PNAU Wins American Music Award for ‘Cold Heart’

PNAU has started the week on a winning note, by scooping an American Music Award (AMA) for “Cold Heart.”

The Sydney electronic trio of Nick Littlemore (Empire of the Sun, Vlossom, Teenager), his brother Sam Littlemore, and Peter Mayes (Empire of the Sun) earned a pointy AMA in the “best collaboration” category for their remix of “Cold Heart,” by Elton John and Dua Lipa.

Also nominated was Sydney singer and rapper The Kid LAROI for “Stay,” his collab with Justin Bieber, while “We Don’t Talk About Bruno;” Future featuring Drake & Tems’ “Wait For U’” and Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby” made the “best collaboration” shortlist.

CONGRATS to @eltonofficial & @DUALIPA for taking home the #AMAs Collaboration of the Year for "Cold Heart – PNAU Remix)! 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/7mOmwIQQ50

— American Music Awards (@AMAs) November 20, 2022

“Cold Heart” has been a global smash since its release in 2021. The single was nominated for song of the year at the Brit Awards, collected a Billboard Award for Top Dance/Electronic Song, it has cruised past one billion streams, and saw the trio crack Spotify’s Top 100 streamed artists.

Along the way, the single, which interpolates “Sacrifice” with “Rocket Man,” “Kiss the Bride” and “Where’s My Shoorah,” smashed several records.

It became Elton’s eighth No. 1 single in his homeland and first for 16 years, making the pop legend the first act in history to score a U.K. Top 10 single in six different decades.

In Australia, the single took 12 weeks to reach the summit. When it got there, it made Elton, at 74 years, seven months and 14 days, the oldest artist to top the ARIA Singles Chart, overtaking Paul McCartney.

It’s now Elton’s longest-reigning No. 1 in Australia, at 10 non-consecutive weeks.

PNAU, then a duo of Nick Littlemore and Mayes, worked with Elton John on the 2012 remix album Good Morning To The Night, which went to No. 1 on the U.K. chart.

There’s more where “Cold Heart” came from.

Speaking with TMN in 2021, Nick Littlemore admitted “Cold Heart” is just one of many nuggets that emerged from their studio sessions.

“We ended up making 12 to 14 songs,” Littlemore admitted.

“We have a couple of other cuts that we feel very strongly about,” he added. “It’s full of dance bangers, it’s not as broad as (Elton John’s) collaborations album. It’s very much dancefloor/radio friendly. We’ll just see what happens, really.”

Next up, on Dec. 2, PNAU drops a new collaboration, “You Know What I Need” (via etcetc) with Troye Sivan.

Several big-name team-ups will drop in early 2023, TMN can confirm.

Click here for all the winners from the 2022 AMAs.