Niki & The Dove the new pop practitioners from Stockholm. A double-headed act, they make the kind of leftfield, intelligent pop music that will see them breakthrough in 2012. Forming in Stockholm in 2010, Malin Dahlstrom and Gustaf Karlof have so far released increasingly essential singles and EPs full of emotion, backed up by walls of synths, pounding drums and soaring vocals.

‘DJ, Ease My Mind’ is another key track in their development. Huge synths and tribal drums are matched by Malin’s soaring vocal. Highly individual, they grasp the fundamentals – to be bold, free-thinking and resolutely forward-looking. It’s timeless yet otherworldly, and is set to be one of the first great singles of 2012. Following the release of ‘The Fox’ on legendary US indie Sub Pop, and the 7-track EP, ‘The Drummer’, it is set to cement Niki & The Dove’s position as one of the most exciting acts around.

The BBC Sound Poll announcement follows amazing support at Radio 1 from Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe, and the band have been added to the In New Music We Trust playlist. At the same time, they’ve appeared in the NME, Guardian Guide, The Observer, Sunday Times Culture and more. In recent months they’ve sold-out Cargo and supported Hurts on their UK tour.

Live Niki & The Dove are a unique proposition. Malin and Gustaf are joined by a live drummer and two dancers, creating not so much a show as an event.

The band are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut LP, due for release Spring 2012.