Breakthrough pop star Dua Lipa leads the nominations for this year’s Brit Awards, collecting five nods including best British female solo artist. The New Rules singer, 22, is also shortlisted for best album where she will face stiff competition from Ed Sheeran whose barnstorming third album, Divide, sees him nominated for four gongs. The singer-songwriter is also up for best single of the year as well as best British male solo artist alongside four artists who released their debut solo albums in 2017 – Liam Gallagher, Stormzy, Loyle Carner and Rag’N’Bone Man. In the best British band category, the return of Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz sees the animated outfit nominated alongside London Grammar, Wolf Alice, The xx and Royal Blood. Taylor Swift, Lorde, Bjork, Pink and Alicia Keys are all nominated for best international female while actor Donald Glover’s musical alter-ego, Childish Gambino, earns a nod in the best international male category.

Source: Irish Examiner January 13, 2018 18:45 UTC