Sonia Akow

Lady Waks Dominates at Breakspoll 2013 Awards

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Lady Waks

The annual Breakspoll awards were presented last night at Cable in London. Rising star Lady Waks (pictured) took top honors for best track for “Round the Globe,” best producer and best radio show. After the ceremony an elated Lady Waks tweeted: “Big thanks for voting for me. It’s a big honor to get this awards!!! .. I haven’t expect to get 3!”

Krafty Kuts‘ Lets Ride was awarded best album and Scour Records won for best new label. On a touching note, London-based music publicist Sonia Akow, who has worked with countless artists on the underground bass scene and was diagnosed with Leukaemia last November and now urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life, was awarded for her outstanding contribution to the breaks scene.

Full list of winners is below.

Breakspoll 2013 Awards Winners

Best Track – Lady Waks feat MC Manic – Round the Globe [Menu Music]
Best Remix – Planet Perfecto Knights – ResuRection (Beatman & Ludmilla Remix) [Perfecto Records]
Best Album – Krafty Kuts – Lets Ride
Best Label – Ayra Recordings
Best New Label – Scour Records
Best Producer – Lady Waks
Breakthrough Producer – Broken Eye
Best DJ – A-Skillz
Breakthrough DJ – Se7en Deadly Breaks
Best Large Event – Boomtown Festival (UK)
Best Small Event – Low Down & Dirty (UK)
Best Website/Blog – NuSkoolBreaks.co.uk
Best Radio Station – NSB Radio
Best Radio Show – Lady Waks Show (Radio Record)
Best Free Track – The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up (REL1 Re-filth)
Best Live Act – Dub Pistols
Outstanding Contribution – Sonia Akow

Stem Cell Donor Drives and Star-Studded DJ Benefit Planned for Sonia Akow from Push Promotion

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Sonia-Push

In January we reported that London-based music publicist Sonia Akow, who has worked with countless artists on the underground bass scene, was diagnosed with Leukaemia last November and now urgently needs a bone marrow transplant to save her life. Sonia’s mother died of the same disease a little over a year ago. Two stem cell donor drives have been organized in London, and Sonia is appealing for people aged 16-30 (especially those like Sonia who are of mixed heritage) to spare 20 minutes to register as a donor at one of the events listed below. To join the register (if you are 31-49 and live in the UK you can sign up at http://blood.co.uk; international registries can sign up here) all you need to do is complete a simple application form and provide a saliva sample.

Stem Cell Donor Drive 1
Tuesday 26th Feb 2-8pm
Shepherds Bar – Shepherds Building Charecroft Way, London W14 0da

Stem Cell Donor Drive 2
Saturday 2nd March 11-5pm
The Tabernacle, 35 Powis Square, Ladbroke Grove, London W11 2ay

DJ Mag’s Carl Loben, DJ Deekline, Terry Hooligan, Biff (Functional) and others are organizing a benefit club night for Sonia called Push Play at The Egg in Kings Cross, London, on Thursday, March 28. The benefit will feature performances by Krafty Kuts, Shut Up & Dance, MJ Cole, Dub Pistols, A-Skillz, Freestylers, Deekline & Ed Solo, Atomic Hooligan, Stereo MCs, Ragga Twins and many more. More names are expected to be announced shortly.

Sonia has been a true champion of underground music — breaks, ragga, drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, electro — over the years. Please help someone from our scene who urgently needs help by going to the stem cell drive or by simply spreading the word.

Sonia Akow from Daniel Crouch on Vimeo.

Sonia From Push PR Needs Stem Cell Donors

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Sonia Push

Many of the interviews you’ve read and DJ mixes you’ve listened to over the years on Big Shot were organized by London music publicist Sonia Akow from Push PR. A champion of underground music and tireless purveyor of new talent, Sonia received bad news in November 2012 when doctors diagnosed her with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Sonia is currently undergoing chemotherapy and needs a blood stem cell transplant. This is where you can help save Sonia’s life. Please read the details below on how to donate — the more people who register, the better her chance of survival — and keep Sonia in your prayers.

SONIA NEEDS YOUR HELP! STEM CELL DONORS – PASS THIS ON

As many of you will know, Sonia was diagnosed with ACUTE MYELOID LEUKAEMIA (AML) in November 2012 and doctors have told us that a blood stem cell transplant is her best hope of survival. She currently going through cycles of chemotherapy while the doctors search for a donor. We need your help to get more people to register as a potential donor, not just to help save Sonia’s life, but potentially others too.

Sonia’s mother died of the same disease only just over a year ago, and now we’re having to go through the same thing again, and so you can understand why we really need to find a match for Sonia. WE WANT TO ASK YOU ALL TO SPREAD THIS MESSAGE AS FAR AND WIDE AS YOU CAN TO ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND PARTICULARLY INTO COMMUNITIES WITH MIXED WHITE, CHINESE, BLACK CARIBBEAN AND INDIAN CONNECTIONS, AS THESE ARE ALL PART OF SONIA’S HERITAGE, AND MOST LIKELY TO BE WHERE SHE’LL FIND A GENETIC MATCH. These groups are also the most under-represented on donor registers.

The word ‘transplant’ probably sounds daunting, BUT joining the register and potentially becoming a donor is not complicated – YOU FILL IN A SHORT FORM AND PROVIDE A SMALL SALIVA SAMPLE – IT REALLY IS THAT EASY. Once you’re on the register, you could come up as a match for someone like Sonia and potentially save their life. And donating your stem cells is not much different from giving blood and there’s no operation involved.

THE EASIEST WAY YOU CAN HELP:
IF YOU’RE 16-30 – apply to join online here ANTHONY NOLAN (where you’ll also find a short film explaining what’s involved and hopefully help you make a life changing decision.)

You could also get in touch with ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) who are particularly active in encouraging people to join the register from under-represented groups – Black, Chinese, Indian – EXACTLY THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE NEED TO HELP FIND SONIA A MATCH, AND SAVE HER LIFE!

AND IF YOU’RE 31-49 – You’re not too old to donate – go here http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/
Or call the NBS Hotline on 0300 123 23 23 and ‘QUOTE R20’ and tell them you want to become a blood and bone marrow donor.

OR you can visit http://www.blood.co.uk/ to find and book your nearest session. Just type in your home town or your postcode and you’ll find plenty to choose from. And you don’t even have to register before doing so. Just turn up on the day.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO TELL THEM YOU WANT TO REGISTER AS A BONE MARROW DONOR TOO

AND IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE UK…

USA – http://marrow.org/Home.aspx

Australia – http://www.abmdr.org.au/

International registries http://marrowdrives.org/bone_marrow_donor_programs.html#international_marrow

ANOTHER WAY TO DONATE IF YOU’RE EXPECTING A BABY!
After a baby is born the umbilical cord and placenta are usually thrown away but inside are vital stem cells that could save a life. If you’re a mum to be and live in London, Birmingham or Leicester find out more www.anthonynolan.org/cord

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SONIA AND TOBY. X