Photography: Sophie Harbinson
A.M.C wins Best DJ
Chase & Status win Best Producer, Best Album and Best Remix
Kanine wins Best Newcomer
Urbandawn wins Best Track
Calibre wins Critic’s Choice
Shy FX wins his first ever Drum&BassArena Award
Bryan Gee goes into the Hall Of Fame
DRS wins Best Vocalist and signs out from any future participation in the awards
These are just some of the many shocks, surprises and incredible scenes from this year’s Drum&BassArena Awards. Filmed at YouTube Space, broadast Monday December 9 and hosted by Jenna G and UKF editor Dave Jenkins, the show took a different twist to previous award ceremonies.
Building on the new format that was introduced last year, with added in-depth interviews and commentary of the year in music, this year the show was no longer a live event. This allowed for more content, detail and appraisal of the entire scene and completely different reactions from those winning the awards…
The usually chatty A.M.C is completely lost for words, Bryan Gee’s surprise and joy is goosebump overload and Calibre making a very rare video appearance to accept his Critic’s Choice accolade are just some of the highlights. Mampi Swift playing the consummate pundit discussing the year we’ve enjoyed in drum & bass was another surprise addition to the show.
Many other stories can be found from the results; not only did Chase & Status win three awards but also came second for Best Track and Best Video, Inja won Best MC for the second time and DNB Allstars beat some massive new labels to win Best Newcomer Label.
There’s also a whole host of super-worthy second place results to digest; Critical Music came second for the second year running, Bou was close behind Kanine for Best Newcomer, Kings Of The Rollers’ debut album followed RTRN II JUNGLE in the Best Album category and Charli Brix was hot on DRS’s tail for Best Vocalist.
DRS was not interviewed during the show but instead provided an acceptance video that thanked everyone who’s supported his music, but requests that no one vote for him in future awards. He will no longer accept them and wants to see other talent championed.
Sub Focus also needs a shout; this year he was the first ever artist to be nominated twice in the Best Track category (and both received enough support from voters to be in the top 5), but he also came second place for Best Producer, which is his highest placement in that award in its 10 year history.
It’s also worth noting that A.M.C didn’t just make Drum&BassArena history as the first DJ to win Best DJ other than the long-reigning champion Andy C but his album Energy also came third place. Props.
There are many other great things to be taken from this year’s results. Not just the winners but every talented nominee who made it to the final stage. It’s been an exciting year in drum & bass and a time of change with many exciting new names coming through and interesting sounds developing. These results (all listed in order from winner to fifth place) reflect that. With the added interiews and analysis, the show gave a respectful salute to as much of the drum & bass scene as possible.
While no awards show could ever cover every single aspect of the genre, and every single prop-worthy talent in every single style and country, the Drum&BassArena Awards definitely tries hard to celebrate as much of it as possible. You can watch the full show over on the Drum&BassArena YouTube channel here are the full results…
BEST PRODUCER
Chase & Status
Sub Focus
Alix Perez
Mefjus
Camo & Krooked
BEST DJ
A.M.C
Andy C
Camo & Krooked
Voltage
Alix Perez
BEST MC
Inja
Coppa
DRS
SP:MC
MC Bassman
BEST NEW LABEL
DNB Allstars
Sofa Sound
Neuropunk Records
Kosakov Music
DIVIDID
BEST NEWCOMER
Kanine
Bou
AC13
Andromedik
Buunshin
BEST VOCALIST
DRS
Charli Brix
Charlotte Haining
Koven
Becky Hill
BEST CLUB NIGHT
Hospitality
Andy C XOYO
Liquicity
Printworks
FABRICLIVE
BEST ALBUM
RTRN II Jungle – Chase & Status
Kings of the Rollers – Kings of the Rollers
ENERGY – A.M.C
Land of the Blind – State of Mind
Dubplate Style – S.P.Y
BEST FESTIVAL
Let It Roll
Boomtown
Rampage
Sun & Bass
Hospitality On The Beach
BEST LABEL
Hospital Records
Critical Music
RAM Records
Eatbrain
Souped Up Records
BEST TRACK
Come Together – Urbandawn Feat. Tyson Kelly
Program – Chase & Status Feat. Irah
Kallisto – Camo & Krooked & Mefjus
Solar System – Sub Focus
Siren – Sub Focus
BEST REMIX
UK Apache With Shy FX – Original Nuttah 25 (Chase & Status Remix Feat. Irah)
John Holt – Police In Helicopter (Benny L Remix)
Etherwood – Begin By Letting Go (Whiney Remix)
Delta Heavy – Here With Me (ft. Modestep) (The Prototypes Remix)
Hybrid Minds – Higher Love (ft. Charlotte Haining) (Particle Remix)
BEST VIDEO
Roll The Dice – Shy FX Feat. Stamina MC & Lily Allen
Program – Chase & Status ft. Irah
That Smile – Current Value
Gravity – Metrik
Lumberjackin – Serum ft. Inja
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