MC Tali blogs from the Drum & Bass Awards

I rolled up to the Que Club about half eleven in time for the presentation which was starting at midnight. I was with my boyfriend and two friends and I was glad we were able to walk straight to the front of the queue as there was a huge line of people snaking right around the corner, and security everywhere.

Once inside we were ushered by a minder through the throng of people to the Space Arena where the awards were being presented. There were loads more people than I had anticipated raving it up, and Andy C and Skibba were onstage already hyping up the crowd and getting everyone excited.

I didn’t know if at this stage I had won my category or not but we were taken back stage and looking around me I could see Chase & Status who I had no doubts should be up for best album, Annie Mac whom I knew was up for best female DJ and a few other assorted people that made me think that maybe I had taken the award again!

The atmosphere was really electric and when I saw Magika the promoter and he asked me if I was ready because my category was up first, I knew I had it and I was ecstatic! Now it was just a matter of waiting for the presentation to begin.

The awards were being presented by Nicky Blackmarket, DJ Bailey and Grooverider and when they called my name I was ready to go.

“The best female MC goes to Tali!”

Even though I knew I had it before it was announced my heart still leapt and I couldn’t contain my excitement going up there to receive it. Last year I remember that I had thought of a few people to thank should I win it, but this year I knew they were running late and were pressed for time so I made my speech really short. I was just so happy and excited and seeing all the people in the crowd yelling and smiling up at me my mind went blank!

I think I said something like: “Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me, it means so much, big up all the ladies, keep on pushing through. Peace!”

Although, it was such a blur I could be wrong!

After I got my award I was whisked away to the side to do an interview with DnB Arena, Radio 1 and with Chrissy Chris for 1Xtra. At least now I could say a big thank you properly to those who had helped and supported me.

After giving my interviews I watched the rest of the ceremony from the side of the stage and most deserved award in my opinion was Best Album won by Chase and Status. I absolutely love the album and think it was totally worthy of the win. In saying that I also think they deserved their best tune award with ‘Take Me Away’ as well.

As soon as the awards were over, SS got up on the decks to get the crowd moving on their feet again but I didn’t really have a chance to stop as I was whisked away to the pool arena where I was playing with Marky. It was there that I finally got to have a drink but as I said it was pretty much straight on stage where Annie Mac was tearing it up with the dubstep and Fearless was holding court on the mic.

Marky opened with a new tune that I have just finished with Lynx and Vaceo (forthcoming on his album) called ‘The Real Thing’ and we proceeded to get the crowd in the pool arena whipped up into a frenzy for the next hour before we were joined by Shy FX and MC Spyda.

I skipped off not long after that to visit a techno night across town, but all in all it was a very exciting and eventful evening at The Drum n Bass Awards and throughly enjoyed by all.

Tali x