He’s currently riding high in the UK charts at number 3 with debut single “I Need You Tonight” and counts Lily Allen as one of his friends, but things haven’t always been plain sailing for East London rapper Professor Green. His journey has been anything but an easy ride.

New York has a thing for giving us special bands. Even though they may have been born and raised outside the concrete jungle, for some reason - when bands make New York their base and begin making music there, the results can be magic.

Taiwanese youngster Lin Yu Chun has taken the world by storm with his moving rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" (originally penned and sung by Dolly Parton, if you're going to be picky).

London-based singer Sewuese is one of the hottest young singers out there, and along with being a member of a certain Bryan Ferry's band, she is currently working on her debut EP which is set to be launched later this year.

It’s not very often you come across an artist who’s completely honest and speaks their mind, as opposed to carefully selecting their words to keep record bosses happy and make them more accessible to the buying masses.

British born Jaya is the first Indian female singer to be signed to a major label, but it is her brilliant voice and very down to earth attitude that is really making an impact. With her EP out now and plans to release her single DJ Do It Again, Jaya caught up with Se7en to talk music and her wish for world domination!

Roxanne Tataei is the latest songstress to emerge from the soulful UK music scene. The 21-year-old South Londoner began performing at a young age when she used to sing at her grandmother's church.  Now a confident natural on the stage, it’s weird to think she once suffered from stage fright.

First acts announced for Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser@The Roundhouse includes Seasick Steve, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Magic Numbers, Mr Hudson, The Futureheads and Bombay Bicycle Club.

As we approach a new decade, there is a lot to be excited about in the world of music. Limits are constantly being banished, which means that artists are pushing and merging genre boundaries to produce music that is fresh, exciting and never heard before. As always, many new acts will be introduced to the scene in the New Year. Below are five acts that I think will spearhead the revolutionary and successful in 2010.

2009 has been a remarkable year in the world of music. Globally, recording artists have exceeded all expectations by being continually pioneering. We’ve witnessed the mainstream ignition of certain genres that were once only followed underground and this has brought enhanced diversity to the music scene.