Rapper Dave wins Songwriter of the Year at the Ivor Novello Awards

A host of musical superstars were crowned at the Ivor Novello Awards last night.

Taking place at Grosvenor House hotel on Thursday 19 May, the awards recognise outstanding creative musical achievements in composing and songwriting. They are judged by a panel of songwriters and composers from the The Ivors Academy.

Rapper Dave won the prestigious Songwriter of the Year award – his fourth Ivor Novello Award – for his work on the single Titanium in 2021.

His second album, We’re All Alone In This Together, also hit number one in the UK and included another three top 10 singles: Clash, Verdansk and In The Fire.

In addition to Dave, pop star Shakira won the Special International Award to commemorate her song-writing achievements – including 80 million record sales – while guitarist and singer Sam Fender won his first Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Lyrically and Musically, for Seventeen Going Under.

The song, which explores his life at 17 and the challenges that he and his mother faced growing up, is one of many hits for Fender. Recently, the North Shields local sold out his biggest headline gig to date at Finsbury Park, which will see him follow the Arctic Monkeys and Liam Gallagher in playing the north London venue.

Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran, Fred again.. and Johnny McDaid won the Most Performed Work award for their song Bad Habits.

This makes it Sheeran’s fifth Ivor award: he won the same accolade in 2019 for his work on Shape of You.

London-born artist Little Simz took home the gong for Best Contemporary Song alongside Dean “Inflo” Josiah Cover. Their song, I Love You, I Hate You, is taken from Little Simz’s new album Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and features an impassioned address to her father.

And look out for Naomi Kimpenu, who won the Rising Star Award – making her the third consecutive female songwriter to do so – for her debut four-track album Prelude.

Shaznay Lewis, the Ivor Novello Award winner and judge, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for this year’s winners, who have joined an ever-expanding list of legendary songwriters and screen composers.

“It is a privilege to experience such an immensely powerful, emotive and eclectic range of music. Huge congratulations to everyone who took home awards, and every single songwriter and composer nominated.”