For three years, the Youth Music Awards has celebrated trailblazing young creatives representing the future of music.
Ahead of this year’s event, we look back at some of the previous award winners, and the inspirational steps they have taken in their careers since.
Sans Soucis
Sans Soucis won the Original Track Award (Solo Artist) at the Youth Music Awards 2021. A Youth Music project alumnus from the Abram Wilson Foundation, they have since gone on to sign a deal with Decca Records, rack up several million plays on their music, open for Rina Sawayama, and play a whole host of festivals, including Wilderness and SXSW.
Earlier this year, Sans Soucis was nominated for an NME Award, named a Ticketmaster 2023 Breakthrough Act, and performed at The Great Escape Festival.
English Teacher
Leeds quartet, English Teacher, have quickly become a buzzed-about band thanks to their left-field, self-described "post-lame" sound and surreal lyricism.
Formed of Lily Fontaine (vocals, rhythm guitar, synth), Douglas Frost (drums), Nicholas Eden (bass) and Lewis Whiting (lead guitar, synth), the group are Youth Music project alumni from Come Play With Me. Snapped up by Island Records, the band won the Rising Star (Artist) Award and performed live at the Youth Music Awards 2022.
Since their award, English Teacher have received press support in The Independent, The Line of Best Fit and Clash, and supported the likes of Paolo Nutini and Peace. This summer, they played festivals such as Neighbourhood Weekender, Truck and Latitude, as well as gathering road-block queues for their sets at The Great Escape Festival in May. This autumn, the band are setting off on their biggest UK tour to date.
The Spit Game
Rap collective, The Spit Game, put on a larger-than-life performance at the Youth Music Awards 2022, winning the Live Performance Award. Grime legend Lethal Bizzle made a surprise appearance to present the award to the group, later stating that The Spit Game's electric energy reminded him of his early rave days with Kano, Wiley and Dizzee Rascal.
Bursting with talent, The Spit Game's members have been keeping busy since their win. Last December, they performed at the Royal Albert Hall, and this year, members SL and BOODZ's short film 'Black Boy' was selected for a BAFTA qualifying film festival. The Spit Game have also just landed a residency with the Science Gallery, combining research, Black culture, creativity and film.
Superlative
Rapper and producer Superlative won Outstanding Act at the Youth Music Awards 2021, and has since received support for his music on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, BBC Introducing North West, and Amazing Radio.
In July, Superlative headlined the Youth Music NextGen Community event in Manchester. His work is currently being featured in the Southbank Centre's immersive Reframe: The Residency Exhibition, showing powerful responses to climate change from emerging Black artists.
Pembe Tokluhan
Youth Music Awards 2022 Social Action Award winner Pembe Tokluhan founded Petok Productions, which provides a database of women, Trans and Non-Binary professionals in all backstage roles.
Pembe added another trophy to her shelf last year, winning the Creative Industry Award at last years Baton Awards.
This year, the multidisciplinary backstage creative worked with Nile Rodgers and CHIC on their European tour, taking part in more than 40 shows across 15+ countries.
Eva Davies
Multi-hyphenate creative Eva Davies won the Entrepreneur Award at 2021's Youth Music Awards and has continued to reach for the stars ever since.
The winning project that Eva founded, GRRLS DO THAT TOO, supports women and people of marginalised genders in music on stage and behind the scenes. Now, Eva is a label and artist manager at Youth Music funded partner, Come Play With Me, working with the artist Bug Teeth and band Pop Vulture.
Eva has recently joined the panel for Record Store Day's Unsigned Competition this year, and also plays in an indie grunge two-piece, FIKA.