 Born in Brynmawr and raised in nearby Pandy , she moved to London as a teenager to become a professional singer , despite having little formal musical experience . In 2009 , Diamandis came to prominence upon placing second in the BBC 's Sound of 2010 . Her debut studio album , The Family Jewels ( 2010 ) , incorporates indie pop and new wave musical styles . It entered the UK Albums Chart at number five and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry . The album 's second song , " Hollywood " , peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart . 
