Join us as we introduce you to the ten acts we think will be illuminating the pop world with their brilliant music, stunning performances and huge debut albums in 2012. Looking to emulate the success of best friend Tinie Tempah, it's producer turned star in his own right - Labrinth!

PopDash:  How was 2011 for you?

Labrinth: 2011 has been an eye opener to the music industry and it's been just really exciting. It's been everything a career could be in one year. I've grown so much as an artist and I've grown as a performer and I've had a hit single this year and the Tinie/Labrinth reunion has happened this year, so it's a great look.

PopDash: What was the highlight of the year?

Labrinth: Putting out 'Earthquake man. Do you know what, not even putting out 'Earthquake' it was performing it for the first time on stage. I remember when I made the record I had a lot of fun putting it together so I think that was really special moment for me.

PopDash: 'Earthquake' does sound like a really fun, playful song- is that something you always try and put into your music?

Labrinth:  Yeah man. I think, for me, the music kind of says everything you need to say. For me the lyrics do have a deeper meaning and for me it was about me growing as an artist and actually having an effect on the industry. I've spent a lot of time standing behind artists as a producer and i was known as a producer and it was time for me to make noise and make noise through my own name. Of course on the surface it's just a fun pop song and a fun club song.

PopDash: You've been tipped for success for quite a while now, how come the album is coming in 2012 and not quite as soon as it could have been maybe?

Labrinth: Do you know what good things come together for you, that's what me an Ms Dynamite say, but for me iIve had success, I've made artists, I'm signing artists at the moment on my label and I have my own restaurant, I'm growing as a businessman. I haven't achieved Tinie Tempah's success as an artist but i've achieved a lot just as a businessman. I think 2012 will be my my year for success as an artist. I don't feel like I haven't done as great as anybody out there, it's just that you can't see what I've done. 2012 is the year you'll see everything that Labrinth can do.

PopDash: Are you working on the album at the moment or is it finished?

Labrinth: My album is done, it will be out early next year, I'm really excited about it. We're recording the video for the next single which is a really big single, very big song and I really believe, internationally, it could destroy everything. Hopefully it does that and we're getting prepared to work with global artist so I can't wait.

PopDash: What can fans expect from the album?

Labrinth: More surprises, that's what 'Earthquake' was and 'Let the Sun Shine' and there's loads more surprises on the album.

PopDash: Is there a defined sound running through it?

Labrinth: I think any of my fans that know me know that I don't make one sound and so far I've managed not to be pigeon-holed in terms of sound. Genre defying pop music, that's basically what I want to make. I'll keep surprising people. Some people say I'm a rapper, some people say I'm a producer, some people say I'm a singer and I don't think I'm any of those I think I'm just a person who enjoys music and does it as best as I can.

PopDash: Is there a goal or an achievement that you'd particularly like to reach in the next 12 months?

Labrinth: Everyone wants a number one album. Of course I don't want to sign an artist and not have them become successful. I feel like she's on her way already - her name's Etta Bond. I've known her since I was 17 and I've signed her to my own label (Odd Child) which is amazing. Hopefully if I can see her kick off in 2012 and see some success, that would be amazing for me man.

PopDash: Is she going to be on your album?

Labrinth: She'll be on some of my album  but you know I'm more about her being on her own album with her voice, she can tell her own story she doesn't really need to be a part of mine. She is part of my story but I feel like she's got a different story to tell, that's what I'd say.

PopDash: Looking at Tinie Tempah's success in America this year - is that something you would like to emulate yourself?

Labrinth: Tinie's done well over there - he hasn't had the same success he's had here and hopefully it goes better for him because the better he does the better UK artists are going to do. He's definitely opening doors for us but you know, I hope to achieve even more than that. I want to be a number one artist in America but I don't want to lose my roots. I feel like the UK has made me who I am musically and hopefully if I bring what we have here over there and wave our flag as high as possible with confidence - that would be perfect for me.

So far it is happening, I've had calls from Usher from Beyonce from Busta Rhymes, all these asking me for my sound and for me as an artist alongside them to feature on their record. It's shaping up to be a big thing for 2012 I reckon.

PopDash: It's great that you don't have to go in and try and fit in with other people, they try and fit around you...

Labrinth: The great thing about being a producer and an artist is that you have full creative control. I control a lot of what I do. That's why it's taken a while for me to come up in the business because that's important for me. I don't want to and be controlled and told what do to. I'm basically the engine for a lot of what my music is of course alongside my team.

PopDash: You're signed to Syco, who of the three X Factor finalists would you like to work with?

Labrinth: The last time I watched it I thought Amelia's had the best voice personally. I know a lot of people liked Misha's voice but I think Amelia's voice has a bit more stuff to it. The Little Mix girls seem cool, they've got character and energy. I don't know much about the other guy (Marcus) so for me it's out of them two.

PopDash: You're going on tour on February - how have you found performing live and what have you got in store for February?

Labrinth: Performing live has been the best experience for me because I think it's allowing my fans to get what I do even more. A lot of my fans don't know that I play instruments and that I produce my own music. So when they can see that I'm actually involved in my music - I've gained a lot of fans through them seeing that. My show is basically a live band and I'm a part of that live band, I'm not like dancing with dancers in front of a band. It's my music and I present my music so I think a lot of my fans enjoy that I'm willing to do that and I'm not just coming on stage either rapping or singing along to a song someone's produced for me. It's personal, you know what I mean? I think that's what they're going to get this year, it's electronic, it's organic, it's synthetic all at the same time. You're might get dubstep, you might get funk, you might get reggae and that's what my live show is about.

PopDash: Outside of music - what are you most looking forward to in the next 12 months?

Labrinth: More free clothes! No, what am I looking forward to outside of music? Probably Christmas. Next Christmas is going to be sick. You know what, my life is music so I'm looking forward to music, that's how it works. Definitely festival season.

Check out the rest of the PopDash: Big In 2012 series so far...

1. Lana Del Rey
2. Frank Ocean
3. Emeli Sande
4. Stooshe
5. Yasmin
6. Icona Pop
7. Labrinth
8. Dot Rotten
9. Delilah
10. Oh My!