The 2023 Electronic Dance Music Awards (EDMA) returned to Miami Beach on 24 March in a luxurious ceremony that saw Greek Australian singer and song-writer Vassy Karagiorgos become the first female artist to win the EDMA Icon Award.

The event was hosted by iHeart Radio’s Hollywood Hamilton, at the Fountainbleau hotel during Miami Music Week 2023, on the first day of Ultra Music Festival (UMF) Miami, the world’s largest electronic music festival brand, with audiences across the globe voting for their favourite artists.

“Can you believe I’m the first woman to win an EDMA ICON?,” VASSY enthused speaking to Neos Kosmos after the award ceremony. “I came to this country from a small town in Australia called Darwin, from a humble hard working Greek family with a dream to pursue my passion.”

“I can’t believe it a Greek Aussie girl all the way from a little remote town in Australia, comes to America to pursue her dreams and becomes an Icon.”

Last Friday’s monumental accolade for VASSY comes following the success of her latest hit ‘Pieces’, that topped US charts becoming the ‘Most Added Dance Track’ and the most played song on dance radio at the beginning of the year.

To be recognised for her art and contribution to the dance community by her industry and the fans in the dance space is not only a rewarding moment but a major career highlight for VASSY.

“I thank everyone at Dance Radio across the US who have supported my music for years,” she said adding that she is proud to be able to show other artists and ladies that you don’t have to be a man or a DJ to be recognised.

“In such a male dominated genre, and DJ driven industry as an artist in the dance space who is a singer/songwriter, I stayed authentic to myself, so to receive the 2023 ICON Award, and being the first woman to do so just reinforces how important it is, to be true to yourself.”

“I worked hard with integrity, it wasn’t easy, as it’s a ‘DJ driven boys club genre’… and the dance community at Radio really embraced me and gave me the platform to be myself and share my art with the world.”

“I’m beyond grateful and proud to say that being authentically myself through out my career payed off. Ladies, women can be ICONS in dance too.”