Brits Critics' Choice tips three new acts for 2013

Laura Mvula, Tom Odell and AlunaGeorge are vying for 2013's award

Three new acts are being tipped for success in 2013 after being shortlisted for the Brits Critics' Choice Award.

London boy-girl duo AlunaGeorge will compete with singer-songwriters Tom Odell and Laura Mvula for the prize, which will be announced on 20 December.

Previous winners include Florence and the Machine, Jessie J and Adele, who took the first award in 2008.

This year's winner Emeli Sande went on to sing in both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympics.

Sande - who picked up three Mobo awards in November - also topped the UK album and single charts this year, following the release of her debut album Our Version Of Events.

The shortlist for 2013's award, which will be handed out at the Brit Awards ceremony in February, includes classically trained singer Laura Mvula.

Her soulful voice and orchestral arrangements have seen her described as a cross between Nina Simone and Bjork.

Mvula started writing songs on her laptop while working as a supply teacher in a Birmingham secondary school.

"It's unbelievable and I'm in total shock. I don't think I've experienced this kind of shock before," she said.

"It's such a huge honour to be included in this prestigious shortlist, I don't think that I can put it into words. Thank you."

Her competition includes 22-year-old singer-songwriter Tom Odell, who started writing songs as a teenager and studied at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music.

Odell made his TV debut last month on BBC Two's Later... With Jools Holland.

Completing the shortlisted trio of acts is AlunaGeorge, otherwise known as singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid.

The duo's R&B influenced electronica has been widely tipped for success in 2013.

The Brits Critics' Choice Award is voted for by a panel of industry insiders.