This morning, at RTÉ in Dublin, the Irish artist SOAK was announced as the sixth winner of the 2016 European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA), the European music awards for emerging artists.
SOAK is the alter ego of singer-songwriter Bridie Monds-Watson. She is only 19 but she already knows what she wants in life: to make music. She was barely out of school when she released her acclaimed debut album, ‘Before We Forget How To Dream’ through the music label Rough Trade. Despite her age, SOAK radiates maturity on a collection which showcases the beauty of her intimate, folk-tinged vocals.
‘Before We Forgot How to Dream’ is a snapshot of SOAK’s formative years, growing up in Northern Ireland, touching on themes of isolation, the joys and fears of adolescence, family troubles and the future. Already compared with the likes of Laura Marling and Beach House, SOAK has been a rising star in her hometown of Derry since the age of 14.
Long-term success already seems assured: as well as performing solo at venues including London’s Union Chapel, she has recently toured with indie folk act Bombay Bicycle Club, collaborated with Scottish electronic band Chvrches, and has also been nominated for the 2015 Mercury Prize for album of the year in the UK and Ireland.
Earlier this month Carnival Youth (Latvia), AURORA (Norway, Oscar and The Wolf (Belgium), KOVACS (Netherlands) and Alvaro Soler (Spain) were unveiled as 2016 EBBA winners. Four more winners across Europe will be announced and filmed in the coming weeks. The footage will form part of a unique ‘road-trip’ mini-movie, which will be shared via the EBBA social media account and website.
The EBBA are about breaking down borders and recognising emerging European rock, pop and dance artists who achieved success in countries other than their own. These unique European music awards are funded under the European Union (EU) Creative Europe programme. With the EBBA, the European Union wishes to highlight the success of 10 debuting European artists in selling albums and touring outside their home territory.
From Adele (2009) to Milky Chance (2015), the winners of the EBBA represent the full breadth of European talent and diversity. Other previous winners include Stromae, Emeli Sandé, Gabriel Rios, Hozier, Melanie De Biasio, Of Monsters and Men, Woodkid, Mumford & Sons, Caro Emerald, Lykke Li, Disclosure, Katie Melua, John Newman, The Ting Tings, C2C, Tokio Hotel, The Script, Zaz, Nico & Vinz, Saybia, Damien Rice, KT Tunstall, Alphabeat, Milow and Afrojack.
Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity is a strong part of its cultural appeal, but linguistic barriers sometimes make it harder for artists to work internationally and achieve cross-border sales success. The EBBA seek to help them overcome these obstacles.
To be eligible for the 2016 awards, the artists must have achieved border-breaking success with their first international release in Europe between 1 August 2014 and 31 July 2015.
Background
The winners are selected on the basis of data from Nielsen Music Control research, the European Broadcasting Union, EBU radio stations, and from festivals participating in the European Talent Exchange Programme.
The winners will receive their awards in a ceremony hosted by TV personality and musician Jools Holland at the Eurosonic Noorderslag festival in Groningen, Netherlands, on January 13, 2016. The ceremony will feature performances of the winning acts.
One of the winners will receive a Public Choice Award based on votes cast on the EBBA website from the end of November to Christmas. Up to 15 voters, chosen at random from different countries, will be invited to the award ceremony: each will be able to bring a friend and the prize includes their flight and hotel costs.
The EBBA, now in their 13th year, is organised by Eurosonic Noorderslag in partnership with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with support from Buma Cultuur, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Province of Groningen, the City of Groningen and Music Week.
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@46.32.240.39