Singer-songwriters Kenya Grace and Cian Ducrot will be honored at ASCAP London Celebrates, an invitation-only celebration of top U.K.-affiliated songwriters and composers taking place in London on June 18.
Grace, a British singer-songwriter and producer, who was born in South Africa, will receive the ASCAP Global Impact Award. Grace is best known for her 2023 hit “Strangers,” which topped the Official U.K. Singles Chart and Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart; reached No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100; was nominated for song of the year the Brit Awards; and won dance song of the year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Grace merges R&B melodies, soulful stylings and electronic influences. Her distinctive fusion of sleek, club-ready pop and dynamic drum and bass has won her fans across the globe.
Irish indie-pop singer-songwriter Ducrot will receive the ASCAP Vanguard Award, which recognizes artists whose innovative work is helping to shape the future of music. Having kickstarted his career with the viral TikTok hit “All for You” in 2022, Ducrot released his debut album Victory last year; it reached No. 1 on both the U.K. and Irish charts. Ducrot, 26, recently completed a four-date U.K. tour supporting Ed Sheeran.
“Kenya Grace is at the forefront of a new wave of dance-driven pop music,” Paul Williams, ASCAP chairman of the board and president, said in a statement. “As the sole writer and producer of her self-recorded songs, Kenya possesses a DIY style that is staggeringly innovative and has made her a favorite with the dance music community. … A multi-faceted songwriter, Cian Ducrot is quickly becoming one of the industry’s most promising talents with his brilliant voice and heartfelt lyrics.”
Previous British ASCAP award recipients include Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, MNEK, Lewis Capaldi, Dev Hynes and Becky Hill.
