The nominees for the Dallas Entertainment Awards were released before its inaugural ceremony.
Founded by a local DJ and artist Dezi 5, the show plans to celebrate the best of Dallas arts culture over the past year. Each category includes five nominees selected through a public vote. Ballots for winners will remain open until January 21, accessible via this link.
Find out who won at the DEA Gala on January 31 at the Latino Cultural Center. Entrance is free and open to the public.
CONTENT RELEASE
Categories:
Album of the year: Believe – Justin Lyons, A Fish Without a Bicycle – The WRLDFMS Tony Williams, AMPHORA – Lily Taylor, Live in Paris – RC & The Gritz, Love, Jeff – Uncle Jeff
Song of the year: Crazy (For You) – Igemiji, Sway – Kameron Ross, DayDreaming – Dana Harper, from Texas – Cure For Paranoia, Lookin' for Someone – Sarah Johnson
EP of the year: Behind the Empty Smile – From The Tides, Avalanche – Remy Reilly, II – Skybaus, East Dallas Diaries – Jake Quillin, 1995 – FURLOW
Video clip of the year: Tomado – Marcos Covos, Sway – Kameron Ross, R You Doing it – Toxic Madness, Love is a Message – VEX, Rosegarden Funeral Party – Almost Heaven
LIVE ACT
Categories:
Best R&B Artist, Group, Act: Rueben Lael, Dana Harper, Salako, Beaux Dove, Jada Arnell
Best Hip Hop Solo Act: BigXthaplug, Durrough, Pierce Washington, Honey Banks, Jayson Lyric
Best Hip-Hop Act/Group: Paranoia Cure, Children of Indigo, Shabazz3, Wonder Gang, Bodega Brovas
Best Country Artist/Band/Group: Kameron Ross, Jacob Price Zazz and The Loose Ends, Corey Cross, Justin Prickard, Angel White
Best Latin Artist/Group/Group: Ceci Ceci, Los Gran Reyes, Sabor Puro Cumbia, Cayuga All-Stars, Muriel
Best Blue Artist/Group/Group: Isaac Sloane & The Sound Brigade, Jake Quillin, Tin & Tonic, Terraplane Rounders, Abrahanm Alexander
Best Rock Artist/Group/Group: Gentlemen of Texas, Dirty Shirts, CURL, Sunny Layout, Rosegarden Funeral Party
Best Punk Artist, Band or Band: Overshare, King Clam, Sub-Sahara, Les Deux Watts
Best Psychedelic Artist/Group or Band: CHEMICALSPELL!, Magnificent Jetson, Pearl Earl, Midnight Thirty, Smokey Mirror
Best ALT Rock Artist/Group or Band: Corey Breedlove, FIT, Roach Noises, Shibby, The Deadly Beloved
Best Americana Artist/Band or Band: Sarah Johnson, Justin Pickard and the Thunderbird Winos, Dev Wulf and the Midnight Howl, David Tribble, Madison King
Best Metal Artist/Band/Group: Tides, Skybaus, Kombat, Toxic Madness, Gary Arbor
Best Funk/Soul Artist, Band or Group: RC & The Gritz, Azwalf Hazworf & The Love Session Orchestra. Quentin Moore, Stone Mecca, We, the Grays
Best Pop Artist, Band or Group: Elyse Jewel, Maya Piata, Lorelei K., Lina Maples, Ravs
Best Dance/Electronic Artist, Band or Group: Ishi, Zeke Forever, Keychain, SEVIT, House of Freqs/ CBSmoove & IAMYU
Best experimental/noise artist, band or group: American Cruelty, Lilly Taylor, Blue Capricorn, MATTIE, Orangutan Superlove
Best Jazz Artist, Band or Group: Shelley Carrol, Ashleigh Smith, Bishop Arts Hot Six, The GJQ, THE FUNKY KNUCKLES
Best Traditional Pop Artist, Band or Group: The Reveler's Hall Band, Danni & Kris, The Rosemont Kings, Club Wood, Miss Marcy & Texas Sugar Daddies
Best Artist, Band or Tribute Band: We Them Grays – Disney Tribute, Teen Wolves – 80s Tribute, Panic – Smiths/Morrisey tribute, The Cure – The Cure Tribute, PriMadonna – Madonna Tribute
Best reggae/afro artist, band or group: Idol Job, Frank Moka Dos Negros, Jimi Watusi, Segun Oguntona, Baba Kuboye
Best gospel artist, group or group: Chadney Christle, Cardell Booker, Reuben Lael, EJ Fields, Crishelle White
INSTRUMENTALIST
Categories:
Best pop singer: Alex O'Aiza, Elyse Jewel, Stan Fran Cisco, Jacks Haupt, Ravs
Best jazz singer: Ashleigh Smith, Cassie Holt, Ricky Derek, Alex Blair, Liz Mikel
Best soul singer: Taylor Morgan, Dana Harper, Mandie, Davante Thornton, Maya Piata
Best rock singer: Scarlette McPherson, Leah Lane, Nick Santa Maria, Gunner Hardy, Sunny Marcell
Best pianist: Kwinton Gray, Daniel Porter, Poppy Xander, Marcus Roberts, Thiago
Best guitarist: Justin Lyons, Felix Beto Tellez, Blake Roger, Rachel Francis, TJ Novak
Best bassist: Patrick Smith, Kevin Butler, Robert Trusko, KJ Gray, Gabe Wright
Best drummer: Aaron Capers, Cleon Edwards, Dwayne Berry, Sinclaire Wade, Jackie Whitmill Jr.
Best trumpet: Alcedrick Todd, Jordan Carr, Kazunori Taka, Joseph Reyes, Terence Bradford
Best trombone: Gaika James, Phil Joseph, Reggie TBone Terrell, Gabriel Castaneda, Marcus Parks
Best saxophonist: Christian Ortiz, Andrew Garfias, Shelley Carrol, Jason Davis, Jonathan Mones
Best Auxiliary Percussionist: Nicholas Rothouse, Dandy Rain, Frank Moka, Ran Marquez, Tony Lu
Best classical strings (violin, viola, harp, cello, violin, double bass): Jess Garland, Brianne Sargent, Alice Price Zazz, Scott Tixier, Shondalla Calder
DJ
Categories:
Best overall DJ: DJ LEO J, DJ SOBER, DJ SOULJAH, DJ GABE MENDONZA, DJ RED EYE
Best hip-hop DJ: DJ C-Mix, DJ Naturalhiiigh, DJ Leo J, DJ J Clip, DJ Imperial
Best House DJ: DJ BoyBLK, IAMYU, CB SMOOVE, DJ SOBER, DJ Jake Gatewood
Best Techno DJ: Wanz Dover, JunkFood, Xero Wallace AKA Femb0tz, Stetra, Yokyo
Best Dark Wave DJ: DJ La Bruja, DJ Sam Ramirez, Gabe Mendoza, DJ Crash, Red Eye
Best Latin DJ: Nick Van House, Elkin Pautt, DJ Turo, DJ Nonsense, Prodacia
Best DJ Team: House of Freqs, Faded DJ, BUSYBODY, Branoofunck, Away From The Numbers
Best DJ party: Take a Break, Paradise at Tiny Victories, Two Step Tuesdays Doublewide, Away From the Numbers, Busybody @ Charlie's Star Lounge
AUDIO-VISUAL/MEDIA/RADIO
Categories:
Best Audio Recording Studio: Civil Audio, Elmwood Recording, Greenville Ave Recording Studio, Modern Electric Studios, The Kitchen Studios
Best sound engineer: Aaron Wolpin, Alex Bhore, The Institute, Matt Kennedy, Michael Briggs
Best Music Producer: Michael Briggs, Jah Born, Jason Burt, Jonathan JT Thomas, Da Dreak
Best label: State Fair Records, Hands Down Records, Deep Ellum 100, Gitmo Records, Backwoodz Studioz
Best Songwriter: Cassie Holt, Corey Breedlove, Justin Cashion, Ellen Once Again, Uncle Jeff
Best visual artist (mural, painting, sculpture and other forms of visual expression): Jerod DTOX Davies, IZK Davies, Jeremy Biggers, Frank CampagnaLeeon Lean
Best graphic designer – Flyer: Stephen Hass, Kaia Beggs, Tomahawk Jonez, DJ Sober, Hunter Moehring
Best podcast: The Austin Young Show, Dallas Famous, DFW Shed Sessions, What in East Dallas is Going On, Jerry Jonestown Massacre
Best Podcast Host: Andrew Sherman, Austin Young, J Ell Groove, 88 Killa, Dustin Schneider
Best radio: KXTX 91.7, KNON 89.3, KUZU 92.9, KERA 90.1, K104.5
Best radio show: Kick Push on KNON, KXT Local Show, Abandoned Lessons with EZ Eddie D, Paul Slavens Show, KNON Clash Radio
Best radio presenter: Paul Slavens, Nilfufer Arsala, EZ Eddie D, Vida Loca, Spaceboi Fresh
Best Arts and Culture Blog: Dallas Morning News/KERA, Travel Dallas, Cosign Magazine, Art & Seek, Dallas Observer
Arts and culture journalist of the year: Alex Gonzalez, Jessica Waffles, Stephanie Salas Vega, Bryson “BOOM” Paul, Preston Jones
Best PR and Marketing Agency for Arts and Culture: Cultural hype, creative currency, hidden friends, Crystal Perry, Empress Marketing
Best portrait photographer: Kathy Tran, Mark Myers, Will Von Bolton, Maiartmedia, Yohance Parker
Best concert photographer: Andrew Sherman, Jessica Waffles, Mike Brooks, Vera Velma, Karlos X Ramos
LOCATIONS/RESIDENCES/PROMOTERS
Categories:
Best live music venue under 300 seats: Three Links, Double Wide, The Freeman, Reveler's Hall, Ruins
Best Live Music Venue 301-1000 Capacity: Trees, rubber gloves, tulips, Deep Ellum Art Co, HOB
Best talent buyer: Megan D'Von Funk, Spune, Distorted Heartbeat, Banjos To Beats, Third String
Best evening producer: Take a Break, Blake Ward, Bleach, Ron King, Megan D'Von Funk
Best sound technician: Sam Starr, Blake Barker, Larry “Tux” Scales, Geoff Loyd, Mark Randall
Best live music residency: Azwalf Hazworf & The Love Session Orchestra, Justin Cashion and Friends, Tim Starling “The Experience”, TaylorMade Tuesday's, Reveler's Hall Band
Best festival with live performances: Deep Ellum Community Art Fair, Texas Latinx Pride, TBAAL RiverFront Jazz Festival, New New Festival, Deep Ellum Music Festival
Best karaoke night: Charlie's Star Lounge, Twilight Lounge, Round Up Saloon, Barbara's Pavillion, Twisted Thursdays Tricky Weather
Best carrier: Jovan Pruitt, Spencer Baxter, Vera (“Velma”), Jeremy @ Twilite Lounge, Drew Lyons
Best bartender: Anthony “Big Fun” Delacauz – Charlie's, Abby – Charlie's Star Lounge, Korin Medina – Bomb Factory, Alex Fletcher, Matt Woods – Round Up Saloon
Best DJ Room: LadyLove, it will be okay, Charlie's, Ruins, Small Victories
DRAG/BURLESQUE/VISUAL PERFORMANCE ART
Categories:
Best “Late Show” Drag: Rose Room at S4, Mustache Envy, Freakshow JR's by Cassie Nova, The Saloon Girls at Round Up, NIGHTMARES by MayMay Graves
Best drag brunch: Mister Mister Drag Brunch, Hamburger Mary's, The Virgin Hotel. Jenni p.
The Trove “Diamond Doll Brunch”, Living Dead Queers
Best burlesque show: Circus Bitties presents Tease Thursday, Lollie Bombs Burlesque, NightShade Burlesque, “From Behind the bookcase” Atlas, Hideaway Cabaret Burlesque Show
Best Drag Queen: Barbie Davenport Dupree, May May Graves, Salem Moon, Bleach, Cassie Nova
Best Drag King: Buck Wylde, Logan Liqueur, JT Davenport, Damien Dupree, Psyril Cybin
Best Burlesque Artist: Delilah DuBois, Honey Sabi, Vivienne Vermouth, MULAN ALEXANDER, Lily Liqueur
Best Visual Performing Artist or Group (Dance, Aerial, Fire, Acrobatics and Theatrical Performers)
with a visual focus): Brandi Cooling, Bishop Street Ballet, Daisy's One World, Danielle Georgiou Dance Group, Jada Foxx – Rocky Horror Show
Best illusionist or magician: Confetti Eddie, Ritchie Flo, Josh Ayala, Robert John Magic, Zak Mirz
Best actor: Andy Franklin, Alexander K, Dante Martinez, Miss Wanda, Ralph Barbosa
Ultimate Fashion Icon: Charles Smith II
Life Achievement Award: Liz Mikel, John Rody (Radio)