Nova Twins pen open letter to MOBO Awards asking for Rock/Alternative category to be added in 2021

The Essex/London-based duo shared the open letter addressed to the MOBOs on socials earlier today (30 November), and it sees Amy Love and Georgia South ask for the introduction of a Rock/Alternative category to the awards for 2021.

Nova Twins write, "We are Nova Twins, a band of two mixed race girls from South East London and Essex who shout through distorted mics and play gnarly bass riffs. We are writing this open letter to ask you to help pave the way for Alternative and Rock POC artists. We believe that you can widen the representation that ourselves and so many others didn’t have growing up. Rock’n’Roll is of black origin but because of the systemic issues that we still face today, POC contributors to the genre have been lost along the way."

The duo's letter continues, "We have a proposition: we would love for you to consider adding a Rock/Alternative category to your 2021 award show, celebrating the best new wave of artists in the scene today, whilst paying tribute to the POC originators and founders of Rock’n'Roll and Rhythm’n’Blues."

"We grew up watching the MOBO Awards, feeling grateful for its CEO and Founder Kanya King MBE, who pushed boundaries and helped bring black music and culture into the mainstream," Nova Twins add. "We want to use our platform to raise the voices of the unheard, diversifying the space for Alternative POC bands but we can’t do it alone. We need trailblazing, influential platforms like the MOBOs to back us and look ahead to a more diverse future for music."

Nova Twins go on to highlight 1930s musician Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who influenced work by Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner and Jimi Hendrix, and influenced the "development of British Blues in the 1960s". They write, "We all owe her a huge debt and with the help of others, we want to continue the pioneering work she started. We feel strongly that this needs to be represented in the MOBO Awards."

Before signing off, Nova Twins write, "This is more than just a category, it’s a message to all young black people, letting them know that they can do and be anything that they choose. That they have more creative options available to them, other than the ones society has offered them. It’s up to us all to give the new generation the tools and encouragement to do so. It's time to create a different landscape to the one we entered. 2020 has been a time for us all to reflect and re-educate ourselves. Let 2021 be the year we all take action."

Our open letter to the @moboawards :

We're asking for your help in the hopes that a Rock/Alternative category will be added to the MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Awards in 2021, recognising the POC contributors to the genre.

Please RT, sharing this message far and wide! pic.twitter.com/wol3iCi4uH

— NOVA TWINS (@NovaTwinsMusic) November 30, 2020