Angélique Kidjo acquired the Polar Music Prize at a ceremony in Stockholm on Tuesday. The award was based by the late ABBA supervisor Stig Anderson, in partnership with the Royal Swedish Academy, and is given out yearly.
This 12 months, although, there have been three recipients: Kidjo, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, and Chris Blackwell, the Island Records founder who helped uncover Kidjo and whose label put out quite a few her albums.
“I had sent my music to every record company in Paris. No one was interested, no one cared,” Kidjo mentioned in her speech, per Music News, as reported by Stereogum. “Then the African activist Mamadou Konté sent it to someone in Jamaica who showed true passion for my work, signed me right away and started me down the path to success. This person was Chris Blackwell. He has allowed me to build these bridges between all the beautiful music and peoples of the world, so that we can celebrate our common humanity.”
“I started my career at the age of six when my dear mother shoved me on stage in front of a live audience,” Kidjo added. “I used to be so scared that I may really feel my entire skeleton shaking. But the viewers began to snicker and clap. It made me really feel good, it made me really feel at dwelling. Since that day I haven’t left the stage!
In September of 2022, Kidjo helped have a good time a exceptional occasion when she stopped by NPR to assist have a good time the 1,000th Tiny Desk efficiency. The intimate video live performance sequence began in 2008 as a possibility for producer Bob Boilen to function acoustic variations of his favourite artists and performers. The live shows have achieved international fame with artists from everywhere in the world eager to play on the office whose cabinets are stuffed with years of awards and music collectibles.
Listen to the perfect of Angélique Kidjo on Apple Music and Spotify.