By Sinead
Monday saw the release of the winners of the 19th edition of the Freshmusic Awards, held jointly by Singapore-based music journalism and awards platform Freshmusic SG & Malaysia’s CWC Entertainment.
From a long-list of 1,201 Chinese-language albums and EPs, a roster of 25 music industry professionals (including Asian Pop Weekly) and 70 Chinese music fans whittled down the entries to winners across seven categories.
Taiwan’s breakout hip-hop star Hsien Ching 陳嫺靜 won three top awards for her album, following on from her success at last year’s GIMAs, with the judges praising how her music resonated with listeners from all generations. In fact, hip-hop artists dominated the top album category, with awards also going to Kumachan 熊仔, J-Fever 小老虎, Gummy B and Goblin King 哥布林王子, showing the growing popularity of the genre in the Chinese-speaking world.
Album of the Year, however, went to Taiwanese musician Ayal Komod 張震嶽 for the feelgood vibes of his “Go With The Flow 跟著感覺走”, while another piece rooted in the everyday – “Daily Diner 普通活著” – won Best EP for No Party for Cao Dong 草東沒有派對 bass player turned solo artist Sam Yang 楊世暄.
Check out the full winners’ list below:
Best New Artist
Hsien Ching 陳嫺靜《If we can be happy happy every day, who wants to be sad:＊如果每天都可以 happy happy 誰想要 sad》- both versions
Best New Band
MindBodySoul 心頭肉《Pilot》
Best Album – Singapore
《I Can’t Find My Head》elo elo
Best Album – Malaysia
《Liminal Garden》Yoki Ng
EP of the Year
《Daily Diner 普通活著》Sam Yang 楊世暄
Top 10 Singles of the Year
〈Wui〉Hsien Ching 陳嫺靜、Charles Chang
〈ADHD 貪吃蛇〉J-Fever 小老虎
〈Home〉Straw 林水草
〈Slowly Come to Thee 寬寬仔來到祢的面前〉Enno Cheng 鄭宜農、Lang Lee 이랑（李瀧）
〈IGLOOOO 雪屋〉The Crane 鶴、moon tang
〈Mama’s Eyes 媽媽的眼睛〉Ayal Komod 張震嶽
〈Deep Sleep 深度睡眠〉Yoga Lin 林宥嘉
〈thanos 泥菩薩〉Gareth. T
〈0.5m² 不佔地方〉Pei-Yu Hung 洪佩瑜
〈Suicide Note→0 遺書→0〉Kumachan 熊仔、Flesh Juicer 血肉果汁機
Single of the Year
〈Wui〉Hsien Ching 陳嫺靜、Charles Chang
Top 10 Albums of the Year
《On the Path to the Road Unreached 在通往未達的道路上》Jiji Lee 李吉吉
《∞→0》Kumachan 熊仔
《Still Moving 開》Pei-Yu Hung 洪佩瑜
《Minsumin 來了》Panai 巴奈
《BETTER 更好》Gummy B
《Go With The Flow 跟著感覺走》Ayal Komod 張震嶽
《Moon Phases 圓缺》Enno Cheng 鄭宜農
《Wu Wei Hong 吳衛紅》Goblin King 哥布林王子
《ADHD 貪吃蛇》J-Fever 小老虎
《If we can be happy happy every day, who wants to be sad:＊secret of collaboration 如果每天都可以 happy happy 誰想要 sad:＊- 合作的秘密》Hsien Ching 陳嫺靜
Album of the Year
《Go With The Flow 跟著感覺走》Ayal Komod 張震嶽
