Sam Smith Tops BBC Sound Of 2014 Poll

British singer-songwriter Sam Smith has one of the year’s most anticipated albums with In The Lonely Hour dropping next May, and now there’s an even bigger reason to follow the crooner: He was crowned the winner of the BBC Sound of 2014 Poll today, as 170 music critics, bloggers and broadcasters picked him as the artist most likely to define music in the coming year. (Last year’s winner was HAIM, and we all know how that turned out; previous winners include Ellie Goulding and Adele.)

“I’m completely speechless,” said Smith. “It’s a huge compliment to be recognised by the industry and the BBC in this way. I really didn’t expect it.” The singer made waves as the featured artist on Naughty Boy‘s hit “La La La,” with his recent solo single “Money On My Mind” on rotation in the UK.

One-third of last year’s winning trio, Alana Haim, advised Smith to set his priorities for the coming year, specifically offering that he should “play as much as [he] can” and “get [his] record done.” (Sound advice.)

The shortlist is as follows:

1: Sam Smith 2: Ella Eyre 3: Banks 4: Sampha 5: George Ezra

Watch Smith’s In the Lonely Hour album trailer below.

[via NME]