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Original Track Award (Group) sponsored by Marshall Amplification

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Meet the winner...

ava in the dark at the youth music awards

Ava in the Dark - Manic

Music Leeds, Launchpad (Yorkshire and the Humber)

Ava in the Dark are a Leeds-based, genre-defiant outfit, setting dark lyrical themes to music ranging from dystopian soundtrack to synth-drenched indie-pop harmonies with manipulated guitar ambiences. Their first EP was included in Apple Music’s ‘New in Alternative’ playlist, had thousands of listeners around the world and was performed as a stripped-back version as part of their live session with BBC Music Introducing in West Yorkshire. Manic was self-produced and recorded entirely at home before being mixed by 2x GRAMMY Award-winning engineer Eduardo De La Paz and mastered by Kevin Tuffy at AIR Studios.

body water press shot

BODY WATER – Throw It All in the Fire

Brighter Sound, Sing City (North West)

Horror Rock duo BODY WATER are subverting stereotypes with their macabre imagery and haunting aesthetic.  They made their Glastonbury debut in 2022, have caught the attention of Radio 6 Music and recorded live sessions for BBC Introducing. This past year has seen them playing sold out shows with the likes of GIRLI, July Jones and Crawlers. Visually and musically inspired by gothic horror, their witch-like lyricism will have you chanting along to a psychopath’s inner thoughts whilst their gritty, ‘80s guitar-heavy sound will transport you back to the Sunset Strip.

nospace

NoSpace – Tangerine Daydream

Contact, Making Contact (North West)

Tangerine Dream was made at a time where NoSpace were getting to know each other as a band. Their distinct and diverse voices, lyrics and styles can be seen throughout this song. It was born out of a simple drum loop and the hi-hats dictated the rest of the song, such as the bass lines played by TMNMS and the main vocal melody line sung by Shaq Rayes. This then inspired Tobija Wilson to create the main hook of the song in a private session, showing their diversity and space for individuals in the song.

oceanside records

Oceanside Records – Welcome to Torbay

Sound Communities CIC, Making Waves, Music Up/Ocean Sounds (South West)

Oceanside Records is a collective of young rappers who want to ensure that Torbay is respected for the amazing music being made there. Frustrated with lack of local opportunities, the collective came together to create Welcome To Torbay. The track challenges stereotypes of young people in ‘The Bay’ and their feelings of isolation and not being listened to. The video focuses on places around The Bay that are important to them, alongside shots of areas in Torbay that have some of the highest levels of poverty and deprivation in the country - something not commonly associated with Torbay.

striker beats

Striker Beats, YJ – Been Through

Romsey Mill, Bassline Sounds (East of England)

Striker Beats' vision as a producer is to release an album of songs where he features different artists over his own productions. This track showcases his versatility as he explored a new genre, combining disco and house elements with the quickfire bars of his featured artist YJ . It was all written and recorded on FL Studio, using samples as a starting point. He then asked YJ if he could put some bars on it and the finished result is an upbeat rap song. 

Youth Music Awards 2022

The Youth Music Awards celebrates the most forward-thinking projects and people making, learning and earning in music. From artists and entrepreneurs to grassroots projects and young leaders, the event recognises an exciting range of trailblazers from across the scene.