2023, Rock, September 2023
ROCK | Samora wins Best New Reggae Artist at the 2023 Caribbean Music Awards
Sep
Samora wins Best New Reggae Artist
2023 Caribbean Music Awards
Swiss-based Reggae and Dancehall singer Samora won the Caribbean Music Award in the category “Best New Artist Reggae” 2023. This award recognizes the development of the Surinam-born Dutchwoman from an up-and-coming talent to an established, internationally active artist and performer. Her second album “Chameleon,” released in 2022 and received extremely well by critics, as well as numerous convincing and energetic live shows at festivals such as “Rototom Sunsplash” (E), “Summerjam Festival” (D), and “Montreux Jazz Festival” (CH) have contributed to this. While the 2022 album produced in Switzerland by Res Staudenmann and Ludovic Hoarau was still under consideration for the Grammys as best reggae album, a growing fan base now helped Samora win her first major international music award. The award not only puts Samora’s adopted home of Switzerland and its vibrant music scene in the spotlight but also puts her country of origin, Suriname, on the map and should pave the way for the versatile and accomplished young singer to pursue more significant projects with artists and at venues around the globe.
Samora accepted the award, determined by fans in an audience vote, on August 31 at a glamorous gala event in the sold-out auditorium of the legendary Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, gaining her first experience and impressions on the red carpet alongside music greats such as Spice, Kabaka Pyramid, Jada Kingdom, Nailah Blackman, and Romain Virgo.
For the first time in 2023, the Caribbean Music Awards celebrates the Caribbean community’s culture and recognizes the significant influence of styles such as Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, and Kompa on the music scene worldwide. Highlights of the evening were the recognition of Beres Hammond (Elite Icon Award), Spice (Female Artist Of The Year – Dancehall), and Machel Montano (Lifetime Achievement Award), as well as a great Wyclef Jean, leading through the evening with a lot of humor.
About Samora
Born in 1991 in Paramaribo, Suriname, Samora came into contact with music very early and fell in love with the different sounds and styles, from Gospel to Reggae. Even as a little girl, she wanted to become a singer. When she moved to the Netherlands at the age of 14, she was able to realize her dream and turn to a career in the music business. Between 2012 and 2014, she attended the Nederlandse Pop Academie in Utrecht, founded her band, and participated in music competitions, some of which she won. After her first two singles, “Amazing” and “My Turn,” in 2015, she turned more and more to Reggae-related music, which was reflected in the 2016 insider tip “Momma Said.” Further singles and the first bigger shows in the Netherlands followed until 2018 when she accepted an invitation from the band Open Season to be part of the “Female Reggae Voices” tour. Together with the Swiss Reggae band, she released the tune “Me Na Fallin.”
In spring 2019, her debut album “Moengo” was released, a homage to the place where her parents first met. And between 2019 and 2021, Samora released a huge number of other singles such as “Keep My Fire Lit,” “Free Up,” “What You Came For,” and “Home Again.” In 2020 and 2021, Samora intensified her bond with Switzerland and worked with her Swiss production team on her next steps and releases.
She consistently pursues her path of expanding her fanbase through commitment, up-to-date releases, and convincing live shows, such as at the renowned “Reggaelake Festival” in Amsterdam 2019 and several memorable gigs all over Europe. Her consistency attracted international music magazines and platforms to write about her releases, too. For example, she was on the front cover of the global renowned Reggae and Dancehall magazine Irie Magazine in the summer of 2020. But many other media are publishing her releases and interviews and sharing her music on their platforms.
Let her inspire you, too.
Official Website
WEBSITE:
SamoraMusic.com
IN THIS ISSUE
