Jessie J is kicking off 2011 with top honors. The Essex native was just named the winner of BBC’s Sound of 2011, an annual poll of industry insiders to discover the most promising act or singer of the year ahead. The singer-songwriter, who beat out The Vaccines, James Blake, The Naked and Famous, and 11 others, paid a visit to the BBC to perform her single “Do It Like a Dude,” “Big White Room,” and an acoustic version of the title track off her upcoming debut, Who You Are.

Talking to BBC’s MistaJam, the wavy-haired Brit also discussed her songwriting process, attending the BRIT School with Adele, her first failed record deal with Gut Records, turning down Christina Aguilera to write a song for her film Burlesque, and more.