Melenas wins a 2021 Music Moves Europe Talent Award

Melenas has become one of the most talked-about bands on the garage-pop scene. Their songs, guitars and reverb-laden vocals are a celebration of timeless pop, blending their own fresh style with tradition. In 2020 the band released their second studio album, ‘Días Raros’, topping several year´s best-of lists.

The Pamplona-based band is one of the eight winners of the 2021 Music Moves Europe Talent Awards, together with Alyona Alyona (Ukraine), Inhaler (Ireland), Julia Bardo (Italy), Lous and The Yakuza (Belgium), Rimon (Netherlands), Sassy 009 (Norway) and Vildá (Finland).

This annual EU prize for popular and contemporary music, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme, celebrates emerging artists who represent the European sound of today and tomorrow.

The awards ceremony took place on Friday 15 January online at the virtual venue Nite Hotel. The ceremony was hosted by British artist Melanie C, following in the steps of previous hosts Jools Holland, Eric Corton and Thomas Neuwirth (Conchita Wurst). This was the third edition of this EU music prize. Previous winners include Rosalía, Meduza, Bishop Briggs, girl in red and Pale Waves.

Compared to Anglo-American music, the total percentage of music originating from continental Europe is relatively small. The Music Moves Europe Talent Awards are designed to accelerate the international careers of upcoming European artists.

Music Moves Europe

Music is one of the most popular and widely-consumed art forms and a vibrant expression of Europe´s cultural diversity. Music Moves Europe, the overarching framework for the European Commission’s initiatives and actions in support of the European music sector, aims to help the music sector flourish. In line with this approach, the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards, co-funded by the Creative Europe programme, the EU funding programme for the culture and audiovisual sector wants to contribute to the creativity, diversity and competitiveness of the music sector in Europe.

Organizing coalition

The Music Moves Europe Talent Awards are organized by ESNS and Reeperbahn Festival in partnership with Yourope, Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), International Music Managers Forum (IMMF), Liveurope, Live DMA , European Music Exporters Exchange (EMEE), Digital Music Europe (DME), and the media partners of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), with support from the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Province of Groningen and the City of Groningen. The awards are implemented in close cooperation with the European Commission and financially supported by Creative Europe.