Saint Sister have topped the list for nominations in the Hotties – the Hot Press Readers Poll – for 2019. The poll reflects all of the music action that took place in 2018.

The Northern Irish duo – who came together at Trinity College in Dublin – picked up eight nominations in all. Their acclaimed debut album Shape of Silence is nominated in Best Album and in Best Debut Album. They also picked up two nominations in the Best Female category, one each for Gemma Doherty and Morgan McIntyre, as well single nominations in Track of the Year, Group of the Year, Most Promising Act and Best Musician – for which Gemma was nominated.

Saint Sister were formed back in 2014, after Morgan McIntyre and Gemma O'Doherty met in Trinity College. Morgan had a solo career in her own right, while Gemma had come from a trad music background, and it wasn't until they came together as a duo that they began to receive critical and commercial success.

Their 2015 EP, Madrid, gave listeners a taster of their unique 'atmosfolk' sound, but 2018's Shape of Silence was an enthralling, comprehensive body of work, rightly deserving of a nomination for best album at next month's Choice Prize Awards. You can read our full interview with Saint Sister from October here.

Other bands and artists who fared particularly well in the poll include David Keenan (six nominations), Picture This (five), Glen Hansard (five), U2 (five), Gavin James (four) and Wyvern Lingo (four). The battle for Album of the Year will be particularly interesting to watch, with The Academic (Tales From The Backseat), Kojaque (Deli Daydreams), Saint Sister (Shape of Silence), Rejjie Snow (Dear Annie) and Wyvern Lingo all featuring in this category.

The top placed Irish album in the Hot Press Critics List - published in the Hot Press Annual towards the end of last year - was Villagers' The Art of Pretending To Swim, while Rejjie Snow’s Dear Annie took the gong for best debut album of 2018. In all, there were six Irish albums in the Top 20, with Glen Hansard, Saint Sister, Wyvern Lingo and The Academic all performing well.

Best & Worst of 2018

With the Loathe of the Year category limited to five nominations, it is hardly surprising to see Brexit, Trump and Love Island all nominated. However, they may struggle against The Visit of the Pope – which went down like a lead balloon with most young people in Ireland.

Meanwhile the Love of the Year is a fascinating mix, with the Re-election of Michael D and the hot summer both looking very strong. However, Repealing the 8th may well have been too historic a moment to be denied the top spot!

To vote in the final stages of the Hot Press Readers Poll, fill out the form below: