EMMI takes home crown for MTV Brand New 2016
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Photo by Anna Kucera
Over a 10-week period, 10 Kiwi and Aussie emerging artists went head-to-head competing for the hotly-contested MTV Brand New 2016 title. MTV has announced singer/songwriter, EMMI, as this year’s winner of MTV Brand New for New Zealand and Australia, with just under 60,000 votes.
EMMI originally built a career writing songs for other artists before a late night chat with her mum caused a much needed epiphany, which in turn helped her take the lead as singer as well as songwriter. Since then EMMI has released several singles, including ‘Blind’ which reached #3 in the French official charts and has racked up more than 70,000 plays on European radio and ‘Our Youth’, which has clocked over 25 million streams on Spotify to date. EMMI is undoubtedly one of 2016’s rising stars.
This year for the first time, MTV offered a $10,000 donation to the winning artists charity of choice. EMMI has chosen to donate the $10,000 to Telethon Perth, which raises money for medical research into children’s diseases and provides vital medical equipment to areas of need in Western Australia.
“I’m absolutely over the moon! To have been nominated at all for MTV Brand New in the first place was honour enough. But this is so special. I’ve worked so hard for so long all over the world, so to have my music recognised back home where it all started feels particularly meaningful to me. Like I’ve come full circle. It’s a huge accomplishment and I’m just so humbled by the talent this year.”
“I only have my fans to thank for making this possible. They have been obsessively voting from start to finish and I’ve been overwhelmed by their support. We did it for Telethon! And I’m chuffed to bits to be able to now hand over that donation cheque and support a charity that will in turn support the people that need it most. That’s honestly the best bit of all! “
“Thank you to MTV for this opportunity. Brand New is such a gift to new artists like me. Thank you for allowing new music to be heard above the noise… Legends.” Said EMMI.
The MTV Brand New competition allows the public to vote online for their favourite emerging Kiwi or Aussie act, whilst MTV gives the artists the support and on-air exposure they need to make a mark in the industry.
Now in its second year in Australia and New Zealand, EMMI follows on from last year’s winners At Sunset who were up against fierce competition Conrad Sewell and Tkay Madza. Originally from the UK, MTV Brand New has launched the careers of Sam Smith, Florence & the Machine, Adele, Jessie J, Charli XCX, James Bay, Years & Years and most recently Anne Marie.
Each year MTV partners with music labels across New Zealand and Australia to find the best 10 up-and-coming artists, selected by an expert panel of MTV judges, to take part in the competition. The contestants in the 2016 MTV Brand New competition were MAALA, Ryan Enzed, GodWolf, Gordi, Koi Child, Nicole Millar, Paces, Young Franco and Montaigne with EMMI taking home the winning title.