Adele Tops BBC Sound of 2008 Poll

Adele Adkins, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter, whose soulful poignant jazzy vocals have catapulted her into the limelight, has topped the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll, which showcases the best new music talent for the new year.

ilikemusic.com's editor was among 150 of the UK's most knowledgeable and influential music critics, editors and broadcasters invited by the BBC to select their favourite new acts in the poll.

Late in 2007 Adele was named as the winner of The BRITs brand new award, 'Critics Choice', by The BPI, the UK recorded music industry association. Adele enrolled at the Brit performing arts school, whose graduates include Amy Winehouse, Katie Melua, Leona Lewis and Kate Nash.

"I was there at the same time as Kate and Hugh from the Kooks," Adele says.

Welsh songstress Duffy is second in the poll, although a public vote is being run alongside the top 10 and Duffy is leading.

The Sound of 2008 top ten:

1. Adele
2. Duffy
3. The Ting Tings
4. Glasvegas
5. Foals
6. Vampire Weekend
7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
8. Black Kids
9. MGMT
10. Santogold

Other ilikemusic fave's include Duffy, Foals and Santagold, plus Twisted Wheel, Nate James, Deadmau5 and Lucky Soul.

Duffy is a Welsh soul singer who has been dubbed the new Dusty Springfield. Foals are a punk-funk five-piece from Oxford who build intelligent indie with layers of pulsating guitars and beats. And, in the number 10 spot, Santagold, well, Björk invited her on tour; Mark Ronson recruited her to co-write a song for Lily Allen; Spank Rock regularly pulls her onstage; and M.I.A.'s producers Diplo and Switch volunteered to work on her wildly eclectic debut.