InterContinental Music Awards 2023 Winners
The 2023 InterContinental Music Awards highlighted exceptional global talent across diverse genres and artists. This awards ceremony joyfully celebrated the finest in international music, covering everything from pop to hip-hop, classical to folk. The victorious 2023 InterContinental Music Award recipients truly epitomized the pinnacle of global musical excellence.
Presented live on Zoom by ICMA Founder and Executive Director Shahed Mohseni Zonoozi, along with actress-author-coach Karen Lorre from Los Angeles, the ICMAs were a resounding success. Notably, each official Winner had the opportunity to deliver a live acceptance speech by host of the Start Spot Merry. Additionally, Heerraa, the esteemed 2022 ICon award honoree, excitedly unveiled this year’s Icon award recipient.
2023 ICMA Winners
2023 Performance Category Winners
Michael Min
BEST INSTRUMENTALIST
InterPreting “Vocalise by S. Rachmaninoff, Fantasy und Fugue on theme B-A-C-H” by F. Liszt
2023 Record Labels Recognized for Outstanding Excellence
Continental Finalists
Africa
African Jazz
- “Ancient Secrets” by Mthobisi Mthalane – South Africa
African Pop
- “Gimme Love” by Matt B – United States
- “Isencane” by Platform One – South Africa
- “Nothing but love” by Rielle – United States
African Reggae/Ragga/Dancehall
- “Mungu” by Mc Norman – South Africa
African RnB/Soul
- “Sommet” by Dy one – France
- “4 You” by Mt Boi – Nigeria
- “No Wori” by Nnennaya Kelly – United States
Chimurenga
- “Nhemamusasa Muparidzi” by Sam Legend Mutandachinga – Zimbabwe
Jit
- “Mudzimu Wangu Chirega Chinya (feat. Mbira DzeNharira and Bereka)” by Mbira Spirit – Canada
America
Alternative
- “Godwink” by Amy McAllister – United States
- “Hades Has A Daughter” by Chelsea Silva – Australia
- “Moment By Moment” by Radio Drive – United States
American Roots
- “Next Door Stranger” by Brian Kalinec – United States
- “Skeletons” by Damian Wyldes – United States
Blues
- “The Weather” by BEERANDFLIES – United States
- “Cold Day in Hell” by Justine Blazer – United States
- “Buried In The Blues” by Sun King Rising – United States
- “Won’t Be Around” by Terry Blade – United States
Children’s Song
- “The Story Monster Theme Song” by Studio Story Monster – United States
Contemporary Instrumental
- “Celestial Lullaby (Organic)” by Carolyn Barela – United States
- “Passages” by Ed Bazel – United States
- “Soaring” by Ed Bazel – United States
- “Sacred” by Kitt Wakeley – United States
- “The Storm” by Kitt Wakeley – United States
- “A Rhapsody Lives in You” by Lisa Swerdlow – United States
- “The Long Cold Winter” by Peter Sterling – United States
- “Children Of Conflict-Father’s Lament” by Peter Xifaras – United States
Country
- “Gabriela” by Omar Sicilia – United States
- “Why The Hell Knot” by Poppyiris – United States
- “No Love Lost (feat. Devan Ekambaram)” by Swapna Abraham – India
Dance/Electronic
- “Love Me Or Leave Me Alone” by Craymo – United States
- “Leave Your Thing Alone” by Michael Chung – United States
Electronic
- “A Joyous Return” by Bart Hawkins – United States
- “Abundant Time [Stemiostratamos]” by Desensitized – United States
Folk
- “May the Road Rise to Meet You” by Amy Goldin – United States
- “Fix-it Man” by Brian Kalinec – United States
- “Hallelujah” by Meg Pfeiffer & Luca Stricagnoli – United States
- “Calamity Blues” by Phoenix – United States
- “Look” by Phoenix – United States
- “We Fall Down” by The Heritage – United States
Funk
- “Across the Universe” by Heerraa – Malaysia
Gospel/Contemporary Christian
- “Love Somebody Hard To Love” by Amy McAllister – United States
- “Forgive Me (feat. Che Casibang, Lalaine Enriquez, Ria Villena-Osorio & Mike Villegas)” by Girlie Vasallo – Canada
- “Armor” by Mo Dinka – United States
- “Let Him Heal You” by Vero G. – United States
Jazz
- “He’s The One” by BEERANDFLIES – United States
- “A Song For Rick” by Brian Eisenberg – United States
- “Pain & Beauty” by Brian Eisenberg – United States
- “Verona Waltz” by Charu Suri – United States
- “Vienna Waltz” by Charu Suri – United States
- “To Be With You” by The Frost Duo – United States
- “Sign of love” by Yulia – United States
Latin Folk
- “Más Más” by Yeisy Rojas – Norway
- “Te Marchaste” by Yeisy Rojas – Norway
Latin Fusion
- “Amor Perdido (feat. Bucharest All-Star Orchestra)” by Russ Hewitt – United States
Latin Jazz
- “Camino de Elegua” by Yeisy Rojas – Norway
Latin Music
- “Dirty mind love” by Miriammar – United States
- “Detrás de ti” by Omar Sicilia – United States
- “Puntos Medios” by Pablo Santé – Mexico
- “Chasing Horizons (feat. Nuno Bettencourt)” by Russ Hewitt – United States
- “Vivir Libre (feat. Marty Friedman)” by Russ Hewitt – United States
Musical Theater
- “The Cost of War” by Brian Eisenberg – United States
Native American Music
- “Resurgence” by Steven Newton – United Kingdom
Pop
- “The Matrix” by BEERANDFLIES – United States
- “Bad” by Clarissa Diokno – Canada
- “You Belong To Me” by Delon Om – Canada
- “Safety Zone Of Love” by Dora – Serbia
- “Falling Apart” by Emi Ramirez – Canada
- “Break the Fall” by Jamie Alimorad – United States
- “It Never Rains in L.A.” by Jamie Alimorad – United States
- “Machine” by Jehan – United States
- “Love Letter” by Jordan Miles – United States
- “Flirting With My Feelings” by Marissa Lynn Hernandez – United States
- “All Night Long” by Meg Pfeiffer & Luca Stricagnoli – United States
- “Machine” by Meg Pfeiffer & Luca Stricagnoli – United States
- “Forever with you” by Monique La Chapelle – Trinidad and Tobago
- “Dame una razón” by Omar Sicilia – United States
- “Tired” by Shayla He – United States
- “Something New” by Tom Tikka & The Missing Hubcaps – Finland
R&B
- “Euphoria” by Asta – Taiwan
- “Intuition” by Asta – Taiwan
- “You Are So Cool (Feat. Sundae)” by Asta – Taiwan
- “Café” by Elisent Massanet – United States
- “Make The Change” by Ess B – Canada
- “Down Bad” by Gavrielle Sween (Miss Gavri) – United States
- “I’m Here With You” by Matt B – United States
- “Losing You” by Matt B – United States
- “So Into You” by Tracy Cruz – United States
- “All My Dawgz Go To Heaven (Remix)” by YoungTurky – Canada
- “Cover’d Girlz” by Zemira Israel – United States
Rap
- “Mainstream” by 4 Wheel City – United States
- “The Rebellion” by Ari – United States
- “Happy Family (feat. 5forty2 & The Real Masta Clan)” by Namewee – Malaysia
- “This Means War” by Teresa Suydam – United States
Reggae
- “Keep Hurting” by Anslom – Papua New Guinea
- “Love me again” by Anslom – Papua New Guinea
- “Ghost Island (feat. Dwagie)” by Namewee – Malaysia
- “Katak (feat. 5Forty2 & Masta Clan)” by Namewee – Malaysia
- “Be Like Water” by Roc Flowers – United States
Rock
- “Crazy Mad In Love” by Boys’N’Barry – United States
- “One of Those Days” by Jonathan – Canada
- “Stairway To Heaven” by Kitt Wakeley – United States
- “I Do What I Want” by Meg Pfeiffer & Luca Stricagnoli – United States
- “Miss You” by Meg Pfeiffer & Luca Stricagnoli – United States
- “One More Story” by Sun King Rising – United States
Smooth Jazz
- “Waltz for My Father” by Charu Suri – United States
- “Movin On” by Evan Carydakis – Australia
- “Jamby Jamby” by Max Highsteion – United States
- “Wonderful Life” by Yola Nash – United States
- “Under the dancing moon, Under the singing sky” by Yulia – United States
Asia
Asian Dance & Electronic
- “Thai Cha Cha (feat. Bie The Ska)” by Namewee – Malaysia
Asian Folk
- “Tamil Engal Uyir Moochu (Welcome Theme Song for Tamizhan Awards)” by S. J. Jananiy – India
Asian Jazz & Crossover
- “Rudra (feat. Naveen Kumar & Guy Bernfeld)” by Siddharth Nagarajan – India
Asian Metal & Hardcore
- “Run (feat. Jamie Borden)” by Siddharth Nagarajan – India
Asian Pop
- “Fragile (feat. Kimberley Chen)” by Namewee – Malaysia
- “Sab Kuch Mera” by Pallavi Ishpuniyani – India
- “Hope” by Rohith & Amritha – India
Asian R&B & Soul
- “Friday night is dead” by Yi Long – China
Asian Rock
- “Move Ur Big Butt” by Shitalchandra – India
Carnati
- “Kripaya Palaya” by Rohith & Amritha – India
Hindustani
- “Kar Gaya Khwaab” by Madhumita Chatterjee – United States
Zhongguo
- “China Reggaeton (feat. Anthony Perry)” by Namewee – Malaysia
Europe
Celtic
- “Land o’ the Leal” by Christina Tourin – United Kingdom
European Alternative
- “Polie” by Ayn-J – France
- “Miau Miau Miau Miau” by Luís Gameiro – Portugal
European Electronic & Techno
- “Ladscape (feat.Erin Ezekiel)” by Agito Maruyama – Japan
European Folk
- “Listen to the kids” by John Papalas & Magix productions – Greece
- “Giala giala” by Greek Duet – Greece
- “ζεϊμπέκικο της μπαμπέσας” by John Papalas & Magix productions – Greece
- “The birth of the sun” by Tamar aladashvili – Georgia
European Hip-Hop
- “Quiero pero no” by Berrebe – Spain
- “And I know” by OVISION – United States
- “Holygraphic” by OVISION – United States
- “Always Searching” by Roc Flowers – United States
- “Song of Sun” by Roc Flowers – United States
European Jazz
- “Flow” by Dee & d’Z – Netherlands
- “What a day” by Kim – Italy
- “Mood Variations” by OVISION – United States
- “Show me the Vision” by OVISION – United States
Europop
- “Let me rest” by Franzen – Sweden
- “GYM” by Gaetano Randazzo – Italy
- “Wide land” by Lee – Germany
- “8 Billion Souls” by Roc Flowers – United States
- “Forget You” by Roc Flowers – United States
- “Peace” by Vanessa Mini – Italy
Flamenco
- “El Aguacero” by Yannick Corre – Spain
Fusion
- “Aria Passion” by George Voukanos – Greece
Latin
- “Dolcissima” by Pamela Castelli – Italy
- “Time y Tiempo” by Roc Flowers – United States
Middle East
Art Music
- “Earth” by Ihab Darwish – United Arab Emirates
- “Tolerance” by Ihab Darwish – United Arab Emirates
- “An Epitaph on the Tomb of Companions” by Mehdi Rajabian – Iran
- “Murmur of the Naked Nun” by Mehdi Rajabian – Iran
- “Children Of Conflict-Lost Innocence” by Peter Xifaras – United States
- “Children Of Conflict-Mother’s Lament” by Peter Xifaras – United States
Experimental Music
- “Delaye” by UROISH – Sweden
Fusion Music
- “Come Together – Asere Que Bola” by Khaled (Cheb Khaled) – United States
Symphony
- “Sinfonia da Camera (3rd movement – Fate of faiths)” by Dominique Salloum – Lebanon
Pangea
Ambient
- “Amethyst of Avalon” by Christina Tourin – United Kingdom
- “Sleep of Innocents [Embulata]” by Desensitized – United States
- “Dawn Redwood” by Rudy Adrian – United States
- “Inner Peace Music” by S. J. Jananiy – India
- “Ambient Inspiration” by Stanislav Barantsov – Ukraine
Classic
- “Spell of Winter” by Ben Johnston-Urey – Canada
- “Amore Profondo” by Carlo Ayhllón – Classic – Mexico
- “Historia de amor” by Carlo Ayhllón – Classic – Mexico
- “Passacaglia” by Christina Tourin – United Kingdom
- “Outskirts Scrap – The Long Dawn” by Giovanni D’Aquila – Classic – Italy
- “Ragnarok” by Giovanni D’Aquila – Classic – Italy
- “The Grey Havens” by Giovanni D’Aquila – Classic – Italy
Experimental Music
- “Ionic Realms [Victronomy Plubonius]” by Desensitized – United States
New Age
- “Cool Down” by Aakasha – United States
- “Sunflowers in the Wind” by Craig Padilla and Marvin Allen – United States
- “Cheerful Mohana” by Darlene Koldenhoven – United States
- “The Celestial Expanse” by Howard Givens and Madhavi Devi – United States
- “Between Worlds” by Joseph L Young – United States
- “Into the Unknown” by Joseph L Young – United States
- “Remembrance of Time” by Joseph L Young and and Lynn Tredeau – United States
- “The Forgotten” by Joseph L Young – United States
- “Conversations with a Gardener” by Rudy Adrian – United States
- “Shiva Mantra (Om Namah Shivaya)” by Indian Trap & S. J. Jananiy – India
Singer/Songwriter
- “(I Won’t Stay) Broken” by Mag Dalé – Germany
- “From A to O” by Mag Dalé – Germany
- “Aao Yog Divas Manaye (Yog Anthem)” by S. J. Jananiy – India
- “Eyes Wide Open (From ‘North Star’)” by SoundWave Studios Music Group – United Kingdom
Soundtrack
- “Vals El Baile De Los 41” by Carlo Ayhllón – Soundtrack – Mexico
- “A Liberation” by Davide Caprelli from “SOSPESI” Soundtrack – Italy
- “Mother of God” by Davide Caprelli from “LIBERA NOS” Soundtrack – Italy
- “Tempus Hedax Homo Edacior” by Far From Your Sun – Soundtrack – France
- “Nankurunaisa” by Jose ‘Chipi’ Estrada – Soundtrack – Guatemala
- “Samurai Honor” by Stanislav Barantsov – Soundtrack – Ukraine
- “Vikings” by Stanislav Barantsov – Soundtrack – Ukraine
- “Thelissis” by Yorgos Karagiannis – Soundtrack – Greece
World Music
- “Phire Elaam” by Ban Brothers – World Music – United States
- “Icelandic Northern Lights” by Christina Tourin – World Music – United Kingdom
- “Aaraadha” by Devan Ekambaram – World Music – India
- “Cubalia Cafe (feat. Ardeshir Farah)” by Russ Hewitt – World Music – United States
- “Sunset Samba (feat. Jorge Strunz)” by Russ Hewitt – World Music – United States
- “Nari Shakti (Women’s Day Song)” by S. J. Jananiy – World Music – India
- “Victory: Vakratunda” by Sarves Thiru – World Music – United Kingdom
Performance Categories
Best Production
- “Sunflowers in the Wind” by Craig Padilla & Marvin Allen – United States
- “Russian Doll (Originally by ULVER)” Cover by Dmitry Fesenko “VENERA” – Ukraine
- “This Time (Originally by Chris Trapper)” Cover by Kris Anders – Canada
- “Murmur of the Naked Nun” by Mehdi Rajabian – Iran
- “China Reggaeton (feat. Anthony Perry)” by Namewee – Malaysia
- “Gypsy Woman -Love on your Soul- (Originally by Chrystal Waters)” Cover by OVISION – Italy
- “Song of Sun” by Roc Flowers – United States
- “To Be With You” by The Frost Duo – United States
Best Instrumentalist
- “Free” by Ann – United Arab Emirates
- “Blackbird (Originally by The Beatles)” Cover by Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra – United States
- “Pure Imagination (Originally by Leslie Bricusse)” Cover by Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra – United States
- “Amazing Grace (Originally by John Newton)” Cover by Brian Eisenberg Jazz Orchestra – United States
- “Capricho Catalán (Originally by Isaac Albéniz)” Interpreting by Elena Ortega – Spain
- “Evocación: II. La guitarra hace llorar a los sueños (Originally by Antón García Abril)” Interpreting by Elena Ortega – Spain
- “Luz del Alba (Originally by Juan Erena Marmol)” Interpreting by Elena Ortega – Spain
- “Nocturne No. 4 in E flat major (Originally by Gabriel Faure)” Interpreting by Justin Man – United Kingdom
- “Khiyanat (Originally by Ardavan Kamkar)” Cover by Kiana Ghalambor – Iran
- “Je Te Laisserai Des Mots (Originally by Patrick Watson)” Cover by Zixiao Ye – China
- “Interstellar (Originally by Hans Zimmer)” Cover by Zixiao Ye – China
- “Vocalise by S. Rachmaninoff (Arranged for piano solo by Earl Wild), Fantasy und Fugue on theme B-A-C-H by F. Liszt” Interpreting by Michael Min – United States
- “Azul -Tres Colores Porteños- (Originally by Claudia Montero) ” Interpreting by Silvia Nogales Barrios – Spain
- “Lullaby (Originally by Anna Segal)” Interpreting by Silvia Nogales Barrios – Spain
- “Transcendental Étude In D Minor ‘Mazeppa’ (Originally by Franz Liszt)” Interpreting by Sophia Agranovich – United States
- “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat Major (Originally by Franz Liszt)” Interpreting by Sophia Agranovich – United States
- “Ständchen -Serenade- (Originally by Schubert/Liszt)” Interpreting by Sophia Agranovich – United States
- “Out in the Open (Originally by John Riley)” Cover by Stacy Norris – United States
- “Remember me (Originally by David Maslanka)” Cover by Tess Remy-Schumacher – United States
- “Ya Fager feat. Luna (Originally by Mustafa Kureidiyye)” Cover by Zad Khalife – Lebanon
Best Vocalist
- “Keep Hurting” by Anslom – Papua New Guinea
- “Vivere per amare (Originally by Riccardo Cocciante)” Cover by Cristina Merlini – Italy
- “Burning House (Originally by Cam)” by Mike-Bear – United States
- “I Won’t Let Go (Originally by Rascal Flatts)” by Mike-Bear – United States
- “I Was Wrong (Originally by Chris Stapleton)” by Mike-Bear – United States
- “Die Seele ruht – J.S.Bach” (Originally by J. S. Bach)” Interpreting by Neivi Martinez – Austria
- “Media Vita in Morte Sumus (Originally by Michael McGlynn)” Cover by Penelope Broomhead Petromelidou – Greece
- “Song to the Moon (Originally by Antonin Dvorak)” Interpreting by Qiaochu (Grace) Wang – United States
- “All I Care About (Originally by John Kander)” by Sam Corry – United States
- “Walking in the air” by Sophie Mosser – France