WITH two awards each, singjay Chozenn, broadcaster Ava Gay Blair-Black and DJ Nicholas were the big winners at Saturday night’s Sterling Gospel Music Awards, held at The Ambassadors in Kingston.

Chozenn won Male Artiste of The Year and Local Hit of The Year for Jesus Rock. The song’s producer Rohan “Patexx” Rankine of Journey Music won Local Hit Producer of The Year.

“I’ve worked extremely hard continuously and consistently last year and throughout the years. From a place of utmost humility I am genuinely grateful and joyful for the recognition,” Chozenn, who is overseas, disclosed in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

According to Chozenn, Jesus Rock came from a personal place.

“This song was a tribute to my late father and my fight against depression after I lost six family members, including my dad, to COVID-19 in 2021. This is my fight song. I don’t use words loosely and God blessed it and, by extension, His people. I also contracted COVID last year and I almost died. This song helped my family and I to rise again and move forward with faith, unity and strength,” he said.

DJ Nicholas won Collaboration of The Year for Mek A Way featuring Sherwin Gardner, and Album of The Year for Abnormal Decibels.

The Gospel Light, an eight-year-old show that airs weekdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Gospel JA and which is hosted by Ava Gay Blair-Black, was named Most Rated Radio Programme of The Year. Gay Blair-Black also took the award for Gospel Personality of The Year.

Said Blair-Black, “This is my second time winning in both categories, and even though it has happened before it still feels like the first that I am winning. I am elated, humbled and honoured. I am happy for the Sterling stamp on my work, worth and journey — and to be a double-winning awardee is a dream come true. This has encouraged me to continue while enhancing on the work that I have been doing for, obviously, lives are being impacted.”

Petra Kaye Linton won Female Artiste of The Year. She was overjoyed with her win.

“I am so elated to be chosen as Female Artiste of the Year. Thank you, the Sterling Awards, for this opportunity. A big thank you to my team, my BGVs and musicians, and also to my manager/producer/drummer Kamar Forrest of Danx440entertainment; to God be the glory. This has motivated me to push harder and to put out more good music to win souls for the Kingdom,” she told the Observer.

Malachi, winner of EP of The Year for Rise to Greatness, said the award signifies the hard work that went into creating his project.

“A lot of work went into this EP. The songs were written during the pandemic, and a lot of things were happening and I was going through some negative experiences. The inspiration I got was that despite the challenges, we shall rise into greatness. I was a young man that didn’t believe in myself, and my encounter with God helped me to realise my purpose,” said Malachi whose real name is Michael Taylor. This was Malachi’s fifth nomination and first win.

Kenneth Miller, Lamar Thompson and Dafari Music are among the producers and musicians who worked on Rise to Greatness which features Tiffany Levy, his wife Alicia, and Dunamis Reignz.

Basillia Barnaby Cuff, organiser of the awards, was satisfied with the event.

“I am just in awe of God’s goodness and how well our team was able to pull all the elements together and make the production what was…excellent! It was so amazing seeing everyone together in the same physical space after over two years,” she said.

Other winners in the Sterling Gospel Music Awards include:

Levy’s Heritage – Group of The Year; Prince Saj – Breakout Sensation of The Year; Samuel Medas – Caribbean Artiste of The Year; Maverick City Music – International Artiste of The Year; DJ Rebirth – DJ of The Year; Journey With Corrie B, Kingdom Sound Radio – Online Radio Programme of The Year; Nothing But The Blood, Orville Sutherland – Video of The Year; Genesis 2021 (Jamaica Youth For Christ) – Virtual Event of The Year; and Gospel Deets, Dexter Johnson – Virtual Series of The Year.