2020 Brit Award Winners

British Male Solo Artist – Stormzy

Stormzy scooped the coveted British Male Solo Artist award to the raucous applause of fans all over the world. Heavy is the Head, the Londoner’s latest album has received high praise since its December release, and after his headline show at Glastonbury last summer, it’s no surprise that he rose above fellow nominees to take the crown. An explosive performance followed his acceptance and featured gospel choirs, special guests, mashups, and a dearth of various styles that solidified his place in Brit Awards history

British Female Solo Artist – Mabel

After opening the show with a vibrant performance of “Don’t Call Me Up,” Mabel took home her Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist. The most nominated female artist at the Brits, Mabel has been winning the hearts of pop-lovers since debuting on the airwaves in 2017. Last year, she scored a nomination for Best British Breakthrough Act (which went to Tom Walker) and will continue to bring down venues across North America, the UK, and Europe through 2020 and beyond.

Best British Group – Foals

Foals were awarded the title of Best British group. The Oxford foursome rose above Bastille, Bring Me The Horizon, Coldplay, and D-Block Europe to take home the win after an incredible year full of tours and album releases. Frontman Yannis Philippakis offered a heartfelt thanks to “Everyone that loves our music and believes in us, and comes to the shows. It means so much to us after however many years we’ve been doing it.”

Rising Star – Celeste

The winner of the inaugural Rising Star category, breakout star Celeste Waite accepted her Brit award for her future greatness in the music industry. The 25-year-old soul singer has awed critics and fans alike with a spellbinding voice that takes influence from Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday, and Diana Ross. At the awards, she performed “Strange,” a haunting, spine-tingling ballad that draws on personal struggle and loss, which brought everyone in the house (and those watching at home) to their feet.

Best New Artist and Best New Song – Lewis Capaldi (“Someone You Loved”

A popular and well-loved newcomer on the music scene, Lewis Capaldi took home the illustrious titles of Best New Artist, followed by a Best New Song for “Someone You Loved.” His powerful performance of the track reminded viewers why he was the top-selling British artist of 2019, a soulful foil to his self-deprecating demeanour. Capaldi, who refers to himself as the Scottish Beyonce, was in good form as he accepted his award with a beer in hand, thanking everyone “so f–in’ much.”

Best Album – Dave (Psychodrama)

After a stunning performance of “Black,” London rapper Dave accepted an award for Psychodrama. Dubbed a “concept album,” Psychodrama follows a narrative of a therapy session, touching on Dave’s personal struggles which stem from his environment growing up, relationships, and the way society at large functions. GQ magazine held that Psychodrama was “in terms of ambition, execution and scope, the best album of 2019,” a superlative which the British Voting Academy agreed upon as well.

Best International Female Solo Artist – Billie Eilish

An explosive newcomer, Billie Eilish snagged the title of Best International Female artist. Beating out greats like Ariana Grande, Lizzo, and Lana del Rey, Eilish accepted her award in the wake of a flurry of Grammy and American Music Award wins. Eilish also treated the house to a debut performance of her new Bond theme song, “No Time To Die,” which will feature in an upcoming instalment of the James Bond franchise.

Best International Male Solo Artist – Tyler, The Creator

Just a month after winning a Grammy for the star-studded album IGOR, American artist Tyler, The Creator took home a Brit for Best International Male Solo Artist. IGOR encompasses a variety of styles and genres, with Tyler performing as the title character in a blonde wig and yellow suit. The win comes at the end of a five-year ban from the UK for the artist, who was kicked out of the country after the British government found some of his lyrics to be problematic. Tyler, The Creator acknowledged this with humour in his acceptance speech, and gave a shout out to all of the “British Funk from the ‘80s that [he] tried to copy.”