Doncaster singer Yungblud makes top three in prestigious BBC music award

The rocker, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, was one of 10 rising acts named on BBC Music's Sound of 2020 list.

And earlier today, it was revealed that the singer has secured third spot in the rundown.

Now in its 18th year, the Sound of... list showcases the hottest new artists for the coming year. Past winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Years & Years, 50 Cent and Sigrid.

It is voted for by 170 music critics, broadcasters and DJs, as well as former nominees such as Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi.

On receiving his nomination he said: "We were so surprised [to be named], I couldn't believe what was happening at all.

"When people look back on us in 10 years, I want them to be like, 'They were a movement and they did something that was that was completely original and a liberation within people'."

The Doncaster-born singer was the most high-profile name on the 2020 longlist, with 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify - more than all the other artists combined.

The 22-year-old pop punk star has positioned himself as the voice of a generation, singing about topics like sexual assault, corporate greed, anxiety and "the underrated youth".

The annual Sound of list celebrates musicians who have not been the lead artist on a UK top 10 single or album by 21 October 2019. Artists who have appeared on TV talent shows within the last three years are also ineligible.

His dad Justin was an antique guitar dealer and ran Doncaster’s much-missed Music Ground guitar shop in Hall Gate for many years.

The shop attracted the likes of Noel Gallagher and The Smiths’ Johnny Marr as well as Canadian rocker Bryan Adams during its heyday. His grandad Rick also played with glam rock legends T-Rex in the 1970s.

His singles began attracting popularity in 2017 and his debut album came out in 2018 and was entitled 21st Century Liability.

He’s already played gigs all over the UK and also around the world too, also taking to the stages at this year’s Leeds and Reading Festivals.

The ambitious performer has already been described as an "icon" for the UK's suburban youth, and a "relentless" and "infectious" live performer - who is unapologetically "androgynous" and "over-the-top". He's also recently opened up about his fluid sexuality and how having ADHD informs his music.

He told the BBC: “I've done so much living in the past year and the next album is about all this stuff.

“We blew up all over the world, I fell in love and fell out of love. I nearly lost my mum and I got really depressed for a bit and I came out of that, but when I look back on last year... I wrote a song the other night called A Weird Time Of Life and it's going to be on the record.

“It's been a weird time of life but the best time of life and I wouldn't change it.”

“The best songs I've ever written are going to come out. I’m just building it, taking it one fan at a time because there are still people out there who feel like it's not OK to be who they are.

“And I don't want people to feel like that, as I've felt like that...”