Westminster alumna Loraine James named on BBC Radio 6 Music’s Artist of the Year list 2023

Lauren Laverne announced the artists who made the list on her BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show. Alongside the Commercial Music BA Honours graduate there was an array of both musical legends and new artists from all genres of music, including Blur, boygenius and Christine and the Queens. The new annual list celebrates musical success stories of the year and offers up advice for the next generation of musicians.

Also going by the name Whatever the Weather, Loraine is a British electronic producer and musician hailing from North London. She released her debut album Detail in 2017, which was followed by For You And I LP in 2019, which received unanimous acclaim. Her most recent album Gentle Confrontation was released in September 2023 and has already received enormous praise from critics.

In July, Loraine performed an exclusive session for 6 Music’s New Music Fix Daily, previewing tracks from her September 2023 album, Gentle Confrontation and she also presented her own show on 6 Music with British DJ SHERELLE in February. 

About the accolade Loraine James said: “I feel very honoured to be on this year’s list. I’m inspired by my life and experiences, as well as the outside, that has inspired me a lot. I’m not sure what is next but I’m very excited to not know what is going to happen in the future.”

Lucy Harrison, Assistant Head of Music at the University of Westminster, added: “The whole team in Music are incredibly proud to count Loraine among our alumni. Gentle Confrontation is an extremely ambitious and experimental album showing an original artistic voice and this recognition by 6 Music shows her growing importance in music as a producer, artist and performer. 

“Loraine exemplifies the hard work and artistic ambition that we see across our students and alumni. Well done, Loraine!”

Listen to SHERELLE’s Deep Dive into Loraine, broadcast during her weekly show.