A PROMISING singer-songwriter has scooped a prestigious music award.

James Bay, who studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM), won the Brit Critics’ Choice Award on Wednesday evening.

The 22-year-old will be presented with the award during a nominations show on January 15, and will perform alongside Clean Bandit and FKA Twigs.

He joins a string of successful artists who have snapped up the award in the past including Adele, Florence and the Machine, Emeli Sandé, Jessie J, and Sam Smith, and fellow BIMM student Tom Odell.

He said: “I’m pretty speechless. After all the years I’ve spent watching the Brits and even after this year, watching my fan base grow so much, I never thought I’d actually be getting an award myself.

“And what a huge honour to be following the incredible artists who’ve won before. I’m really chuffed, thank you to everyone who has supported me.”

Born in Hertfordshire, he moved to Brighton to study at the music college.

Since graduating he has gone on to support the likes of Irish singer Hozier, chart topping John Newman and he performed for Fearne Cotton in the Radio One Live Lounge and shared a bill with the Rolling Stones in Hyde Park.