Get to know the trailblazing winners across the 12 categories at the Youth Music Awards 2023 in association with Hal Leonard Europe.
EVA
AudioActive/ Youth Music NextGen Fund, South East
EVA won three Youth Music Awards - Rising Star Award (Artist) sponsored by Dr. Martens, Music Video Award sponsored by YouTube and Live Performance Award sponsored by Ticketmaster.
A musician and visual artist from Brighton, EVA began producing at the age of 15. In 2022, she released her debut single paired with a video she shot at her local boxing gym. Since receiving funding from Youth Music and AudioActive, EVA has released a total of 4 singles, each with a video directed and produced by herself.
In less than a year of releasing music, she was chosen as a finalist for Glastonbury Festival's 2023 Emerging Talent Competition, where she secured 3 performance slots. She has also made several festival appearances and been championed by some of the nation's biggest DJs such as Fatboy Slim and DJ Target.
Her most recent single 'My One', was praised by CLASH magazine for turning the Jersey Club genre, a bold and brash sound, into something ethereal. Indeed, EVA's sonic style has been developing into a bouquet of bounce that pairs angelic vocals with playful, punchy rhythms.
What was the inspiration for your Youth Music Awards look?
I wanted something that would go wow - something to say I’m here. Ten pounds on Vinted! I messaged the woman like please send it tomorrow, and she was like yeah, I’ll do it on the school run tomorrow.
What genre will you tap into next?
Oooh I have no idea... Well my family are Jamaican, and I’ve not done any Reggae, Dub, and I do love and listen to a lot of that music - like Dennis Brown, Barrington Levy, so I think I would enjoy some of that stuff! I feel like you can’t just work with anyone to make that kind of music, you got to work with the right people.
What do the Youth Music Awards mean to you?
The Youth Music Awards means to me recognition of people that are putting a lot of work into their craft and just supporting those that are struggling financially, and connecting people, connecting artists and just putting on a great night of fun and entertainment and good vibes.
Everyone else deserves to win, I’m such a “everyone’s a winner”....I literally just came off stage like didn’t expect to give a speech so now I’m just like…it’s overwhelming.
And what does Youth Music mean to you?
Youth Music means so much. They took me in when I was 18 and I didn’t have any music out, and now it’s just gone boom! Youth Music is all about supporting and showcasing undiscovered talent and emerging talent, which is just so important.
You played at Glastonbury Festival last year, how was that experience?
Oh, that was - omg it was so so euphoric. I can’t describe it. I worked at Glastonbury in 2022 in the kids field, so I was signing people in, and I actually went round all the different stages asking have you got any slots? This is when I was 19, and then a year later I came back through the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition and I was chosen as a finalist amazingly. I was so grateful to have that opportunity and then got to perform.
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Youth Music Awards 2023: Highlights
Held at London’s Troxy on Wednesday 18 October, the Youth Music Awards in association with Hal Leonard Europe celebrated the most forward-thinking projects and people making, learning and earning in music.
Nominees and Sponsors
Discover the 45 nominees across the 12 Youth Music Awards categories, and the award sponsors.
Judges
Meet the judges for the Youth Music Awards 2023 music categories.