Nerina Pallot

Multi-instrumentalist Nerina Pallot's fragile torch songs and natural, soulful voice won her a deal with Polydor Records in 2000 and debut album Dear Frustrated Superstar (2001) quickly followed. Her first national TV appearance on BBC's Live and Kicking ended in disaster when Faye Tozer from Steps elbowed her off the end of the interview couch, and she was unceremoniously dumped by her label a few weeks later. At an all time low, the Jersey Islander went back to university before re-mortgaging her house to pay for the completion of second album Fires (2005). It finally proved to be Pallot's breakthrough, reaching No 21 in the UK and achieving gold sales status while producing the politically charged, protest single Everybody's Gone To War. She was nominated for BRIT and Ivor Novello awards and supported James Blunt, Suzanne Vega and Ray LaMontagne on tour before embracing synths, electro rhythms and pure pop hedonism on third album The Graduate (2009). Pallot has also written songs for Diana Vickers and contributed two tracks to Kylie Minogue's UK Number 1 album Aphrodite (2010).