Nominees announced for Youth Music Awards 2023
13 September 2023 - Press releaseMEET THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC STARS SHAKING UP THE INDUSTRY
31 nominees have been selected across 12 categories by an esteemed panel of industry experts
Judges include Chicken Shop Date presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg, synthpop band Hot Chip and DJ duo Bicep
The Youth Music Awards takes place on 18 October at Troxy, London
DATE: Youth Music, the UK's leading young people's music charity, has announced the nominees for the Youth Music Awards in association with Hal Leonard Europe, which will showcase the next generation of musical talent on Wednesday 18th October 2023 at Troxy, London.
Youth Music has also revealed that public voting is now open for its Music Video Award, sponsored by YouTube.
This year's Music Video Award showcases the work of six nominees who have been involved in a Youth Music funded project. The public can vote on the Youth Music website here from Wednesday 13th September and voting will close on Tuesday 3rd October.
The awards represent a more diverse, inclusive and creative music industry, by platforming young people facing the biggest barriers to accessing music. Last year's winners have achieved significant success since the awards, including Leeds band English Teacher, who won the Rising Star Award (Artist) and recently released a new single with Island Records and secured a slot at this year's Glastonbury. In addition, artist, songwriter and producer Sans Soucis, 2022 winner, has since gone on to sign a deal with Decca Records, and open for Rina Sawayama.
Fleur East, singer-songwriter and Hits Radio UK presenter, Amelia Dimoldenberg, Chicken Shop Date star and youth services advocate and Joy Crookes, singer and Brit nominated Rising Star, were among the judges reviewing the awards. Categories include Original Track Award (Group),Young Leader Award, Social Action Award, and Inspirational Music Leader Award, backed by sponsors including Spotify, TikTok and Ticketmaster.
Youth Music CEO, Matt Griffiths, says: "It's so exciting to see the people and projects innovating within the grassroots music scene. Our judges were blown away by the level of talent and inspirational stories amongst this year's nominees. The Youth Music Awards continues to showcase what a more diverse future of music could look like, and we want the whole industry to Take Note".
Fleur East, singer-songwriter, Hits Radio UK presenter and Youth Music Awards judge, says: "Such amazing talent in each of these categories, I thoroughly enjoyed discovering new talent and adding new artists to my playlist. It's great to be part of a unique event which is clearly building a more diverse music industry of the future."
Here are some of the nominees in the running:
Original Track Award (Solo)
Neo-Jazz singer-songwriter Ni Maxine has been nominated for an Original Track Award (Solo) for her debut single Strange Love. The song presents the story of a black woman navigating the modern world, exploring themes of home, identity, self-esteem and belonging.
Ni Maxine's music draws from her childhood, which was steeped in the deep cultural reference points of black history through her father's love of jazz, her mother's love of funk and rare groove and learning to sing in a gospel church. She also channels her West African heritage, the legacy of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, and the power of storytelling in song.
Live Performance Award
ALT BLK ERA are up for the Live Performance Award following their electric performance of 'Obsession: SOLAR' and 'Freakshow' at Metronome for BBC Introducing East Midlands. The alternative sister duo started writing alternative music, to celebrate being 'weird' and not confirming to the mainstream. Through refusing to box themselves into a single category, and taking swings that have never been taken before, they've found that a growing audience are connecting with their fearlessness and authenticity.
Young Leader Award
Kobe Francis has worked with The Music Works, a Youth Music funded project, for 4 years, and is a leading figure in supporting young people and is an influential force across the strategic landscape in Gloucestershire. After having experienced a near fatal stabbing, Kobe played an instrumental role in leading a group of highly vulnerable young people to engage with the 'Knife Angel Project' through support with writing, developing an album and marketing. In addition to this, he has mentored over 20 young people and set up his own artist development PR business, Channel Indigo, in order to "give back and invest in people who are talented but who don't have the chances to develop".
Social Action Award
The Amies Freedom Choirs has been nominated for the Social Action Award as a result of their work to support female survivors of human trafficking. Many members of the choir started their journey at a point in life where they were struggling with confidence, self-worth, anxiety, and depression, and were facing challenges include housing, benefits, legal asylum processes, family, and health. The project gives these women a supportive space to find joy, belonging and community through the collective act of making music.
Rising Star Award (Industry)
Owain Elidir Williams has been nominated for the Rising Star (Industry) Award after producing the first and only bilingual music publication in Wales – Klust, giving a platform to Welsh artists. Released in December 2022, the zine is an authentic, bilingual collection of reviews, interviews, and short essays championing Welsh artists, put together by an eclectic mix of Welsh writers. Featuring stunning photography and independent journalism, Klust's first magazine shed light on ten different artists from Wales and came with a unique physical print by photographer Rhys Grail. Owain hopes to inspire others to believe that forging a career in the music industry in Wales is achievable.
This year's Youth Music Awards invites the industry to 'Take Note' of how to promote diversity and inclusion in music, as music festivals and awards ceremonies continually lack diversity. By equalising access for young people, we can strengthen the future of British music and help young people across the country make, learn, and earn through music.
The 2023 Youth Music Awards will take place at Troxy on Wednesday 18th October, full details can be found at https://youthmusic.org.uk/awards.
Full list of nominees:
Inspirational Music Leader Award sponsored by The MU
§ Antonia Lines (Come Play With Me C.I.C.)
§ Benjamin Turner (Rap Club Productions C.I.C.)
§ Liz Birch (Midlands Art Centre)
Young Leader Award sponsored by Clintons
§ David Coke (Do your own thing – Heart n Soul)
§ Kobe Francis (The Music Works)
§ Manon Molyneaux (The Music Works)
Outstanding Project Award sponsored by TikTok
§ Forté Project, Beacons Cymru
§ Future Collaborations, AutismAble C.I.C.
§ Music in a GP Surgery, Music For Good
Social Action Award sponsored by Hal Leonard Europe
§ Amies Freedom Choir (Pan Intercultural Arts)
§ Knife Angel (The Music Works)
§ Songs & Smiles (The Together Project CIO)
Rising Star Award (Industry) sponsored by Songkick
§ George Buckthought (Harbourside Artist Management)
§ Maria Torres (Saffron Sprinboards Project)
§ Owain Elidir Williams (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ Rianne Lewis (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
Lyricist Award sponsored by PRS For Music
§ J4 (Romsey Mill)
§ Qazi & Qazi (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ TL (Rap Club Productions C.I.C.)
Live Performance Award sponsored by Ticketmaster
§ ALT BLK ERA (Inspire Youth Arts, Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ EVA (Audio Active, Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ Kindelan (Music:Leeds)
Original Track Award (Group) sponsored by Marshall Amplification
§ Big Den, Nemo, Oscar & King Dre – Love Letters (Finding Rhythms CIO)
§ FORM – Confused (Offshoots East Midlands)
§ Gomid (ft QOVŌP) - No One (Perform Radio CIC)
§ Qazi & Qazi – Forward (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ Treeboy & Arc – Retirement (MusicLeeds)
Original Track Award (Solo) sponsored by Levi's
§ Boodz (ft. TL) - Inside Step (Rap Club Productions C.I.C.)
§ Joe Winter – Laughing for the West (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ Ni Maxine – Strange Love (Liverpool Lighthouse)
§ YV Shells – LOSS (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
Music Producer Award sponsored by Amazon Music
§ Gaddiel Nketia (Nottingham C.A.N)
§ James Jones (LAB7)
§ Naafi (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
Music Video Award sponsored by YouTube
§ EVA – My One (AudioActive, Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ George Bloomfield – Goodnight (MusicLeeds)
§ Qazi & Qazi – Forward (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ Sarah Angel – Wistful Tenderness (Reform Radio CIC)
§ StudioWyzz – SIP (HQ CAN Community Interest Group)
§ Yv Shells – LOSS (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
Rising Star Award (Artist) sponsored by Dr. Martens
§ ALT BLK ERA (Inspire Youth Arts, Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ EVA (AudioActive, Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ Michael Diamond (Youth Music NextGen Fund)
§ TU3SDAY (Harbourside Artist Management)
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