Stay Up All Night." Arlissa continued to release singles over the following years, landing a collaboration with Lotus and Flo Rida in 2017 with "Champagne on Me." Another electronic single, "Hearts Ain't Gonna Lie" with Jonas Blue, arrived in 2018, as did the defiant "We Won't Move," which was taken from the original motion picture soundtrack The Hate U Give. She followed the next year with "Running." ~ Andy Kellman