Merseyside music prize, The GIT Award, has revealed the winner of this year’s coveted One To Watch Prize is teenage prodigy Tayá the 12 shortlisted artists for the 2016 edition.
Signed to Atlantic Records, Tayá, has been quietly kicking up a storm on the Merseyside music scene having played Liverpool Sound City, FestEvol and a range of high profile support slots before developing her sound and switching her time between Liverpool, London and the United States.
Yaw Owusu, of Liverpool International Music Festival and GIT Award judge, said: “Tayá is one of the most exciting talents coming from the city right now. Developing somewhat under the radar for some time, it’s clear she has the total package and we, as a panel, are certain she will make an impact from the off. Make sure you keep your eyes and ears on this young lady!”
Tayá’s offerings have been tipped nationally, and she has made transatlantic trips to work with super producer Rodney Jerkins, the man enlisted by the likes of Beyoncé, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.
She will celebrate her One To Watch win with a live performance at the GIT Award 2016 ceremony on Saturday May 14.
Tayá, who was born in Toxteth, follows on from previous GIT Award Ones To Watch Låpsley (2014), who has just released her debut album and completed a world tour and Louis Berry (2015), who is recording his debut in Nashville.
Getintothis’ Peter Guy, founder of the GIT Award, said: “I first saw Tayá in the upstairs loft of the Barfly several years ago, she was raw, completely fresh and slightly unaware of her own ability. But it was immediately obvious there was an innate talent at work. What’s unfolded in the interim years is a young woman who’s blossoming into an artist with not just the necessary skill to succeed but the artistry to find her own particular unique voice. Tayá is truly special, a One To Watch, and more.”
The GIT Award 2016 shortlist is:
Clean Cut Kid
Dragged Into Sunlight
Hooton Tennis Club
L U M E N
MiC LOWRY
Mugstar
RongoRongo
Bill Ryder-Jones
Stealing Sheep
Trudy
TVAM
The Vryll Society
From Deltasonic-signed psychedelic collective The Vryll Society to Polydor Records’ fuzzy-poppers Clean Cut Kid through to do-wop trio Trudy; electronic machinehead TVAM, Heavenly Recordings’ slacker rock & rollers Hooton Tennis Club and mutant-rock outfit RongoRongo; through to fast-rising soul pop band MiC LOWRY and death metal behemoths Dragged Into Sunlight; through to critics’ pop diamonds Stealing Sheep and Domino Records’ visionary Bill Ryder-Jones; through to cosmic Rock Action Records’ droners Mugstar and bedroom electropop L U M E N – this year’s GIT Award shortlist represents a kaleidoscopic musical picture few cities in the world could match.
This year’s shortlist was selected by international industry figureheads consisting of ex-Cocteau Twins member and founder of Bella Union RecordsSimon Raymonde; General Manager of 4AD Records Rich Walker; Heavenly Recordings founder Jeff Barrett; communications manager at Vevo, Dot Levine; BBC 6 Music DJs Gideon Coe and Jon Hillcock; The Unsigned Guide editor, Louise Dodgson; editor of The Music Manuel Lauren Jones; Sentric Music’s Simon Pursehouse; Amazing Radio presenter Shell Zenner; Bido Lito! editor Chris Torpey; founder of Liverpool Music Week Mike Deane;John Doran, editor of The Quietus; EVOL promoter Steve Miller; Liverpool International Music Festival curator Yaw Owusu; plus GIT Award founder and Liverpool ECHO journalist Peter Guy
The event will be hosted by BBC Radio Merseyside punk legend Roger Hill while Liverpool-based architectural company ArchiPhonic are once again involved in setting the scene and creating the visual spectacle.
Commenting ahead of the show, Roger, said: “The GIT Award has turned up some ripe surprises and prescient decisions in their time and this year I’ll be in on the announcements as they happen, onstage among the music and the tensions and the elation. The nominees cover such a range of styles and musical impulses and we can see that Liverpool music is as diverse as it has always been, and just as keen for success. It has been a hard job for judges. I can’t imagine how they’re going to make their final decision, but I know that all of the musicians involved will get a boost from being on the final list. I can’t wait. Good luck to all the nominees.”
Organisers have also revealed an enticing build up and after-show to The GIT Award 2016 with Heavenly Recordings‘ founder Jeff Barrett and fellow label head Danny Mitchell to DJ at new Baltic Triangle-based venue The Black Lodge, and expect a few surprises throughout the night.
Event producer, Joel Murray, of Liverpool band Barberos, returns after overseeing proceedings at last year’s Kazimier Award show, and has the dizzying task to assemble all the live performances on the night.
He said: “It’s a privilege to be a part of the GIT Award for the second year running. It’s become an important part of the Liverpool scene, helping many up and coming bands move towards bigger things, paying respect to past and current acts and generally celebrating the Merseyside scene – I can’t wait to see it all unfold at Constellations.”
Prior to the show, Constellations will host a BBQ – open to the public and GIT Award ticket holders – with DJs including journalist Jamie Bowman and rising pop-rockers Pink Kink.
The GIT Award 2016 takes place at Constellations in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle on Saturday, May 14.
Tickets are available https://www.wegottickets.com/event/347382
For all other details: www.getintothis.co.uk