And The BRIT Award Goes to…

It’s The BRIT Awards 2022 ceremony tonight and the competition is fierce! Perhaps more fierce than ever as the organisers scrap the male and female categories. Little Simz, Glass Animals, Griff, Wolf Alice, Olivia Rodrigo and, of course, Adele are going to win big, in my view. But I’m rooting for two artists in particular:

Self Esteem for Best New Artist

As I wrote back in May last year, Self Esteem released the best song of 2021. Here’s what I wrote about it at the time. Self Esteem went on to release her sophomore album Prioritise Pleasure to critical acclaim in November 2021. She also topped The Guardian’s ranking for Best Album and Song of the Year 2021.

Having previously talked about finding success a decade later at 34 years, Self Esteem features on this groundbreaking playlist by The F-List. On being nominated for a BRIT award, she highlighted further the overlooking of women over the age of 30 by the music industry:

“Whatever happens, being a 35-year old woman nominated for a BRIT award is a really proud moment for me. In an industry obsessed with youth, especially the youth of women, I’m galvanised […] by this.”

Self Esteem

Becky Hill for Best Dance Act

Becky Hill is one of two women nominated for Best Dance Act (along with RAYE who’s absolutely amazing, too!). Both of them feature on this playlist by The F-List which pays tribute to the women of house music, including the often-uncredited vocalists of house-hold club classics. In her own words, Becky said the following of her BRIT nomination:

“I’ve been working my entire career to be a BRIT nominee. 2022 marks my 10th year of being in the industry and to say being nominated for two BRIT awards is an honour and career milestone is an understatement. To be seen and acclaimed in the dance sphere, as a woman is a huge achievement for me, especially having been overlooked in the past when featuring on records released by male producers/DJs that I had written and vocalled. I have worked incessantly to become an artist who is not only respected by the industry but by the public too and this nomination has grounded me in the knowledge that I can make it! I’m so proud to be a part of next years awards, I already feel like I’ve won by just being nominated.”

Becky Hill

Rebecca’s and Becky’s nominations are much deserved, and I hope they both go home with the coveted award tonight. I’ll be rooting for them!