Illenium won the fifth prize of the evening at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 15, during the independent release of its album fallen embers won the trophy for best dance/electronic album.

While accepting the award – which was presented by actress Liza Koshy – at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the Denver native revealed the momentous occasion also marked his first official recognition for his music.

He opened his acceptance speech by humbly saying, “Thank you guys so much. I’ve never won an award before, so that’s cool.

Illenium then thanked his “incredible team” before talking more about his passion for creation. “Making music for me has always been a really big healing aspect of my life and it’s amazing to share with amazing fans and [to be] here. So thank you guys so much, hope to see you guys again soon,” he said on stage.

The Billboard Music Award-winning project debuted at No. 1 at the top Billboard‘s Top Dance / Electronic Chart dated July 31, 2021 and recorded 34 weeks on the chart. The album also debuted in the top 10 on the Independent Albums Chart, coming in at No. 8 last summer, and stayed on the chart for two weeks. On the Billboard 200 all genres chart, fallen embers debuted at No. 49 and charted for a week.

The album (which was released via 12Tone Music) is Illenium’s first musical release on an independent label following his departure from Astralwerks Records, which came after the 2019 release of his third studio album, To go up.

Discuss with Billboard in July, Illenium explained that fallen embers is a continuation of the story he unveiled with his first three albums. “I love mythology and fantasy stories,” he said at the time. “[Fallen Embers] is the same universe, but a new phase.

The Billboard Music Awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative, a division of MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.