The Youth Music Awards 2023, held at East London's legendary Troxy, was ablaze last night (October 18th) as an already electric-filled hall was transformed into a frantic celebration of raw ability, artistic genius, and the new face of British music.
Developed to support and inspire the future generations of music makers, the Youth Music Awards has become one of the key nights in the music calendar in the UK. This year's version not only upped the ante by tossing the bar into the stratosphere. With its charged atmosphere, tony presenters and emotional moments, the ceremony was more than just a glittering night out; it was a powerful reminder of what KIDS SAY because this is a KIDS SHOW and one that is also recognized, at least periodically, as one of the most important works of pop culture art of the last two decades.
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Front and centre among them were some of the UK music industry's biggest names - genre-fusing Mercury Prize nominee Kojey Radical, the Oscar-winning Michael Kiwanuka, Esoteric electronic outfit Bicep, pop powerhouse MNEK, and, in the endearingly charismatic form of British radio personality Clara Amfo, of BBC Radio 1. They all had their styles, which added a touch of personality to the proceedings, with each of them also providing support for the future stars of the acting world.
Kojey Radical, clearly moved by the evening, added, "It's an absolute honour, the Youth Music Awards are the most important things. I wish I had something similar to this when I was coming up. Like the night's worth of guests before him, his words reflected a familiar feeling regarding platforms such as this: not just helpful, but necessary.
In the meantime, Bicep were handed the Music Producer Award, presented by Amazon Music, going to Coconut Beach's James Jones, in a further sign of recognition for the often-overlooked behind-the-scenes magic of music production.
TV presenter and host of Chicken Shop Date, Amelia Dimoldenberg, was also among the presenters on the night as she handed out an award and chatted about being one of the judges. "I'm so grateful to be here tonight to support young creatives and young musicians. I just really enjoyed passing along the know-how that I have, and hope that they can take it, practice it, and turn it into their career," she said.
EVA were the big winners of 12 awards up for grabs on the night, with three wins, including the Live Performance Award supported by Ticketmaster. Her wins were a heartening testament to the talent being fostered through programmes like Youth Music.
Special mentions went to Heathfield Primary School, winners of the SEND Music Prize, and Adam Loftus, who received the Music Teacher Award for under-11s, along with the Teaching Music nominee awards for the Primary and Special Needs and Inclusive Education categories.
As those last rounds of applause reverberated around the Troxy, one thing was abundantly clear: not only is the future of music bright, it's blazing. With talent like these coming through, and a generation of the industry's best at their side, the Youth Music Award isn't just an event but a movement.
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