Kiwi singer/songwriter wins European accolade
Kiwi singer/songwriter Mitch James has won his first MTV EMA. The 23-year-old picked up the award for Best New Zealand Act at the MTV European Music Awards yesterday.
The EMAs acknowledge acts from around the world, including one each from New Zealand and Australia each year. James, who is known for his hit single 21, beat out his fellow Kiwi nominees, Robinson, Thomston, and pop heavyweights Stan Walker and Kimbra. He took to Instagram to celebrate his win writing: “Okay, holy f***ing s*** I just won an MTV EMA!? So grateful to you all.”
James’ win puts him in the same class as previous EMA winners, which include last year’s winner Tapz, and international success stories Broods, Savage and of course Lorde.
At the age of 17, James moved to London in pursuit of a music career. He spent two years travelling Europe, busking and playing gigs and during that time
experienced homelessness and was robbed, beaten and once witnessed a stabbing.
He rose to prominence in 2016 with his early singles No Fixed
Abode and Move On.
In March this year, global superstar Ed Sheeran handpicked James to open for his three stadium shows in Dunedin.
James released his self-titled debut album in September, debuting at No 2 on the New Zealand charts, gaining 40 million streams as of October.
And in a candid article in the
Herald’s TimeOut James revealed he had battled depression and anxiety since he was a teenager, and encouraged others to speak openly about their mental health.
“We have bred a toxic culture of silence and shame in this beautiful country of ours,” he wrote. “We find it hard to give even the people closest to us the support they need to look after their mental health.
“By sharing my own battle with the depths of depression and anxiety, I hope that it will help even just one other person feel less alone and know that there is a way out, even when it feels like all hope is gone.”
James will play Jim Beam Homegrown in March, joining a lineup which includes Savage, P-Money, Shapeshifter, Broods, Kora, Katchafire and Dave Dobbyn.