Harry Styles, Celeste win at songwriting awards

Harry Styles, Celeste win at songwriting awards

The Ivor Novellos honours songwriting and screen composers, and has been handed out since 1956.

Harry Styles and his collaborators won ‘most performed work’ for their song ‘Adore You’. (Reuters pic)
LONDON:
Singers Harry Styles, Celeste and Lianne La Havas triumphed at the Ivor Novellos in London, winning prizes at the annual event that honours songwriting and screen composers.

More than half the winners picked up their first Ivor yesterday, including La Havas who won best album for her self-titled record, written with musician and producer Matthew Hales.

Awards presenters the Ivors Academy described it as “a stunning concept album, its song cycle depicts the stages of a relationship from early romance to its end”.

“I’m really happy, I can’t believe it,” La Havas told Reuters.

Celeste and producer Jamie Hartman won the Songwriter of the Year category for a catalogue of songs including “Stop this Flame”, “I Can See the Change”, “Little Runaway”, “Love is Back” and “A Little Love”.

“Adore You” won the most performed work award for Styles and fellow writers Amy Allen, Tyler Johnson and Kid Harpoon.

Best song musically and lyrically went to London-based Nigerian music artist Obongjayar and musician Barney Lister for “ God’s Own Children”.

The 66th edition of the awards also saw Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears for Fears, known for 1980s hits like “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, recognised in the outstanding song collection category. The duo are set to release their first album in 17 years in coming months.

“We’ve never been able to describe any albums we’ve done,” Smith told Reuters. “All we can say is, it’s how we feel and what we feel like recording right now. It sounds like a Tears for Fears record.”

Rockers Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were honoured with the special international award for their musical partnership, while electronic music duo Goldfrapp took the inspiration award.

Other winners included “Children of the Internet”, which was named best contemporary song. The track, written by rapper Dave and producer Fraser T Smith, addresses the impact of social media.

The awards, named after the early 20th-century Welsh composer, actor and entertainer, were first handed out in 1956.

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