8. Lianne La Havas (Jamaica)
Though she’s only released one album, London singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas already has a slew of awards to her name—and the distinction of having Prince premiere new music in her living room. The 25-year-old La Havas, who grew up with her Jamaican grandparents in South London, already counts the The Purple One, as well as Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, and Robert Plant among her fans. Listen to her 2012 album Is Your Love Big Enough?, and you’ll immediately understand why. La Havas’ fresh take on R&B/folk/pop, combined with her effortless vocals, makes for a catchy (yet evocative) collection of songs. Though her most recent release is a Prince collaboration called “Clouds,” photos of La Havas at Kingston’s Big Ship Studios with Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor suggest that her next album might actually have more than a little Caribbean influence. In her own words, she’s “in search of [her] roots in Jamaica”—so keep an eye out for a new sound that might add a little reggae to that irresistible pop/soul mix. Here she is mixing up her tune “Au Cinema” with Stevie Wonder’s classic ode to Bob Marley, “Master Blaster (Jammin’).”