Urban Music Awards 22nd November 2013 in London

Friday 22nd November 2013 saw the 11th annual Urban Music Awards at the Porchester Hall in London, and BBM was there to see the winners and presenters including Jahmene Douglas, TOWIE’s Jasmin Walia, Lembit Opik (yes, really) and Atumpan.

Rather surprisingly, the red carpet was strewn with past and present UK X Factor contestants, with the likes of MK1, Amelia Lily, Kingsland Road and Jahmene Douglas proving that Simon Cowell can influence any snippet of the music industry. Jahmene had stronger motivations to attend the event however, as he was nominated for Best Male Artist and Best Newcomer, the latter of which he was successful, an achievement that seemed to surprise him more than anyone else.

“I didn’t prepare a speech because I didn’t think I’d win. They called my name and I was like ‘Oh, OK,
thank you to…’ I didn’t think I deserved to win because my album was a cover album.” He may also have not expected winning, as he was up against YouTube star Mike Hough and popular songbird Laura Mvula.

Asked whether he would be heading to Australia any time soon, Jahmene expressed his complete fear of Australian wildlife.

“I’ll probably be touring there at some point, I’d really like to visit, but I have a fear of things that can bite you in your shoe, on the toilet seat, on your face! I hear the spiders generally stay away from you, but I’m unlucky – I’ll get bitten!”

It wasn’t long before we got onto the subject of X Factor, in the UK and Australia.

“I actually met the winner of Australia X Factor, Samantha Jade, she’s lovely. They have good talent out there. In the UK I’ve been rooting for Hannah Barrett since she sang ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ at Judges’ Houses. That last note was like Nina Simone. But on live shows, she might be getting the wrong song choices for her. I don’t think she will win because England isn’t behind Soul music as much, so I think Sam Bailey or Nicholas McDonald might win – but that’s me being Betfred!”

Other winners included Ghetts for Best Male Artist, who explained he’d be going home and watching X Factor on the weekend to celebrate, Kiss for Best Radio Station, which was picked up by resident DJ Neev (wearing Aftershock dress and Bollywood acrylic nails), and Atumpan for Best African/Afro Beats Act, who had previously expressed his feelings towards the awards.

“I believe that everybody in the category deserves it, but even if I don’t win, I’ll support whoever does if they have a good heart. My aim is to get Afro beats international, so I’m working very hard and not letting any opportunity pass me by. But the rest is in God’s hands.”

The best pairing for the whole night had to be Essex’s finest Jasmin Walia and former MP Lembit Opik. After presenting an award, Jasmin told us she was rooting for co-star Joey Essex in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here and would like him and Amy Willerton to get it on in the jungle.

“I think they’re really cute together, and how cute would their children be! Everyone thinks I’m a princess and no one believes me, but I would love to do the jungle myself. 100%. No doubt I’d faint at everything I tried and I’d probably be the underwater shower girl, but you’d learn a lot about yourself and appreciate everything you have back home.”

The full list of the Urban Music Awards 2013 as follows:

Best International Act – Bruno Mars
Best Album – Naughty Boy ‘Hotel Cabana’
Best Radio Station – Kiss
Best R&B Act – Mike Hough
Best Reggae Act – Sean Paul
Best Radio Show – Charlie Sloth
Best Newcomer – Jahmene Douglas
Best Single – Fuse ODG
Best Female Artist – Laura Mvula
Best Male Artist – Ghetts
Best Hip-Hop Act – Krept & Konan
Best Electronic Dance Act – Avicci
Best Group – Krept & Konan
Best African/Afrobeats Act – Atumpan
Best Gospel Act – Guvna B
Best Music Video – Fuse ODG featuring Wyclef ‘Antenna’
Best Grime Act – Big Narstie
Best Collaboration – Fuse ODG featuring Wyclef
Best DJ – Shortee Blitz
Best Producer – Diplo