SINGAPORE - Singaporean musician Gentle Bones was awarded the prestigious Super Nova Award at the Hong Kong Asian-Pop Music Festival, which was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday (March 18).

To win the award, Gentle Bones - real name Joel Tan - had to pip fellow new recording artistes from seven other countries and territories, including Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. Tan and Nicole from Malaysia were shortlisted for the award after a round of online voting, and a panel of judges eventually selected the Singaporean singer-songwriter as the winner, after the two singers performed at the festival.

“It’s an incredible honour to have even been a part of this prestigious event. To win the competition was out of this world and I am thankful for the hospitality of everybody we met there,” said Tan, who is the first Singaporean to win the award.

This has been a good year for Tan, who has been featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 Asia list, alongside stars like G-Dragon and Siwon. The musician will also be holding his debut full-length concert at The Esplanade Concert in June this year.

Other than Tan, Mandopop singer Kelly Poon also represented Singapore at the festival.