The evening of the Anchor Award 2023 is completely different than usual this year. Hives lead singer Pelle Almqvist has been hired again as presenter, and producer Tony Visconti is also back as a jury member. But whoever ultimately wins the prize is so wonderfully refreshing. And also different than previous winners. The performance leaves the audience in the St. Pauli Theater in silence and awe. But first things first.
Glittering presenter duo: Pelle Almqvist and Alexandra Maurer
The award ceremony will take place for the eighth year, again in the St. Pauli Theater, on Saturday (September 23rd), as part of the Reeperbahn Festival. The moderation duo consists of the radiant Alexandra Maurer and the joking Almqvist. The latter had performed with the Hives the evening before and was asked by Maurer: “How can you still be so fit here?” – Almqvist just shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly. A professional, after all.
Nominee BERQ opens the evening musically
The first nominee to start the evening with a melancholic, harmonious song is BERQ. Herbert Grönemeyer described the 19-year-old from Hamburg in April 2023 as “own, fresh, courageous and bold”.
Pelle finally talks to Tayla Parx about the young talents on stage. Her advice: “We want fresh faces, new sounds, and pop! This is the time to take the risk! Right now everything is wide open. Engaged fans looking for someone that is real – this is your time to be as you as you can be! Music is breaking free.” (“We want fresh faces, new sounds, pop. This is the time to take the risk! Dedicated fans are looking for someone real – this is the time to be yourself, like “You can be yourself! Music is like a liberation.”
Entertaining interviews and one question each generated by ChatGPT
And because every jury guest gets a question created by ChatGPT at the end of the interviews, Tayla also answers hers: Who would she be as a cartoon character? “Spongebob, for sure!”
The second nominee is Paris Paloma. The 22-year-old Englishwoman sings her hit “Labour,” in which she asks the question: Where would women be today without centuries of exploitation?
While last year the moderators were able to bridge short technical problems and breaks during renovations with backstage interviews, this year everything seems to be going smoothly. The conversations are even more entertaining. Katie Melua says she is thrilled with Ichiko Aoba. Because the Japanese are different.
Ichiko Aoba’s harp voice
Unlike all the bands nominated this year: the Japanese folk singer and songwriter sits alone on stage. She plucks the guitar virtuously to accompany her crystal-clear voice, which spans several octaves. If glasses were in the room, they would almost jump at the high tones. Blue cones of light dance around her. Her lyrics are inspired by her dreams. A pin could fall on the floor and you would hear it.
In the next interview from the backstage area, the “natural habitat” of artists, as Pelle says, Alexandra talks to Inez and Demian from ÄTNA, but also to the nominee group Daisy The Great.
Daisy the Great is an American indie pop band led by singer-songwriters Kelley Nicole Dugan and Mina Walker. They gained fame with their debut single “The Record Player Song” from 2017.
Tony Visconti loves the Reeperbahn Festival
And Pelle then asks Tony Visconti why the producer has been coming from America to the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg for years. “Because there is SO much talent here than anywhere else,” he replies. “There are no barriers here, it doesn’t matter where you come from. Music shouldn’t have any barriers. Music is a ‘universal language’!”
The nominees are…
The nominated acts competing for the Golden Triangle Award at the St. Pauli Theater on Saturday evening are:
- BERQ (DE)
- Paris Paloma (UK)
- Ichiko Aoba (JPN)
- Waterbaby (SWE)
- Daisy The Great (USA)
- Hannes (SWE, Waterbaby sings with him again)
In the end, Ichiko Aoba wins
Ultimately, Ichiko Aoba takes home the award. Her voice, which sounds as clear as a harp, impressed the jury. Ichiko accepts the award only after bowing in thanks to each jury member. Finally, the only thing she can say to the audience and the jury is a quiet “Thank you.” Thank you so much!”