Stargazing hitmaker Miles Smith wins Brits Rising Star award

Getty Images Miles Smith performs during the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas in October 2024. He has a guitar in his hand and is smiling, while he is wearing a brown cap and white T-shirt. — Miles Smith was recently included in BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2025 longlist

Singer Miles Smith has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Brit Rising Star Award.

The 26-year-old from Luton competed against soul singer Elmine and east London indie duo Good Neighbors to take the top prize.

Previous winners include The Last Dinner Party, FLO, Sam Fender and Griff, the award is designed to highlight talent selected by a panel of industry experts in partnership with BBC Radio 1.

“I’m feeling great, it’s been a big year full of great experiences and great moments – sharing it with great people,” the Stargazing hitmaker said.

visible on BBC Radio 1’s new music show with Jack SaundersMiles finds out he has won live on the show.

“You’re supporting me,” she replied, before calling her mother, who told her she was “extremely proud”.

“It’s incredible to see,” said mother Deborah.

“None of this has affected his character at all, he’s just a completely genuine person.”

“You have a habit of making me cry,” Miles replied.

Miles has had a memorable year including a top five single in the Official Charts for Stargazing, a Glastonbury set, over a billion streams and being named BBC Introducing Artist of the Year.

To be nominated for the Rising Star Award, artists cannot achieve a top 20 album or more than one top 20 single by October 31.

During the coronavirus lockdown four years ago, Miles began posting covers online and went viral with his acoustic version of The Neighbourhood’s Sweater Weather in 2022.

after being nominated BBC announces artist of the yearMiles told Newsbeat that she finally felt “comfortable in her own skin.”

He said, “I think this year has taught me that expectations are meant to be comforting. But very rarely are they what we imagine.”

Since being named Rising Star of 2024, The Last Dinner Party sold out a tour and released their debut album, A Prelude to Ecstasy.

The Brit Awards will be broadcast live from the O2 in London on Saturday 1 March.