NAO named as one of BBC Radio 1Xtra's Hot for 2016 artists

Following the announcement of her third place result on the BBC's Sound of 2016 list, NAO has been named as one of BBC Radio 1Xtra's Hot for 2016 artists.

Last night, MistaJam announced the show's recommendations of artists to watch this year, with NAO recognised alongside Kehlani, Section Boyz, Izzy Bizu, Kiko Bun, and fellow Sound of 2016 nominees WSTRN (who finished joint fifth) and Mabel. NAO is also joined by AKA, Bryson Tiller, J Hus, Bugzy Malone, Kojey Radical, Sam Henshaw, Yungen, and Version on 1Xtra's list of fifteen artists, which has been running annually since 2008. As well as the nominations above, NAO has also been included in Spotify's 'Spotlight on 2016', Google Play Music’s Ones to Watch for 2016 and Apple Music’s New Artists for 2016.

Last year the release of her 'February 15' and 'So Good' EPs on our very own Dummy Records, an appearance on Disclosure's track Superego taken from hit album 'Caracal', plus the completion of her first full U.K. and European tour. NAO set the foundations for 2016 with last year's single Bad Blood (which hit the top spot of Hype Machine last week), as well as a brief European tour on the horizon before the release of her debut album later this year. Footage of NAO's sold-out performance of Inhale Exhale at London's Heaven in December has been made available via BBC Music – watch above.

NAO will play the following dates in 2016:

April 8th: Amsterdam (NL), Melkweg
April 9th: Rotterdam (NL), Annabel
April 11th: Cologne (DE), Studio 672
April 12th: Paris (FR), Badaboum
April 13th: Gent (BE), Charlatan
April 15th: Berlin (DE), Berghain Kantine
April 20th: Birmingham, The Institute
April 21st: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
April 22nd: Nottingham, Bodega
April 23rd: Brighton, The Haunt
April 25th: Bristol, Thekla
April 27th: London, Village Underground