A prestigious music award will honour the next generation of British and Irish talents. Running for the second year as part of the Ivor Novello Awards, the Rising Star category aims to elevate the next wave of songwriters and composers. All nominated artists will go through a year's mentorship programme featuring industry leaders, including <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/mawazine-festival-2017-nile-rodgers-is-still-lost-in-the-music-1.55246" target="_blank">Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers</a>. The winner of the award, to be announced in a ceremony on Tuesday, September 21, will also go on to receive an Ivor Novello trophy. “As a producer my role is to create an environment where the artist, musicians and songwriters can be confident to give their very best,” said Rodgers, known for the disco hit <i>Le Freak.</i> “I love mentoring and nurturing the incredible young talent they are accelerating the development of. They are the stars of the future.” Here are the five artists, in alphabetical order, in contention for the Rising Star Award. The singer-songwriter is building a local buzz courtesy of smouldering RnB singles <i>Spectacles </i>and <i>Excuse Me. </i>She is presently working on her debut EP. Her blend of soul, funk and Afro-pop made fans out of<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/higher-power-coldplay-unveil-new-song-by-beaming-it-into-space-1.1218466" target="_blank"> Coldplay’s Chris Martin</a> and actress and singer Michaela Coel. Chinouriri, a London resident with Zimbabwean roots, is making her impression felt. Her recent debut EP <i>Four Degrees </i>amassed more than 2.5 million streams on Apple Music. The UK singer impressed thousands with her ebullient pop after supporting<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/lewis-capaldi-spotted-in-dubai-ahead-of-sharjah-concert-1.965463" target="_blank"> Lewis Capaldi</a> at his London’s Wembley Arena show in 2020. She went on to come in second on BBC’s Sound of 2021, a poll predicting future British talents. The Londoner’s sultry and spacey pop tracks, such as <i>Homebody</i> and <i>Decline</i>, have racked up more than 45 million combined streams on Spotify. Kamal, 18, has also been cited by US pop star <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/from-bts-and-billie-eilish-to-prince-and-h-e-r-seven-albums-to-hear-this-summer-1.1241091" target="_blank">Billie Eilish</a> and UK rapper Dave as a favourite. Hip-hop, electronica and '90s-style pop defines the sounds of Kayne, who recently scored a major label deal with Columbia. Her debut release under the agreement, <i>Two Seater</i>, has already positioned her as a talent to watch.