Self Esteem wins DICE Live Award 2022

Self Esteem wearing gold coat
© Olivia Richardson

The pop artist was crowned this year’s winner at the awards ceremony on Tuesday (22 November).

Self Esteem has won the 2022 DICE Live Award, being chosen as the music and live events platform’s best live music act in the UK and Ireland this year. She joins previous winners Dave, Little Simz, Loyle Carner, Slowthai and Wolf Alice who have been awarded the prize in previous years.

The shortlist for the sixth edition of the DICE Live Award 2022 also included Shygirl, Fred Again…, Gabriels and Obongjayar. Speaking on the win Self Esteem – aka Rebecca Taylor – said: “Thank you fans and thank you DICE. I can’t believe this, I finally feel like Hayley from Paramore. Thank you also to my band who are amazing. This is for all of you guys – I’m genuinely really chuffed.”

The award ceremony also included performances from DICE’s Ones to Watch 2023, with alt R&B artist Amie Blue, pop musician Ray Laurél and experimental rapper BXKS all taking to the stage on Tuesday at new grassroots venue The Lower Third in London.

The event was hosted by journalist, broadcaster and DJ Kate Hutchinson, who emphasised the importance of celebrating the live music scene. “After the few years we’ve had, it’s more important now than ever to celebrate our incredible live music scene and uplift new artists. I’m not surprised that Self Esteem is taking home the prize – her show is one of the best I’ve seen this year and underlines the power of pop performance. The DICE Live Award winners always go on to bigger things and world domination is going to be hers in 2023.”

Phil Hutcheon, the CEO and founder of DICE, added: “It was great to bring the DICE Live Award back again, to recognise Self Esteem alongside the talented artists raising the bar for live music. Big thanks to everyone who helped us find our worthy winner for 2022.”

Last year, Self Esteem released her second album Prioritise Pleasure, which built on the success of her debut Compliments Please and was nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize. Over the past year, the pop artist has been touring extensively including sold-out shows across the UK and festival performances at Glastonbury, All Points East and Forwards Festival.