BASCA CEO Vick Bain has paid tribute to the diversity of this year’s Ivor Novello Awards nominees, describing the 2017 shortlist as “a real reflection of contemporary musical tastes in Britain right now”, in a conversation with Music Week.
The nominees for this year’s Ivor Novello Awards were unveiled yesterday at The Ivy in London’s west end, where BBC 6 Music presenter and BASCA committee member Tom Robinson unveiled the shortlist.
Among the nominees revealed on the day were such artists as Michael Kiwanuka, Skepta, Coldplay, Dyo, Laura Mvula, Adele, Mystery Jets and Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds. More will be announced when the awards take place on May 18 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Speaking to Music Week after the shortlist was revealed, Bain highlighted the diversity of artists and genres represented on the shortlist.
“These awards are a real reflection of contemporary musical tastes in Britain right now,” she said. “The diversity is what makes it really interesting and stand out from other awards shortlists. You just have to look and see how many genres are covered. It’s pop, rock, urban; it’s the whole gamut. I’m very proud of the list. It’s really exciting”
Robinson was also quick to celebrate the artists selected, describing the Ivor Novellos as being “much more relevant in recent years”.
“It’s so diverse,” he told Music Week. “Over recent years the whole Ivors process has become much more relevant and we’ve had some really interesting ceremonies. [The shortlist] doesn’t so much reflect the change of culture at BASCA as the change of culture in the music world, generally. The giants aren’t dominating in the way they used to, because the mass sales from the mega corporations aren’t completely in control, so there is room for more interesting and diverse stuff to come through.
Robinson also drew attention to the gender diversity of the BASCA committee, which currently includes Sharleen Spiteri, Joan Armatrading, Kim Appleby and Cathy Dennis among its members.
“We’ve got by far the most diverse Ivors committee – for the first time there is now more women than men on the committee, which is great,” he said. “And about bloody time!”
Among the nominees is UK songwriter and performer Dyo, for her contribution to Neiked’s hit Sexual in the Best Contemporary Song category. She also cited collaborations as a big plus for the music industry at large.
“Before, people were more inclined to have one producer and one writer,” she told Music Week. “Now there are quite a few writers in a room and everyone has come from a different background and that combined makes for a really strong song. And that’s really reflected in the nominations. Everything that’s been nominated feels very different and that’s reflected in who has been writing the songs and working on the music.”
Commenting on her own nomination, she added: “It’s really overwhelming. This is the first thing I’ve ever been nominated for, so it’s massive. It’s a prestigious thing. I was like, Does that mean Sexual is like a proper song?! I’m just really excited.”
Meanwhile, Blaine Harrison and his father and fellow Mystery Jets band member Henry Harrison, hailed the importance of the Ivor Novellos in providing a true reflection of the state of the contemporary British music scene.
“It’s really important that the Ivors represent what’s happening in British contemporary music, and it’s an honour to be on this list,” said Blaine.
“To see Skepta up for a song written with Josh Homme (Man) really captures the spirit and diversity of the awards,” added Henry.
You can view the 2017 Ivor Novello nominees in full here.
