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Electro-pop singer Little Boots has come top of the BBC News website's Sound Of 2009 list, which aims to find the most promising new music talent for the new year.

The Sound Of 2009 list is based on tips from more than 130 leading UK tastemakers, including top music critics, magazine editors, broadcasters and influential bloggers, who named their favourite three new acts.

Little Boots is 24-year-old singer and keyboard player Victoria Hesketh, from Blackpool, who was discovered by Joe Goddard of electronic stars Hot Chip.

She was followed by dark London rock trio White
Lies, with spirited singer-songwriter Florence and the Machine in third and Australian fantasy pop duo Empire of the Sun at four.

Victoria Hesketh adopted the Little Boots name a year ago after splitting from indie trio Dead Disco, and setting out on a synthesiser pop sound inspired by the likes of David Bowie, Gary Numan and Kate Bush.

On topping the BBC Sound Of 2009 list, Hesketh said: "It is amazing that so many people want to write about me and give me opportunities, and I'm so grateful for that.

"For enough of those pundits to pick me as their favourite act is absolutely incredible and really mindblowing. I'm just so happy that it connects to those people.

"I hope it goes beyond that and translates and it isn't just some bubble. I really hope that for every one of those amazing people who writes about you or plays you on their radio show that that will reach 1,000 people because that is what is going to make me be able to keep doing what I love."

Peter Robinson, editor of Popjustice.com, which has championed Little Boots, described Hesketh as "the perfect pop star".

"She knocks out great tunes and takes her music seriously while celebrating the giddy heights of pop at its best," he said. "As a result, she understands pop in a way that puts her miles ahead of her nearest rivals."

Alison Howe, producer of BBC Two's Later... With Jools Holland, put Little Boots on the show in November.

"Imagine if Debbie Harry had come from Blackpool and played the synthesiser," she said. "2009 looks set to be dominated by the sound of electro-pop and Ms Boots should be one if its stars with her wonderfully catchy pop songs."

The BBC News website Sound of... series, now in its seventh year, has a strong track record of picking out music stars who have gone on to chart success.

Last year, Adele came top, followed by Duffy, The Ting Tings and Glasvegas. Other acts who have appeared on the lists in previous years include Mika, the Klaxons, the Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall and Razorlight.

Little Boots will be in session on BBC 6 Music's George Lamb show on Friday 9 January between 10.00am and 1.00pm. Videos of the Little Boots and White Lies 6 Music Hub sessions can be found at bbc.co.uk/6music.

Notes to Editors

BBC News website's Sound Of 2009 Top 10

1. Little Boots
2. White Lies
3. Florence and the Machine
4. Empire of the Sun
5. La Roux
6. Lady GaGa
7. VV Brown
8. Kid Cudi
9. Passion Pit
10. Dan Black

The list was compiled by the BBC entertainment news team.

Sound Of... previous acts

The BBC's Sound of… series is now in its seventh year. It started with the Sound of 2003, which was won by US rapper 50 Cent. The other winners have been Keane (Sound of 04), The Bravery (Sound of 05), Corinne Bailey Rae (Sound of 06), Mika (Sound of 07) and Adele (Sound of 08).

Other artists in the top fives in previous years have included Franz Ferdinand, Wiley, Razorlight and Joss Stone (Sound of 04), Bloc Party and Kaiser Chiefs (Sound of 05), The Feeling and Guillemots (Sound of 06), Klaxons (Sound of 07) and Duffy, The Ting Tings and Glasvegas (Sound of 08).

The music pundits who took part in the BBC News website's Sound Of 2009 named their favourite three new acts with the choices tallied up to compile the list.

Acts were ineligible if they had previously scored a UK top 20 single or album, or were already famous, for example appearing on a national TV talent show or enjoying major success in a previous band.

PH