The BRIT Awards 2014 are happening right now (watch the live stream here) with a range of live performances from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Rudimental, Beyoncé – and closing the night – a super-medley between Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams (wearing that Grammys hat).
Also teaming up at the British music industry’s night of nights, earlier in the evening, were two of last year’s biggest breakout acts teaming up for a special live mash-up.
Lorde and Disclosure were previously confirmed to share the stage at the O2 in London, and the BRIT performance saw the 17-year-old New Zealand sensation singing her globe-dominating hit ‘Royals’ over the top of a new electronic backing courtesy of Disclosure, featuring the Lawrence brothers brand of clipped rhythms and buzzing synths.
Performing against a giant backdrop featuring the Kiwi star’s visage done up in signature ‘Disclosure face‘, the new remixed version of ‘Royals’ then upped the tempo and segued into Disclosure’s own AlunaGeroge-featuring hit single, ‘White Noise’, complete with a surprise cameo from singer Aluna Francis, who picked up the reins from Lorde to finish off the BRITs performance of the Settle single.
Watch the Lorde/Disclosure (DiscLordsure?) team-up below, via PerezHilton.com
Interestingly the superstar duet took place without the two artists ever even meeting in person, as The Independent reports
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“It’s been tough getting things ready as we’ve been on the road,” Howard Lawrence told Daily Star Playlist of the planned super-collab, saying they instead were “constantly on the phone” with the Kiwi “remotely or through Skype” from across continents ahead of the BRITs ceremony. “It was somebody else’s idea to hook up so we haven’t even met her yet,” added Lawrence.
The Groovin The Moo-bound Disclosure were also nominated for multiple BRIT awards, but but lost out in all four categories they were up for. Their debut album Settle was in with a chance for the Mastercard British Album of the Year, but the top gong eventually went to AM by Arctic Monkeys (in a field also featuring David Bowie’s The Next Day, Rudimental’s Home, and Bastille’s All This Bad Blood). “It was somebody else’s idea to hook up so we haven’t even met her yet.” – Howard Lawrence, Disclosure
Lorde however has already won the sole category she was nominated in, the Best International Female Award.
The 17-year-old told the crowd: “I’m still so new to getting awards that my brain feels like it’s exploding every time it happens, so forgive me,” Lorde said in her acceptance speech, beating out US stars Janelle Monaé, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Pink to the gong.
“Thank you to the strong, intelligent, inspiring women in this category. This really was a priceless surprise,” she added.
Other big winners for the night included Daft Punk, winning Best International Group with Nile Rodgers accepting on behalf of the robots’ absence, and David Bowie winning Best British Male, sending out supermodel Kate Moss to read out a bizarre acceptance spiel on his behalf
A transcript of the strange speech posted on the David Bowie Facebook page reveals strange references to the planets, Scotland’s independence, and the Ziggy Stardust-styled Kansai Yamamoto dress Moss happened to be wearing to accept the award.
Check out the list of BRIT Awards 2014 nominees and winners (in bold) below:
MasterCard British Album of the Year
Arctic Monkeys, AM (winner)
Bastille, All This Bad Blood
David Bowie, The Next Day
Disclosure, Settle
Rudimental, Home
Best Producer
Flood and Alan Moulder (winner)
Ethan Johns
Paul Epworth
British Breakthrough Act
Bastille (winner)
Disclosure
Laura Mvula
London Grammar
Tom Odell
British Female Solo Artist
Ellie Goulding (winner)
Birdy
Jessie J
Laura Marling
Laura Mvula
British Group
Arctic Monkeys (winner)
Bastille
Disclosure
One Direction
Rudimental
British Male Solo Artist
David Bowie (winner)
Jake Bugg
James Blake
John Newman
Tom Odell
British Single
Rudimental, “Waiting All Night” (winner)
Bastille, “Pompeii”
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding, “I Need Your Love”
Disclosure, “White Noise”
Ellie Goulding, “Burn”
John Newman, “Love Me Again”
Naughty Boy, “La, La, La”
Olly Murs, “Dear Darlin'”
One Direction, “One Way or Another”
Passenger, “Let Her Go”
Critics’ Choice Award
Sam Smith (winner)
Chlöe Howl
Ella Eyre
International Female Solo Artist
Lorde (winner)
Janelle Monáe
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Pink
International Group
Daft Punk (winner)
Arcade Fire
Haim
Kings of Leon
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
International Male Solo Artist
Bruno Mars (winner)
Drake
Eminem
John Grant
Justin Timberlake
