Once again, the fourth annual Step Fwd Awards was held in Croydon’s beautiful Fairfield Halls, and this year’s nominees featured an innovative generation of artists and producers.
A Step Fwd is an organisation responsible for the monthly UK Christian charts, serving as a platform for the last ten years.
A Step Fwd eventually began to credit those who transformed the Christian music scene with their gifts, dedication, and efforts through the Step Fwd Awards.
Noel Robinson and Philippa Hanna smoothly hosted the event, which added a humorous and easy-going flair to the night.
The awards given to musicians, vocalists, and producers and inviting industry professionals to announce winners showed the organisation’s commitment to zealously honouring industry contributors.
Notably, unique awards included the Lavine Hudson Award for Vocal Excellence, which spotlights outstanding vocal talent; the John Paculabo Award for Industry Development, which honours those who have made significant contributions to the Christian music industry and the Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious award for those who have dedicated their lives to Christian music.
Many nominees who won an award shared a testimony; for instance, Sarah Téibo previously lost her voice due to thyroid cancer yet won an award for Best Indie/Folk/Acoustic Song.
Still Shadey, a Christian rapper from Croydon, claimed the award for best music video of the year for his meaningful song Mirror Mirror.
The video features 500 children from a local Croydon school.
The song aims to empower the younger generations and inspire them to discover who they are in a world of labels and external influences.
“I’m just feeling the weight of every young person that was on that Mirror Mirror programme, that was more than a video you just saw on the screen,” said Shadey.
The awards also celebrated the rich diversity within the Christian music genre, such as the Best Rock/Alternative Song and Best Electronic/Dance Song awards.
The night not only celebrated achievements but also featured individual and group performances, including engaging spoken word performances.
The 2024 Step Fwd Awards successfully testified to the ever-evolving British Contemporary Christian music landscape and how its talents are shaping and inspiring the generation of creatives yet to emerge.
