Finalists for Asian Music Awards announced (From Asian Image)

Finalists for Asian Music Awards announced

11:44am Friday 14th September 2012 in Entertainment By Asian Image reporter

Finalists for this year’s Lebara Mobile Asian Music Awards (AMAs) have been announced.
The launch was attended by a host of established and emerging British Asian music stars.
This year’s list of nominees proves to be the toughest yet, with no less than 13 Asian music stars all receiving two nominations each.
Pop sensation Jay Sean is recognised in the Best Male and Best Video categories. The latter also features ‘Bad Girls’ by controversial British star M.I.A, who earns a second nomination in the Best Female category this year, where she will battle it out with Preeya Kalidas, who is also up for the same two awards.
Bhangra music is strongly represented across most of the categories with acts such as Garry Sandhu, Sukshinder Shinda, DJ Sanj, Panjabi By Nature and JK all earning two nominations each. British Bollywood producers RDB also receive two nominations as do British Asian duo Panjabi Hit Squad. ‘Jugni Ji’ singer Kanika Kapoor makes her AMA debut with two nominations, including the hotly contested Best Newcomer award, which also includes Junai Kaden, Shide Boss, Banger and Romy Shay.
Punjabi music legend Gurdas Mann also makes the cut with two nominations for Best International Act and Best International Album, where he will be up against India’s rising rap-star Yo Yo Honey Singh in both categories.
There has been no shortage of Urban talent emerging from the UK, and Arjun, Raxstar, Roach Killa and Metz N Trix have made it through in the Best Urban category where they are joined by last year’s winner Mumzy Stranger.
The winner of this year’s Nokia Unsigned category was also announced at last night’s press launch.
The new category has been designed to discover the best emerging Asian music talent in the country and after months of online auditions and live auditions via a national summer tour, the Lebara Mobile AMA team and category sponsor Nokia, were delighted to present 17-year old singing sensation Amanjot Sangha as the winner.
The young Londoner wowed the judging panel with her flawless rendition of Adele’s ‘Don’t You Remember’ and wins the chance to perform at the main awards show on 25th October at Wembley Arena, as well as a production deal with cutting edge record company Sony ATV / Karman Entertainment.
Amanjot Sangha said: “I honestly can’t believe I have won this amazing prize. Any girl who dreams of being a singer would dream of performing at Wembley Arena, a place where I’ve seen my idols perform year after year. Asian Music Awards, Lebara Mobile and Nokia have made this happen and I’m extremely excited to be performing in front of thousands at this year’s awards show and continuing to develop my music career further with Karman Entertainment.”
Asian Music Awards founder and CEO Abs Shaid said, “It was Lebara Chairman Ratheesan Yoganathan who first alerted the rest of the judging panel to Amanjot’s entry and her amazing voice.
She is a hugely talented young singer and at only 17 she has a bright future ahead of her. The Unsigned category is a new initiative for us and with the help of Nokia and Lebara Mobile we have been able to create a platform to interact with the UK’s vibrant Asian community to seek a fresh new singing talent. We hope to support and guide this year’s winner in the coming months so that she can pursue her dream of a successful career in the music business.”
Nokia UK Head of Marketing, John Nichols added: “We’re delighted to announce the winner of the inaugural Nokia Unsigned. Amanjot has a stunning voice in both English and Hindi and we’re excited to be giving this young singer the chance to perform at Wembley Arena and the opportunity to pursue her dream of singing as a career.”
The Lebara Mobile Asian Music Awards celebrate their 10th Anniversary on 25th October at Wembley Arena. International music star Rahat Fateh Ali Khan will headline the show with a full live band.

Tickets are available now at www.ticketmaster.co.uk

The full list of this year’s nominees can be found below.

Best Male: Jay Sean, Ash King, Garry Sandhu, H-Dhami , Jazzy B.

Best Female: M.I.A, Preeya Kalidas, Nindy Kaur, Tasha Tah, Kanika Kapoor.

Best Album: Sukshinder Shinda - Rock the Party, JK – Gabru Panjab Dha, PBN – Me, Myself and Music, Panjabi Hit Squad - World Famous, Aman Hayer - The Entourage.

Best Desi Act: Garry Sandhu, JK, DJ Sanj, Sukshinder Shinda, RDB.

Best Newcomer: Junai Kaden, Shide Boss, Kanika Kapoor, Romy Shay, Banger.

Best Video: Jay Sean – I’m All Yours, MIA – Bad Girls, Preeya Kalidas – Love Between Us, RDB - Sach Gal, Foji – Pumbeeri.

Best Urban Act: Metz & Trix, Raxstar, Arjun, Roach Killa, Mumzy Stranger.

Best Producer: Naughty Boy, Surinder Rattan, Dr Zeus , PBN, DJ Sanj.

Best Club DJ: DJ H, Jags Klimax, DJ Kayper, Panjabi Hit Squad, DJ Fricktion.

Best Radio Show: Noreen Khan – Asian Network, Nihal – Radio 1, Sunny and Shay – BBC London, Bobby Friction – Asian Network, Neev - Kiss 100.

Best International Album: Yo Yo Honey Singh – International Villager,Miss Pooja – Breathless, Amrinder Gill – Judaa, Gurdas Maan  -  Jogiya, Satinder Satraaj - Cheery Wala.

Best International Act: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Shreya Goshal, Gurdaas Mann, Mika Singh.

Best Alternative Act: Nitin Sawhney, Asian Dub Foundation, Niraj Chag, Rumer, Raghu Dixit.