7 pop stars under 25 making music for all ages
While age and experience can definitely contribute to creative brilliance, there are also some ridiculously talented youngsters making great music at the moment - and the Radio 2 playlist is a good place to discover them.
Check out 7 of the most talented singer/songwriters around, all of whom are 25 or under.
Sam Smith
Sam Smith: "I wrote the whole album in my pants!"
Sam Smith delivers his new single Too Good at Goodbyes and fills us in on where he's been
Here's a man who needs no introduction. Sam Smith is one of the biggest pop stars in the world and had scored 4 of his 5 solo No.1 singles before he turned 25 earlier this year.
He made his name with classic-sounding soul songs such as Stay With Me and I'm Not The Only One and on his second album, The Thrill Of It All, says he's been influenced by artists such as Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin and Etta James.
Speaking about his second album to Radio 1, Sam says he wanted to "get better lyrically" after listening to these iconic artists.
"It was important for it to be poetic and Joni Mitchell was, I think, one of the most beautiful poets in the world," he said.
"That's what I tried to take from listening to those artists."
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Miley Cyrus
Stop thinking about the twerking, the tongue-poking and any of her controversial performances because Miley Cyrus has changed, big time, both personally and professionally.
In 2017 the 24-year-old ditched her party girl image once and for all when she returned with country-inspired singles Malibu and Younger Now. It's not just the music that has a mature sound, her head is seriously screwed on when it comes to her place as a role model to fans.
"Naturally people evolve and, for me, music is necessary for such a different reason every year," she said during a recent performance for Radio 1.
"I think teaching my fans about responsibility is my number one priority.
"I guess the message is so different for where we're at politically and socially so I just think that's driven my music. Politics always drives my music."
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Harry Styles
"I'm pretty excited to have a job again!" - Harry Styles chats to Dermot about Sign Of The Times
Harry Styles chats to Dermot about song-writing and his huge debut single.
When One Direction first hit the music scene singing That's What Makes You Beautiful, who'd have thought a few years down the line Harry Styles would have be making grown up pop music critics would compare to David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Elton John?
When Dermot O'Leary compared his debut single, Sign Of The Times, to Elton John's Rocket Man on his Radio 2 show, Harry seemed to approve.
The 23-year-old was praised for not chasing Top 10 singles with his self-titled debut album and making a record inspired by sounds of the 70s and 80s.
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Gabrielle Aplin
If you can remember Christmas 2012, then you might recall it was soundtracked by Gabrielle Aplin's cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's The Power Of Love.
That song was very lovely but this 24-year-old has moved on. Gabrielle has ditched the festive covers for slinky pop sounds, which can currently be heard on the Radio 2 playlist.
And if the upbeat sounds of Waking Up Slow or Miss You aren't up your street, the 24-year-old has previously released two albums of folk-influenced pop, which fall somewhere between the sounds of Laura Marling and Emeli Sande.
Gabrielle performed a live session for Radio 2 in August, but it wasn't the first time she's joined us. She's been welcome here since at least 2013.
She performed There's A Place for Radio 2 at Abbey Road
Niall Horan
Niall Horan's golf tutor: "I send videos to Justin Rose and he gives me little tips!"
Niall talks about his first solo album and working on his golf game.
Another former One Direction member? Absolutely. 24-year-old Niall Horan has found a place for himself on the Radio 2 playlist over the past year with singles This Town, Slow Hands and Too Much to Ask.
He shared his musical inspirations with Ken Bruce on a recent edition of Tracks Of My Years, revealing a love for US rockers Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.
His debut album Flicker is released later this month and to be frank, we can’t wait!
Lorde
Lorde thinks Mary Berry is a 'LEGEND!'
Lorde tells Jo about her obsession with The Great British Bake Off and Mary Berry.
Lorde is a global popstar with a difference. She's smart, she has a positive message and she's barely out of her teens. She's not like most 20 year olds and she's not like most pop stars.
As well as listing musicians among her influences, this New Zealand star is also inspired by iconic authors when she is writing music. Singles such as Green Light or Perfect Places are as likely to have been inspired by Raymond Carver, Sylvia Plath or TS Eliot as they are Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead or Bon Iver.
Her song Green Light is one of the biggest pop singles of 2017 and album Melodrama was released to widespread critical acclaim, with some reviewers saying it is one of the best of the year.
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George Ezra
"I found a bedroom on the internet" - George Ezra explains why he lived with strangers in Barcelona for a month
George Ezra joins Dermot for a chat about his new record and future plans.
George Ezra blew our socks off in 2014 when he released his debut album Wanted On Voyage and singles including Budapest and Blame It On Me. Now older and wiser at the grand old age of 24, he returned to our playlist in 2017 with his joyful song, Don't Matter Now.
His music is inspired by classic singer/songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Tom Waits.
"Listening to Bob Dylan’s debut, it’s a twenty year old singing, and the songs make sense to me on that level," he told The Telegraph in 2014.
"I started buying Dylan’s records in order of release, and I felt like I was growing with him."
Wanted On Voyage sold more than a million copies in the UK and is a must for any music lover's collection.
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