Meet 2009's brightest stars

Meet VV Brown - the pop singer who we at Rated think will be the hottest name in music this year.

Superstar in waiting VV mixes uplifting classic pop songs with her dark lyrics and sensational soulful voice to unique effect, which is why think her forthcoming debut album Travelling LikeThe Light will make British singer VV a sensation.

"I've read News Of The World for years. It's such a massive compliment to be picked out," gasped a delighted VV when Rated told her of our accolade. "Readers - I won't let you down!"

VV - real name Vanessa Brown - has already written hits for Sugababes and Pussycat Dolls and modelled for Naomi Campbell. But she decided to become a singing star herself when she got dumped by her boyfriend last year.

Her ex, a musician, lived in Los Angeles with VV for 18 months. Back in a grotty flat in East London on her own, VV found herself writing nearly all of her album in just a fortnight.

"I saw the break-up coming," admits VV, 24. "I was planning to move back to England anyway, because my music was going nowhere in LA.

"I was so out of place and uncomfortable there, I only wrote three songs in those 18 months. Even so, being dumped on the phone as soon I got back to London, it hit me really hard."

VV wrote her first song, the catchy Crying Blood, the following week. But she got so caught up in writing it, that her family thought she'd gone missing and called the police!

"I had my phone turned off so that I could concentrate on writing," laughs VV, whose parents run a school in Northampton. "I'd switched it back on, but hadn't noticed the batteries had gone dead.

"Literally, as soon as I finished writing the song at 1am on a Thursday night, my parents turned up with the police outside my door.

"I'm there in my dressing gown, wandering what's going on, and my mum's laughing and crying going 'Your phone was off for six days, we were so worried!' Even my ex had phoned them to ask if I was OK after the split as he couldn't get hold of me either."

VV (it's her nickname since she was a teenager) quickly wrote the rest of her album, and decided the songs were too personal for anyone else to sing.

"Duffy is too much of a classic soul singer for them," she explains. "Amy Winehouse could do them, but that poor girl is crying blood of her own, without me needing to write anything for her!"

Before becoming a songwriter, VV had an earlier shot at singing, when she landed a record deal with the massive Polydor label when she was just 19 under her real name.

Much to her relief, the album was never released.

"It was terrible," she admits. "I was too young to speak up for myself, but they wanted me to be a stereotypical R&B diva singing slushy ballads, and wearing clothes I'd never wear in a million years."

That's ironic, as VV's distinctive style - she wants to set up a range of vintage fashion accessories - saw her model for Naomi Campbell in September at a charity event after she met Naomi's agent on a plane.

"I was worried Naomi was going to copy my hairstyle," laughs VV, who has an amazing '50s-style flat-top haircut. "She asked me all about it. As soon as she left the room, I told my hairdresser 'Don't you dare tell her how it's done, I don't want Naomi Campbell copying my look.'

"Well, everyone would think I'd nicked it from her, not the other way round!"

Now that she's finally set for stardom, is VV worried she'll have to get dumped by another feller before she can write more songs?

"Maybe!" she giggles. "I'll have to place an ad on my MySpace site for a guy to have a fling with and leave me heartbroken.

"I'm single now. I have a massive crush on a guy. Trouble is, I'm attracted to shy boys, and I don't know if he's too nervous to ask me out or just not interested!"

Here are John Earl's top tips for artists to keep an eye on in 2009.

1) VV Brown - Official website

A superstar in waiting who mixes her uplifting classic pop songs with dark lyrics and sensational soulful voice to unique effect.

2) Broken Records - MySpace page

The most imaginative new live band in Britain, they already rival Arcade Fire as a spectacular show. That the Edinburgh gang have the stirring songs to match their gigs should make them unstoppable.

3) Taylor Swift - Official site

Already a big star in the States, fame over here seems certain once we get a taste of the country-pop ballads by the stunning 19-year-old blonde, who dated Joe from The Jonas Brothers.

4) Hockey MySpace page

Like Prince's funk as sung by Bruce Springsteen, the hottest dance band in America will pucker up as favourites at the summer festivals, especially the incredibly catchy Song Away.

5) Lady GaGa Official site

Poppy enough to have supported Pussycat Dolls, credible enough to work with Dr Dre, the sexy New Yorker took her name from Queen's smash Radio Gaga, and it's safe to say she'll be all over your radio soon too.

6) Detroit Social Club Official site

The first band to be represented by Arctic Monkeys' manager since he signed the Arctics, the heavy rock & roll spirit of Led Zeppelin lives on in the Geordies' wailing blues and huge riffs.

7) Karima Francis MySpace page

Growing up on a crime-ridden Blackpool council estate with an alcoholic single mum, Karima's tale of overcoming hardship is incredible - but not half as incredible as her soulful voice, that's been known to reduce audiences to tears.

8) White Lies Official site

The London trio make dark music but, like Glasvegas, it's so powerful and emotional that you'll love getting caught up in their bleak world.

9) Eliza Doolittle MySpace page

She may be a Cockney, but the teenage soul-pop sensation is nothing to do with My Fair Lady. Troubled EMI reckon Eliza is the girl to revive them, and it's a fair bet they're right.

10) Passion Pit MySpace page

A more credible Scissor Sisters? Queen gone dance? Lord knows how to describe the Massachussetts band's high-pitched addictive disco, but they're songs to fall passionately in love with.

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