Nominees: Courtney Barnett; James Bay; Sam Hunt; Tori Kelly; Meghan TrainorWho Should Win: James Bay Sam Smith took away last year's prize, and out of this year's nominees, Meghan Trainor is probably the only one who has come close to replicating the Brit singer's success. Despite this, James Bay should win the award after releasing the stunning album, Chaos and the Calm. You may recognise James Bay from his trademark fedora hat and casual style, but be known, Bay's voice and song writing skills are exquisite. Hold Back The River was one of the biggest hits in the UK in 2015 and his song, Scars showcased a soulful, indie sound that feels completely authentic, rather than majorly processed. Although Trainor is definitely the most popular of all the nominees, her throwback, doo-wop influenced singles quickly grew irritating as her overexposure caused many people around the world to grow immensely aggravated at the sound of Meghan moaning about her body issues. While the other nominees have wonderful voices (Tori Kelly especially), some of their songs lack the authenticity and passion that James Bay exhumes when singing live. Check out any of his live performances and you will see a true singer and song writer doing exactly what he loves doing, singing about things that are personally important to him. James' star is continuing to rise and as with any new artist, their second album can make or break their career. A lot of artists fall victim to the 'Sophomore Slump', but as Bay's passion and stories capture your attention so well, I predict we will be seeing his hat for a long time to come.
