FEATURE:
The Digital Mixtape
Nordoff and Robbins’ Northern Music Awards: Newcomer of the Year
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ONE hugely important award ceremony…
IN THIS PHOTO: Melanie C will receive the Special Recognition award at the Northern Music Awards for her incredible contribution to music/PHOTO CREDIT: Mary McCartney
the Northern Music Awards shines a light on amazing talent through the North. There is a split between Industry categories/votes and Public. In the Industry, we have categories like Inspirational Venue of the Year and Industry Icon 2023. The Public categories include Artist of the Year and The Northern Music Award 2023. In partnership with and backed by Nordoff and Robbins (Britain’s leading music charity), the legendary Spice Girl, Melanie C, is set to receive the Special Recognition award for her outstanding contribution to music. She will perform at the awards show. There are going to be other acts and nominations mentioned soon. As it is said on the official website: “And we’re going to raise a lot of money for music therapy, so that Northern communities can have access to its transformative power. We want to reduce social isolation and enhance connection for local people, through music”. It is a noble and worthy aim and mission statement. A chance to celebrate the vital Northern music legacy and recognise all the influential and important artists, spaces, festival and D.J.s that create that richness and legacy, I wanted to highlight the Northern Music Awards and the great work of Nordoff and Robbins. As the Newcomer of the Year nominees have been named, I am going to end with a playlist featuring two songs from each nominee. Before that, here is some detail about the essential Northern Music Awards:
“Making a stand for Northern Music
Welcome to the Northern Music Awards (NMAs). The one and only major awards show celebrating the best of music from the North.
As Britain’s leading music charity, Nordoff and Robbins is turning up the volume with some of the biggest stars and rising talent that belongs to the North of England. Together, we’re hosting the most influential music awards event that Greater Manchester has ever seen.
And we’re going to raise a lot of money for music therapy, so that Northern communities can have access to its transformative power. We want to reduce social isolation and enhance connection for local people, through music.
More artists announced soon
The best of Northern Music
The biggest names of the North. Right here, performing at the Northern Music Awards.
The legendary Spice Girl, Melanie C, is set to receive the Special Recognition award for her outstanding contribution to music, and will perform at the awards show, with many more acts to be announced
We’re promising some of the greatest talent that the North has to offer. The line-up of live performances will be announced in stages and will only continue to get bigger and better”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Antony Szmierek
“Newcomer of the Year
This act is the ‘next big thing’ and will have a growing fanbase and social media presence. They will have played some busy grassroots venues in their hometown and beyond. Although the winner of this award will not be signed to a label, they may well have management.
The shortlists for the Newcomer of the Year Award are…
Antony Szmierek – Manchester
Manchester-born and bred wordsmith Antony Szmierek’s latest single ‘The Words To Auld Lang Syne’ was released in 2023. With its pulsating production and impeccable lyrical flow, the song has become a firm favourite for fans who have caught Szmierek and his band at Glastonbury Festival and their first European Festival Down The Rabbit Hole, where they played to packed out crowds.
English Teacher – Leeds
With acclaimed debut EP ‘Polyawkward’ heralding their extraordinary rise in 2022, English Teacher’s biting social commentary and unique musical soundscapes have positioned the quartet as influential figures within the emerging indie elite.
IN THIS PHOTO: Mica Millar
Mica Millar – Manchester
Mica Millar has quickly become one of the brightest new stars of British Soul music, picking up Jazz FM’s prestigious ‘Soul Act of The Year 2022’ award and featuring on the front covers of iconic Blues & Soul Magazine, amidst international radio support and an array of five-star reviews and acclaim from the likes of Echoes, The Daily Express, Record Collector, Music Week, The Official Charts and Word Play.
OneDa – Manchester
She’s on the rise with high-vibration collaborations (Gabe Gurnsey, Mr Scruff) that combine catchy wordplay and gold-plated flow, all fired by an empowered philosophy that she shares in her regular Pussy Power talks. The music bumps and rolls, bringing pumped-up basslines, spare drums and grimey synths that provide the perfect landscape for her vocal vibe energy.
IN THIS PHOTO: Otis Mensah
Otis Mensah – Sheffield
Otis Mensah is a musician and multidisciplinary artist exploring the intersection of poetry and experimental music(s). Taking influence from the rhythmic and expressive freedom of Jazz, Otis’ work uses aesthetic language as an instrument to solo through themes of race, identity, gender and the body.
Phoebe Green – Manchester
Following the release of a run of successful singles, Phoebe Green released her debut album “Lucky Me” in August 2022. The tracks ‘Crying In The Club,’ ‘Just A Game,’ ‘Make It Easy,’ ‘Lucky Me’ and ‘Sweat’ all received widespread acclaim across national press and radio with extensive support from 6Music (including an appearance at the 6Music Festival) and Radio 1 (including 2 worldwide premieres and a Maida Vale session).
Pip Millett – Manchester
Born and raised in Greater Manchester, Pip Millett shares that her early experiences of loss and grief played a huge part in her resonating with and being obtusely aware of her emotions from her infancy. Remaining centred and a vigorous source of strength for her meant that musicality organically found its way into Pip Millett’s ether, before she realised that she wanted to become a professional vocalist.
IN THIS PHOTO: Pip Millett
Seb Lowe – Saddleworth
Seb Lowe, a talented 19-year-old wordsmith hailing from Oldham, has been making significant waves throughout the UK. With a substantial following of over 430,000 on TikTok which gained the attention of TikTok itself awarding Seb their #Altmusic featured artist of July. Seb and his merry band of misfits have garnered considerable attention.
The Goa Express – Burnley
Teenagehood, brotherhood and a genuine love for alternative music have united THE GOA EXPRESS from the off. Together, brothers James Douglas Clarke (Guitar + Vocals) and Joe Clarke (Keys), along with Joey Stein (Lead Guitar), Naham Muzaffar (Bass) and Sam Launder (Drums) all contribute to a fuzzy wall of diverse sound, becoming harder to pin down with their constantly evolving, psych-umbrella’d, rock and roll.
The Pale White – Newcastle
At the time devoid of fresh blood, Newcastle quickly became alight with buzz around The Pale White upon their formation in 2016. After enduring a global pandemic and concluding a career-best run of headline shows, Dave Barrow injected newfound excitement into the line-up as the new bass player. The revitalised outfit spent much of 2022 realigning themselves before returning to introduce the next era properly, with the ‘A New Breed’ EP truly declaring The Pale White’s rebirth”.
Here are some details as to when the awards take place and what will transpire on the day. Visit the official website so that you can get early bird access and details regarding getting tickets. Follow Nordoff and Robbins on Instagram and Twitter. I am excited to see all the artists, venues and people and organisations in the industry who will be represented and shortlisted. We know who is up for the Newcomer of the Year so, to celebrate these amazing artists, below is a playlist with examples of...
THEIR sublime work.