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MEET OUR SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS (PART FOUR)

It’s time to meet the last two finalists of our Soundcamp 2024 cohort. After taking part in our Soundcamp bootcamp back in February, this duo were selected alongside six of their peers to join us for a further six months of artist development sessions. The eight participants have received direct mentorship with industry pros including Layfullstop, Jack Kong and Werkha, alongside honing in on their craft in a series of creative workshops. All attendees are working towards an evening of exclusive performances at The Blues Kitchen on the 15th of May. Grab your free tickets here.

Meet Alpha Twang and HAZZU below.

Alpha Twang

Hey I am Alpha Twang. I am a producer, I make electronic music and I also DJ as Summer’s Groove. You can find me on Instagram at @alpha_twang and you can find my music on all streaming platforms.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

I would say it’s storytelling with sound. I want to evoke feelings and take listeners on a journey.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

For me, I have spent the last few years as a bedroom producer. I saw Soundcamp as an opportunity to transition into live performance and to find ways to get my music out to larger audiences. The showcase on the 15th of May will be the perfect way to express my journey since starting to produce in 2019.

Where did your journey with music begin?

I started to produce within Ableton in 2019. Before that, I always knew I wanted to do something with music but I never felt like I could because I didn’t have any training in it. Between 2019 and 2020, I started teaching myself a lot through music forums, YouTube and Reddit. I started to notice myself really improving so I began working with other artists. Since then, I have done some residencies, some sound design commissions and now I am here at Reform doing Soundcamp.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

One thing that I love about electronic music is that there isn’t a right way to go about it. I usually go into a project with it as a complete blank slate. I will watch a tutorial video first to see what area of production I want to explore through this specific track. I start experimenting and then hours of chaos begin. About halfway through the process, everything starts to coalesce into something and I hone in on that until I have a finished track.

Who are the main inspirations/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

My biggest influence in terms of music production is Arca. She showed me new portals of what you can do with electronic music, like using textures and creating three dimensional sounds. Flying Lotus is another one, and composers like Philip Glass, Hans Zimmer, Mica Levi, John Hassell and more.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

I think at this point in my career, I would love to work with a lot of the queer and upcoming electronic artists I know. For example, blood of aza, or Andras 2020. It would be a joy to work with these friends of mine from all of over the world. We all found each other through Arca’s Discord server in 2020 and we created multiple mixtapes together for charities with Arca herself. It’s called MUTANTS MIXTAPE; I recommend checking it out. But yes, I truly see these friends of mine as the future of electronic music.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

I would love to lean into sound production for movies and video games. However, I would also love to work with live instrumentalists. I am a huge classical music fan so it would be amazing to hear my work played by an orchestra. I also hope to continue honing in on the themes I’ve started exploring through my music, like identity, Manchester, and existing in the city as a Black person.

HAZZU

My name is HAZZU and you can find me on all streaming platforms. I was raised in Spain, I’m originally from Senegal, and now I’m in Manchester.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

People always describe my music as ‘a vibe’. I would also describe it as short and intense at the same time.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I just want to grow as an artist. Music is my way of coping with both the good and bad in life. As an artist, I hope to personify all of these feelings and my journey. From Soundcamp, I think I will just go higher and higher on the road to being the best I can be.

Where did your journey with music begin?

My dad used to play Akon in the car, anywhere we’d go. I was instantly drawn to it as a kid. From then on, I fell in love with music. When I was about 10, I started writing short poems and four bars of words. I just kept going until I was able to write a full song. The first time I stepped into a studio was 2021 to record my first ever track.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

It depends on how my day goes really. To create the beat itself, I will usually buy one thats already made, or I’ll head to YouTube and work from there. My writing process is very mixed. I usually start with the hook and build up from there.

Who are the main inspirations/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

I really like R&B music so some artists that inspire me include AKON, Ne-Yo, and Danny Brown.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

Currently, I would say Nemzzz. He’s originally from Manchester and we actually went to the same high school. I think my artistry can fit into any project so I definitely think it would work. Nemzzz’s music is something you can instantly vibe to, like mine.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

I just want to make an impact on people, no matter how small. I guess, when I’m not here anymore, I want to be able to reflect and know I have helped people.

Grab your free ticket to see Alpha Twang & HAZZU alongside the rest of the Soundcamp cohort live at The Blues Kitchen on the 15th of May here.

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blog Featured Projects Funders Projects Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

MEET OUR SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS (PART THREE)

We’re back to introduce you to two more of our Soundcamp finalists, funded by Youth Music, in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. In case you missed it, we kickstarted our 2024 Soundcamp programme back in February, inviting thirty participants into Reform to take part in a two week bootcamp. To support them with their music creation, we had industry pros Layfullstop, Jack Kong and Werkha in the space. From production support to providing their musical ears, the trio gave our attendees an array of great advice to take with them.

Eight of our participants were chosen to continue their journey on Soundcamp, through our six month mentorship initiative. These finalists are joining us every week for focused artist development, musical workshops, and a dedicated space for their creative practice. Meet Ishola & Sarah, two of our artists, below.

Known Konopka

An image of a blonde female doing symbols with her hands, wearing sunglasses and a black puffer jacket.

I’m Sarah Konopka, also known as Known Konopka. My pronouns are she/her. I produce techno-house music and I’m also a DJ. You can find me on SoundCloud and on all social media. 

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

My music is a journey. It starts off emotional and then you’re on a high by the end of it. It’s my job to change your emotions through listening to my tracks.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I came to Reform’s other courses, like Music and DJing. I had never received so much acknowledgement for my music and creations before. It was only then that I realised I could actually do Soundcamp. I was ready to receive more feedback and get input from professional mentors. All of my music prior to this, I had done completely on my own. I taught myself through YouTube tutorials and videos online. Already, I am noticing the difference from the 1-2-1 support I am receiving, learning about what equipment is actually out there, and what opportunities are out there. From the project, I hope to achieve getting my music in the right places and hands to make progression happen. I also just want to perform; it’s my favourite thing to do.

Where did your journey with music begin?

My need to create music has come from my need to express and shift my own personal difficulties. I like to think that people can hear this through my work and relate to it and feel heard. Music helped me and I hope my music can help others too. I’ve been listening to house since I came out of the womb. However, I couldn’t sing at all. I could dance, but I never knew I could translate this into actually making music myself. After buying my first DJ decks at the age of 18, I started mixing tracks that I hadn’t heard anyone mixing together before. I delved into DAW and downloaded some free softwares and I soon realised the beat and rhythm I had from dancing, could then be translated into mixing. This is where it all began.  

A blond female stood confidently looking at the camera in sunglasses. She is wearing a black puffer jacket and graphic t shirt.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

It’s always different depending on the track. I don’t put pressure on myself to create because I trust it’ll come to me. For example, this Soundcamp track came to me at 4am. I couldn’t sleep and I kept hearing this specific noise in my head. So I tried to mimic this on my keyboard and then started building the track from there. It’s a really natural process, which keeps me up at night.

Who are your main inspiration/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

Fred Again is definitely a huge inspiration for the sound I am trying to achieve and wanting to take people on an emotional journey. He also taught me that there’s no rules in music and you can produce however feels right for you. I also like Dom Dolla and, of course, Peggy Gou. However, I’d also say Harry Styles is a huge inspiration for me. Not genre-wise, but he inspires me in knowing I can be whoever I want to be. He empowers me to be myself and be the unique person I am. 

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

I have two artists in mind. The first one I’d say is Cat Burns. Her music is so emotional and moving so it makes a good fit with the sort of stuff I create. But then also Aitch. He would bang on a house tune, we’re both from Manchester and it would be amazing to produce a song for him. 

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

I want to be at Parklife, and I want to be at the Warehouse Project. That’s where my music would be best suited and received. One day, I will be there.

Ishola

A man in a floral beige shirt, with sunglasses on, looking to the side. The image has an orange filter over it.

My name’s Ishola, my pronouns are he/him, and you can find me on Instagram and TikTok at @isho1a.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

I would describe my music as a fusion of past and future hip-hop. I draw heavy inspiration from both the UK and the US scenes. My music is something you can vibe to as you’re walking through the city, but also blast out of your speakers on a late night drive down the motorway. I like to think my music can fit any kind of scenario or environment.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I was looking for more opportunities to grow my network in the music industry after leaving university, where I studied music production. I’m an engineer and a producer, but this comes from me being an artist myself. When I found out about Soundcamp, I thought it would be the perfect chance to meet new creatives, meet like-minded people who I can grow with, and meet individuals who can guide me and keep me on the right path. I have confidence in my own abilities, but it’s also nice to gain the approval and validation of professionals in the industry. Working with the mentors has really helped me tackle imposter syndrome. It has also offered me useful insights, nuggets of knowledge, and has allowed me to absorb their experiences.

Where did your journey with music begin?

I’ve been doing music since I could walk. I vividly remember coming home from school one day and my parents saying I needed to learn an instrument. So I decided to take up the piano, and progressed through graded exams. As I got older, I felt restricted by classical training and I was exposed to more methods of expression through music. For example, I discovered music production and technology. My mind was blown and I fell back in love with music. I’m really grateful that learning the piano laid the foundations for me to grow musically and really explore it. The journey is only just beginning now.

A man in a floral beige shirt, holding his sunglasses, looking into the camera. The image has an orange filter over it.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

This question is a bit too linear for me. There’s no start and no end in the creative energy. A song can start from me walking around town listening to bossa nova, subconsciously listening out for samples. It could also start on the bus, writing random lyrics. I feel like I’m constantly drawing inspiration from things around me to influence different areas of my creative practice. Then I can piece these little creations together. Some lyrics I wrote last week could fit a beat I made today; a song comes out of the universe. There’s no start and end; it’s the cycle of music.

Who are your main inspiration/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

One of my biggest inspirations is my father. He was an old school man and grew up through the golden ages of mankind from the 60s to the 80s. He was really into fashion and I was brought up around that so it naturally rubbed off on me. The music from those eras, like Marvin Gaye, Prince, and Luther Vandross, combined with the greats of the early 2000s impacted me. The music I create today takes from these times, as well as the new wave of hip-hop, like Lancey Foux and Skepta. On the other side of the ocean, we have A$AP Rocky, Lil Yachty, and more. There’s a plethora of people within Black music that I am constantly motivated by.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

In the UK, it would have to be Skepta. This is simply because of his notoriety, the work he has done, and the respect I have for him. What he represents as an individual – fearlessness, complete and utter confidence in his craft – is hugely inspiring to me. I’m also loving what Lil Yachty is doing. He is the perfect bridge between underground and mainstream hip-hop. It would be a blessing to be introduced to these two individuals’ audiences.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

Besides the obvious goal of touring internationally, I would love to get into scoring. It would be magical to compose music for fashion shows. Being respected as a composer as well as a hip-hop artist would be incredible. I have massive respect for Tyler, the Creator and the way he has made the crossover between being an artist, to being a reputable composer. It would be beautiful to move listeners’ emotions and manipulate individuals into feeling certain things with my music.

Grab your free ticket to see Known Konopka & Ishola alongside the rest of the Soundcamp cohort live at The Blues Kitchen on the 15th of May here.

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blog Featured Projects Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

MEET OUR SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS (PART TWO)

Soundcamp 2024 is well on its way, funded by Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. We held a two week bootcamp in February, with over thirty aspiring musicians in the Reform Radio space collaborating and working on their crafts. Throughout the bootcamp, they received support from our exclusive mentors, Layfullstop and Jack Kong.

Following our bootcamp, eight participants were selected to take part in Soundcamp’s six month artist development programme. Each week, in the lead up to our Soundcamp Showcase on the 15th of May, we will be introducing you to two of our selected finalists. This week, get to know kaoti and DREIXSS below.

kaoti

My name is kaoti, my pronouns are they/them. You can find me on all streaming platforms and on Instagram as @kaotiiii.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

You’re in for a ride and you’re about to have your ears blown off by this beautiful chaos. My music is like popping candy, or a pinball machine in your head. It’s full of heavy bass that you can screw your face at and lots of break-beats and drums to move to. There’s lots of high flute and twinkly sounds to balance out the low frequencies too. In the lyrics, you can expect anything from heavy rap to soft poetry. We have it all in the kaoti-sphere.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I got involved in Soundcamp because, simply, I love making music. It was an amazing opportunity to even get to attend the Bootcamp. I’m hoping to understand the industry better, get myself out there more, find people that vibe with my sound, and make new musical friends. I’m a big believer in trade. I want to trade energy and creativity with new creatives and see where it takes me.

Where did your journey with music begin?

Like any small pop punk kid, I wanted to be Avril Lavigne. I wrote some very angsty and angry lyrics. Then, I started to mash up songs together and make videos singing them when I was as young as 10. It all started there.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

Sometimes it starts with me freestyling over a beat; other times I will have a funny phrase and shape a whole song around it. I’m also a big fan of concept pieces. For example, I wrote a song about my pink car last week. My creativity comes from so many different places, but it always ends up going through the motions of trial and error to create a full song. Currently, I start with a beat and then go on a spiritual process of acknowledging what sounds and, then, words feel right. This process has really improved my freestyling abilities too. After this, I will go back and fine tune the track. I’m really enjoying the journey of seeing what comes out of me, working independently, and listening to myself before sharing my work for feedback.

Who are the main inspirations and influences for your sound and aesthetic?

It’s hard to put my sound in a box and it has qualities of a huge range of music I listened to growing up. My attitude is inspired by punk and rock music heavily. My rap is actively inspired by Eminem and Tyler, the Creator. However, I also love drum and bass and higher BPM music to get moving to, alongside hyper pop and glitch-core artists like Grimes. There’s a huge fusion of sounds and inspirations within my music.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

I would have to collaborate with Tyler, the Creator and experience working with him. Ashniko and I could also smash a track together, or even Cookie Monsta.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

I know I’ve mentioned Tyler a lot, but I would love to follow in his footsteps of combining fashion, art, film and more. It would be a dream for my music to expand to form a whole world of creativity – the ‘kaoti-sphere’.

DREIXSS

My name is Idreiss, also known as DREIXSS. My pronouns are he/him and you can hit me up on any streaming platforms out there to hear my music.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

I would just describe it as ‘DREIXSS’. I’ve picked up influences from music I listen to and the music my parents brought me up on. I like to think of my music as a collection of timeless classics.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I heard about Soundcamp through Kong, one of the mentors on the project. He was really encouraging and it filled me with confidence to get involved. When I looked further into Reform Radio and what they did for the community, I was even more keen to be part of Soundcamp and share the room with such talented people. I am really hoping to use this time and involvement with Reform to build a strong foundation to move onto big things.

Where did your journey with music begin?

When I was a kid, my parents used to play the classics – my mum was a massive George Michael fan, and my dad was a proper Ministry of Sound raver. They shaped my ideas of music. It all started out with me singing in choirs as a kid, but it never felt like the real me. I liked singing, but I didn’t like what I was singing. I started listening to garage and DJ music and then I discovered R&B, rap and trap. It’s been a journey so far, and it doesn’t look like it’ll be slowing down any time soon. I’m excited to see where it ends up going.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

As a creative process, it all starts off in a similar way – I have to connect with the music. It might start with a line in my head and then I’ll start building it from there. Or I will find a beat I love and start writing lyrics to this. It simply just has to start with something I connect with and I’m feeling.

Who are the main inspirations and influences for your sound and aesthetic?

Obviously I have inspirations, but I like to think I am an individual and I am true to my own unique sound. I’ve been very influenced by Ne-Yo and Usher, but I also love the UK scene. Bugzy Malone is another great example of someone I appreciate. I love what he addresses through his music and the messages he shares. I hope I can form a community of people that resonate with my work like he has.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

I’d have to go with D-Block Europe. What they’ve built all by themselves and by being their unique selves is hugely inspiring to me. I love their music and I love the community they’ve made so organically.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

My biggest goal is getting as many people to hear my music as possible, building a solid fanbase and foundation for my future in the industry. I want to walk down the street and hear people playing my music out their cars. I want DREIXSS to be heard by as many people as possible.

Grab your free ticket to see kaoti & DREIXSS alongside the rest of the Soundcamp cohort live at The Blues Kitchen on the 15th of May here.

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MEET OUR SOUNDCAMP 2024 FINALISTS (PART ONE)

Back in February, we kickstarted Soundcamp 2024, funded by Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. Soundcamp is our in-house artist development programme. To start this year’s project, we welcomed over thirty young people aspiring careers in music to create and collaborate on their own musical projects for our Soundcamp Bootcamp. Through the process, they received 1-2-1 support from industry professionals Layfullstop, Jack Kong, and Werkha. Meanwhile, they got led through sessions on production, music business, and more.

Eight of our attendees were selected to join the full Soundcamp programme at Reform. The finalists are receiving 6 months of music mentorship from industry pros, performance opportunities, and direct support with their unique crafts. Now, they are taking to the stage on the 15th of May at the Blues Kitchen to share all they’ve been working on at our exclusive Soundcamp Showcase, and YOU can join us.

Get a taste of what you can expect from the lineup below, as we introduce you to our first finalists of this year’s Soundcamp.

Jennifer Dala

My name is Jennifer Dala, my pronouns are she/her and I am a singer and songwriter. I’m planning to release some music later this year so you’ll finally be able to hear what I’ve got in the works.  

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

My music is a mixture of Joni Mitchell and Tracey Chapman with its combination of acoustic and synth. My sound has been shaped by soul, indie, alternative and jazz music. 

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I was taking part in any music courses I could to challenge myself and meet other like-minded creatives. What I’m hoping to achieve from the programme is to collaborate with other musicians to push my craft further. Soundcamp looked like a welcoming and supportive space to explore my musicality thoroughly. It’s been really useful to me so far and I’ve already learnt so much more than I expected to.

Where did your journey with music begin?

I’ve always loved music and, as a child, I had piano and guitar lessons. I knew for a long time that I really wanted to be an artist, but it was only in my 20s that I properly started exploring this. Since lockdown, I’ve been playing the guitar a lot more and really shaping my sound to get to where I am today.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

It’s mainly improvisation to me. When I first listen to an instrumental, I will improvise over this by humming and creating melodies. From there, I can write my lyrics. I don’t really write with intent; I like to just see what comes up for me. When I first started writing music, I would write a lot about heartbreak, but now I write about existentialism and my shadow self. I think this development is only possible when you truly allow yourself to be open with your songwriting.

Who are your main inspiration/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

Amy Winehouse and Joni Mitchell are two of my main influences. I love Joni Mitchell’s vocal melodies and her incredible songwriting capabilities. Amy Winehouse was definitely one of my earlier influences. I loved her voice and dug so much into her lyricism. In terms of my aesthetic, I just like being comfortable and expressing myself authentically. I would say Lauryn Hill is my main inspiration for this.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

I think it would have to be Sampha. I would love to write songs for artists and I think Sampha has the perfect distinct sound I’d want to create for.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

My biggest goal is to release my own EP, but also to write songs for bigger names.

FREEQUENCY3

Hey, my name is FREEQUENCY3 and my pronouns are she/her. People can find my music everywhere, on all streaming sites, in places I probably don’t even know about.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

My music takes listeners on a journey through the ripples of life and all of its nuances. From experiences of relationships with others and yourself, to helping people deal with the shifts in life, my music encourages people to tap into feelings they have been avoiding. However, at the same time, you can bust a little two-step and get on a vibe to my tunes too. I’ve got a nice eclectic range of sounds, songs, hooks and melodies and lyrics to enjoy. You can make new meanings of these tracks each time.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I first joined Soundcamp in 2021 when a lot of changes were happening in my life. Much of the time, I was in pain and I had no idea why. I joined the project initially to challenge myself and be in a room with different people to create and collaborate with them. I found it quite overwhelming and I didn’t get through to the final eight artists. So I decided to come back and try it again now I have a full diagnosis regarding my health and can manage my body better. This time, I have been selected as a finalist. The biggest blessing so far has been being able to work with Layfullstop, Jack Kong, Werkha, and other mentors. They are all people I have looked up to for many years. So, for me, it feels like a real honour to even be able to share the room with these people and have conversations about my art with them. I am learning from their experiences every week. I hope to achieve more dynamics in my art from these new perspectives.

Where did your journey with music begin?

My journey began when I was very young; I’ve always loved music. My mum would always be playing music in the house and my uncle was in a band so I used to do raps with him. It all stemmed from there. My journey to being an artist began in 2021 after I DJed at Parklife Festival. The morning after playing, I woke up with severe nerve pain and it took me two years to get a diagnosis. During that time, my whole life changed and I was in severe pain every single day. I lost all the things I was making a name for myself doing. I realised the one thing that ran through all the things I had been doing was music, so I decided to tap back into my inner child and start making beats and raps again. People responded to it well so I thought I’d keep writing and explore these difficult feelings through music.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

If I’ve got a beat that’s already there then I will freestyle over it continuously and find a flow I like. Then I will either write the lyrics over the freestyle, or if I am struggling with finding lyrics, I will choose five random words and write around these. There’s a lot of back and forth in my process, correcting and perfecting things. Since starting Soundcamp, I have been more open to approaching tracks in different ways. I feel like I now consider the structure of songs more thoroughly and specifically.

Who are your main inspiration/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

For my sound I’d say J. Cole, Noname, WESTSIDE BOOGIE, Mick Jenkins, Big Sean, but also many of my friends are so talented musically and inspire me. I love artists that can really paint a picture.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

Right now, I’d love to make a song with Layfullstop. Internationally, I think Smino, Chance the Rapper or Noname.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

One of my biggest goals is to be consistent. It’s really hard to do this when you have a health condition that varies. I’d also love to perform more and do another headline show. I want to show people I am more than just a one-dimensional rapper. I want to show I can make hooks, I can make songs that are going to stick in my head, I can put on a beat, and I can say things that are important. Also, I want to make sure I connect with those that support me a create a solid community.

Grab your free ticket to our Soundcamp Showcase here to witness the pair above live, alongside the rest of the programmes cohort.

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SOUNDCAMP SHOWCASE 2024

Get yourselves ready to hear some of Manchester’s emerging talent as we bring you this year’s Soundcamp Showcase. Taking place on the 15th of May at Manchester’s Blues Kitchen, come along and submerge yourself in some of the city’s freshest sounds.

Since February, we have hosted an array of upcoming music artists at Reform Radio, in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman and funded by Youth Music. From over 30 participants at our Soundcamp Bootcamp, to our eight finalists consistently working every week, some incredible collaborations and creations have been born in our space over the course of the programme. Attendees on the project have had the chance to work with industry professionals including Layfullstop, Jack Kong and Werkha. Meanwhile, they have been led through workshops on the likes of production, songwriting and more.

On the line-up, you will be treated to the house-infused sounds of Known Konopka, the cool, calm and collected energy of Ishola, alongside the effortless bars of FREEQUENCY3, and the intimate story-telling qualities of Alpha Twang. Meanwhile, meet the multi-dimensional boundless creations of kaoti, the R&B fusions of Hazzu, DREIXSS and the soothing and soulful tones of Jennifer Dala.

Now, we welcome you to join us in hearing the tracks they have been perfecting for their live debuts on this exclusive night oozing with talent.

Check out the flyer below for the full details and come join us in seeing these Manchester names before they get big.

Get your FREE tickets here.

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SOUNDCAMP 2024 (FUNDED BY YOUTH MUSIC)

Our acclaimed music mentorship programme, Soundcamp, is returning for 2024. Funded by Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman, the project invites young people aged 16-25 who are aspiring a career in music to join us at Bootcamp – a series of songwriting and collaborative music workshops. By doing so, they will be in with a chance of getting selected to take part in our 6 month artist development project, offering support with the likes of performance technique, music production, artist branding, and more.

Our Soundcamp 2024 cohort will receive mentorship from a wide array of industry professionals including LayFullstop and Jack Kong (Cooper T).

This year’s bootcamp kickstarts on the 7th of February. To get involved, reach out to our lovely Engagement team on projects@reformradio.co.uk.

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SOUNDCAMP 2023 ROUND-UP

Soundcamp, our artist development and mentorship programme funded by Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman, has drawn to a close for our 2023 cohort. To bring it to an end, it was only right for our Soundcamp artists to take over Manchester venue, The Blues Kitchen, and put into practice all they’d been working on over the past year.

Check out the undivided antics from our showcase below and keep reading to find out the highlights from Soundcamp 2023.

Over the course of the Soundcamp project, ten emerging artists received artistic guidance from a collection of established music industry professionals and creatives to support them on their musical journeys. From sound engineering, to performance skills and musicianship, the participants were provided with insight into a wide array of areas impacting their careers.

Mentors on the programme included creative producer, artist and broadcaster Jenna G, DJ and producer Werkha who has appeared on the likes of BBC Radio 6’s ‘The People’s Party’, and Anna McLuckie, a remarkable vocalist and harpist. Our mentors combined weren’t short of knowledge in vast corners of the music industry to share with our group of upcoming talent.

Not only did our participants receive consistent mentoring through the programme, but they were also invited to pair up with an acclaimed Manchester artist to create an exclusive track to perform at the Soundcamp: The Co-Lab Edition closing showcase. The main event took place at Manchester’s The Blues Kitchen; all ten duos of emerging artists and Manchester legends debuted their collaborative tracks live, alongside partaking in panel discussions about their time on the project and plans moving forward. This process of collaboration not only musically challenged participants, but also tested their resilience and practice in producing a product with individuals from differing creative backgrounds.

“Even though I was initially worried, it’s been amazing working with Sarah [Angel]… She has helped me grow as a person and we’ve been able to produce something that is unique to the both of us. It’s been a very innovative collaboration that made us both step out of our comfort zones in a positive way.”

– LC, Soundcamp participant

Soundcamp has been thriving since its launch in 2018 and assisted a huge range of new artists of all creative backgrounds in kickstarting their journeys. From hosting a virtual stage at We Out Here Festival, to a series of successful showcases and appearances, our Soundcampers have never shied away from opportunities to hop onstage. We have also had the joy of seeing members of the previous years’ cohorts move into recognised positions within Manchester’s music scene. Alex Pascalidis of the programme’s debut year is now the proud project manager for our Soundcamp course. Meanwhile, artists including Sarah Angel and Iora that collaborated professionally with our Soundcamp participants this year for the Co-Lab project, are also alumni from previous years.

As this year’s collective spread their wings and head off with a large range of newly-built skills under their belt, we look forward to 2024’s Soundcamp project. Stay tuned for news on next year’s programme coming soon.

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SOUNDCAMP SHOWCASE: THE CO-LAB EDITION

Following a remarkable 12 month journey of mentorship at Reform Radio, we are delighted to bring you the final showcase of Soundcamp 2023 on the 25th of October, at Blues Kitchen Manchester.

This one-night exclusive event marks the end of our renowned artist development programme, Soundcamp, which is funded by Youth Music and held in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. Soundcamp offers 16-25 year olds extensive mentorship with established music industry professionals, Jenna G, Werkha and Anna McLuckie, and offers high quality access to work and insight into the music industries. Mentees have to opportunity to develop their music and songwriting, collaborate with a range of professionals, attend masterclasses and hands-on coaching.

In celebration of completing their incredible year of progress, our Soundcamp artists have each teamed up with one of a collection of Manchester’s favourite artists to write and perform an original track live. The evening will be the first opportunity to hear these tracks, and witness the beginning of some formidable artists’ journeys.

The ten duos of Manchester icons and Soundcamp participants make an unmatched lineup. From the programme we have Bennett Is Coming, Bake Gently, Beatrix Dexter, Waves, and LC. We also have Micah Stalgic, Saint Harmony, Simplici-T, Saffi Amber, and Karis Jade in the house.

The Manchester favourites joining the collective are of all genres and artistic backgrounds. HERchester leader OneDa, Superlative, Kin Kai, Contours and Meduulla make up one half of the artists.

Meanwhile, there will also be Sarah Angel, Iora, Blind Mic, Anna McLuckie and Mattu joining the Soundcamp finalists.

Tickets are available here for free or you can pay as you feel to support this brilliant initiative. This is the perfect time to catch some new talent before anybody else and witness a collection of iconic pairings live on stage.

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blog Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

SOUNDCAMP SHOWCASE

Next Tuesday we’re taking over Band on The Wall for the Soundcamp Showcase, bringing 12 exciting up-and-coming talents to the stage for a night of live performances and celebration of our most recent artist development programme, Soundcamp.

12 weeks ago we partnered up with Youth Music Charity and Thirty Pound Gentleman to curate a mentoring scheme for up-and-coming musicians aged 18 – 25. 

The project kicked off with a two-week bootcamp where participants were invited into the space to work on songwriting and creative collaboration. 12 finalists were then selected to stay on and receive mentoring from industry professionals such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie

Get yourselves down there on Tuesday 13th September to hear the magic for yourselves.

Grab your free tickets here.

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INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS: GROUP 3

Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie

Let us introduce you to our third group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists… 

BAMBI RAPTOR 

Hi, I’m Imogen. My artist name is Bambi Raptor and I am a producer, singer and songwriter from Manchester. I don’t have any socials or music out yet, but they will be coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled! 

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

A combination of dancey beats, weird sounds, catchy melodies and emotional lyrics – think Phoebe Bridgers if she’d grown up with a 90s Garage Classics CD and a retro drum machine. 

How long have you been doing music? When did you start?

I started playing the piano at 8 years old, then the drums aged 11. Eventually, I joined various Indie Rock, Pop and Grunge bands in my teens. I had always written songs for fun, but during the first lockdown, I decided to take this more seriously and develop an established sound for a new solo original project, which grew into Bambi Raptor.

What are some of your main influences?

I am influenced by the creative production of The Neptunes, SOPHIE, and Gold Panda. The House and Garage sound revival of Disclosure and Sam Gellaitry, and the heartfelt melodic songwriting of Phoebe Bridgers, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon.

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

I hope to release a short EP of songs that I am really proud of and that encapsulate my sound. I would love to perform a live set of these songs for the first time! 

I really want to develop a solid foundation for my music, so that I can continue to develop this project in the future.

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

I would love to tour the world and play amazing shows with my favourite artists, but I’ve got a lot of work to do if I want to get to that point! In the meantime, I will continue making and releasing music that I enjoy, collaborating with different vocalists and producers, and trying to get my music out to as many people as possible – hopefully, they’ll like it!

Who is your dream collaboration?

This is a tough question! I would love to work with Anomalie – my keyboard skills aren’t as good as I’d like them to be, so to watch him shredding over one of my beats would be crazy! I’d also love to work with a really charismatic vocalist who I could bounce ideas off – Tyler, The Creator or Lizzo would be awesome, and I think the three of us would make something really fun!

BAKE GENTLY

Hi, I’m Bake Gently. A Manchester-based artist who is beginning to release music of his own after working with notable artists in the city such as Quiet Houses and Paige Kennedy. I am inspired by great songwriting, truth and beauty when making music, and strive to balance expression with introversion. You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok @bakegently and listen to my work on all major streaming platforms. 

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I would describe my sound as commercial with a classic twist. I make Alternative Pop and love blending my music with things I’m influenced by in film, art, literature and life in general. I’m quite a private person really, so I guess a slight air of mystique and aloofness plays into my image as an artist, but hopefully with the impression of not taking myself too seriously at the same time!

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I first got into music after picking up the guitar when I was around ten. I then moved on to bass, which I played in ensembles at school as well as in bands with my mates and pursued it at a degree level, enrolling on a four-year popular music course at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. It was here that I got involved in even more projects and was also honing my songwriting and production which I’ve always done on the side. After graduating during the summer of 2021 I realised that I was most interested in developing these latter skills so started concentrating on my solo project as a vehicle for this.

What are some of your main influences?

I want my sound to be a culmination of the modern Pop experimentalism of Caroline Polachek, the high-fidelity production of Daft Punk and the musical and songwriting class of Steely Dan. I also draw upon storytelling concepts from Japanese Samurai films and Hollywood Westerns for my lyrics, as well as the natural imagery of painters like Caspar David Friedrich and the colourful wordplay of magical realism.

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

I hope to use it as a time to focus on my craft and consolidate my current career choices. I also hope to use it to make new friends in the local arts scene and push me out of my comfort zone in terms of sharing my work. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

I see myself as someone who will always be creating and striving to make a living from doing what they love. I’d like to find some degree of success or recognition with my project and potentially use it as a springboard to write and produce for other notable artists. I know my sound is one that’s going to take time to develop and flourish so I’m determined to treat my career as a marathon, not a sprint, and enjoy the ride as much as possible.

Who is your dream collaboration?

For my own project, I’d love to collaborate with some of the finest Pop writers out there such as Max Martin and his team, Dr. Luke or Stargate. Alternatively, as a writer/producer working on another artist’s music, I like the idea of collaborating with someone very different to me. I was just thinking the other day how liberating it would be to write a song with a powerful female artist like Doja Cat, Lizzo or Beyoncé.

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INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS: GROUP 2

Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp, funded by Youth Music in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie

Let us introduce you to our second group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists… 

KARIS JADE

Hello, I am Karis Jade and I’m 22 years old. Originally from Wolverhampton, I am a R&B/Soul singer and songwriter with a story to tell. 

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

I would describe myself as an R&B, Soul, Hip Hop artist who doesn’t take themselves too seriously.

How long have you been doing music? When did you start? 

In the year of 2017, myself and Superlative made our first collaborative project ‘written free sundays’. This is a project where we made and released a song every week. 

What are some of your main influences? 

My main influences are Superlative, WILLOW, Jacob Collier and Daniel Caesar. My son is also one of my main influences as I want to show him that he can do whatever he wishes in life. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience? 

I hope to gain confidence and connections within the industry. I would also like to establish myself as an artist. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist? 

I see myself making important changes in the world whilst touring and making music.

Who is your dream collaboration?

WILLOW or Jacob Collier. I admire their rawness and realness. 

MICAH STALGIC 

I am Micah Stalgic, a singer, dancer and songwriter with a passion to carve out a unique fusion of R&B, Hip-Hop & Afrobeat music. Follow me on Instagram and other platforms. 

You can find my work on Spotify, Apple Music and Soundcloud.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I absolutely love to dance. When I make music, I try and incorporate this element of myself into music that puts my audience in the mood to dance. As well as dancing, I love vintage fashion and I like to fuse this into my audio and visual artistry. 

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I have always been surrounded by musical people and aspiring artists so I would freestyle here and there until one day, I finally decided to take music more seriously. I’ve been making music for about five years now. 

What are some of your main influences?

There are two things that really influence my music creation process. The first is the act of dancing. Music plays a major role in dancing and I would like to think that people can’t dance effectively without music. The second is my personal experiences, my emotions and the challenges life throws at me. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

I hope to gain more professional and industry skills and I hope to gain valuable knowledge that would help me navigate through this artistic journey. I hope to build a network of talented artists in Manchester. I also look forward to all the surprises Reform Radio has in store for Soundcampers.

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

I see myself as a globally recognised artist who electrifies the crowd and entertains his audience. I see myself evolving into an artist who positively impacts this generation. This will be done by sharing my story about mental health and many other life challenges.

Who is your dream collaboration?

Chris Brown, Usher, Tory Lanez, Rihanna, J Cole, Little Simz and Wizkid. 

HARMONY

My name is Harmony, I am a singer and songwriter. You can find me on Instagram or on SoundCloud

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I am a lyrical artist and I take influence from all genres but I’d generally put myself under adult contemporary. 

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I have always sung as it was something my dad taught me and my sisters. Music was always a huge part of my household and day to day I grew up singing in church. I wrote my first song and short chorus when I was around six or seven years old.  

What are some of your main influences?

Lyrically, I’m inspired by how Joni Mitchell, Ella Fitzgerald, and Solange paint sonic images with their voices and choice of lyricism. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

I hope to be a more confident, well-rounded artist and make connections with other musicians I admire and can create with. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

I see myself connecting with people all over the world through music and expanding my musical storytelling into the world of visuals and film, making timeless music. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

I have too many to count but currently, Kendrick Lamar.

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INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS: GROUP 1

Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp, funded by Youth Music in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie

Let us introduce you to our first group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists… 

BEATRIX DEXTER

Hi, I’m Beatrix Dexter and I am an artist, songwriter and producer from Manchester. You can find me on Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music: @beatrixdexter. 

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

I would describe myself as an innovative, original and authentic artist. I’m not afraid to try new things or to break barriers and be as creative as possible. 

How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?

I’ve been doing music for the past 3 years but I have always been interested in becoming an artist, I just did not have the confidence to pursue my dreams. It has taken me a while to be comfortable enough to embrace who I am and what I have always wanted to do.

What are some of your main influences?

My main influences are Beyoncé, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus. I admire Beyoncé for her energy, drive and hard work. Rihanna for her confidence and style. Miley Cyrus for her daring and free-spirited vibe. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?

After my experience with Soundcamp, I hope to be able to progress further as an independent artist with all the knowledge and skills that I have acquired. I hope to be able to gain recognition for my creativity and my talents to be able to manage myself not only more efficiently, but confidently. And I hope to keep making music that breaks barriers and that brings something different to the table. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?

In the future I see myself as not just an artist but also an entrepreneur, I want to be able to branch into many different creative aspects such as design and running a company. I see myself becoming very successful at what I do. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

My dream collaboration would be with Miley Cyrus, as I feel like she also represents a vibe that is completely authentic like myself and also her voice transcends different genres, styles and sounds, which is exactly the kind of route I want to take as an artist.

ATHAR YOUSIF

I am a dancer, as well as having a good ear to differentiate and know where there are irregularities. I love listening to music, especially Afrobeat and Dancehall. I do a lot of dance choreos, by me and others on Tiktok. @lc_alhilo @athar_asman_athilo 

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

A multi-talented individual that loves music and dancing. I am a fast learner with a vision.

How long have you been doing music? When did you start? 

About six years in the industry, I started as a radio host but I have been dancing all my life. 

What are some of your main influences? 

My love for dance. My friends. Social media. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience? 

The confidence and knowledge to be able to make it in the music industry as well as the world. Building relations and meeting people. Being able to become more comfortable with my talents and the ability to utilise them. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist? 

Successful, untouchable and famous but humble. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, DJ Khalid, Stefflon Don, Vybz Cartel, Tems and Wizkid. 

BENNETT

My stage name is Bennettiscoming. This is a double entendre lol. @bennetiscoming (spotify etc) 

How would you describe yourself as an artist? 

I would describe myself as an emotive artist with a sensual tone and honest, soul-baring lyrics. 

How long have you been doing music? When did you start? 

I began singing when I was six years old, I tried to sing a lot in primary school and progressed later to making my own music when I was eighteen. So far, I’ve been doing it for four years. 

What are some of your main influences? 

My favourite singer when I was little was Beyoncé. I’ve since developed my craft around my influences, Rihanna, SZA, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Jazmine Sullivan and Bree Runway. 

What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience? 

I hope to learn more about the business and how I can package myself as well as develop my craft. 

What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist? 

I see myself performing for thousands of people and having my music heard and enjoyed. I see myself being a major figure in the Manchester scene and from then, the world. 

Who is your dream collaboration?

Rihanna! Brandy! The harmonies would be crazy. 

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SOUNDCAMP SPOTLIGHT: ALEX PASCALIDIS

Soundcamp is a 12-week programme that gives up-and-coming artists the opportunity to develop their performance and music business skills, delivered in partnership with Youth Music. The Soundcamp Spotlight series is a feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their stories with our audience. 

Next up it’s Alex Pascalidis… 

Please could you introduce yourself? 

My name is Alex Pascalidis, soon to be under the alias bathhat. I am a folk artist, a poet and on the odd occasion, I put some noises together whilst DJing.

When did your musical journey start? 

My serious musical journey started a little later on. I went to uni to do music production but started making music the summer before. I am still a bit shocked that I got in at all. I could always sing and loved doing that but I always thought music was gatekept, as in, because I didn’t have any formal training I wasn’t able to do it. I had the same thing growing up with dance, I didn’t learn formally but from films and again, any possibility I thought I had about doing something with it faded quite quickly when I thought there were traditional barriers in front of me. 

I make quite specifically folk music now. I have a loose definition of what folk music is, but for me, it is guitar and singing. Adrianne Lenker is a big inspiration of mine, along with Grouper so that may give an idea of what I’m talking about. I’m interested in the delicate and beautiful along with the abstract. I am still trying to figure out how to make a sonic identity but for now, I am just trying to sing well, consistently and write good songs.

You were part of Soundcamp 2018. Do you have any highlights or experiences you would like to share? 

The main highlight of the Soundcamp experience apart from meeting some amazing talent and being mentored by some extraordinary artists (and when I say extraordinary I mean legends in the music industry), was gaining creative confidence in my artistry, and I really mean artistry. What has me exploring a lot of different mediums to this day is the ignition that the project gave me.  

Has your career progressed or changed since participating in Soundcamp? 

I think that the establishment of a poetic voice since Soundcamp has welcomed a splitting of energy. Both poetry and music are equally important in my life now. I never knew I would be this into writing, reading and exploring the subconscious through the written word. I think from a music perspective I was once so interested in having a high volume of projects being released and not really caring what came of them. Now I care a lot more about what comes of them and whether or not the project is the best thing I can do at that moment. I think that taking your time and trusting in whatever it is you think you can do is for the best. 

How and when did your facilitation journey start with Reform? How did the opportunity to manage Soundcamp 2022 come about? 

Facilitation came after Soundcamp. At the time I was getting more and more into educating myself and realising the power or excitement that came from that. I was feeling quite cheated by the education system, convincing me that learning is boring. I wanted to go about sharing something with other people, teaching and passing on some of my knowledge, that seemed cool. 

I think there was some funding from Soundcamp that basically paid us to run a single 2 hour session and for that first one I taught creativity. Since then I made it clear that I wanted to facilitate with the directors and then did another one-off creativity session and built up from there. I have now been working between Reform Radio and Sonder Radio for the past year, facilitating and creating various creative skills workshops. 

There is the opportunity here to be romantic about how the opportunity to manage Soundcamp 2022 came about but it would be a hard spin. I think the real story is I didn’t have a project coming up and was figuring out a way to talk to the directors about maybe filling in on one or two of the days at Soundcamp Bootcamp. As I was going to send the message, I received one asking if I wanted to do just that and then I was offered the role. I didn’t really know what project managing would entail but I said yes very quickly and I’m glad I did. 

How does it feel to have come full circle and now be the one guiding people who were once in your shoes? 

There are two edges to it. I think on the one hand I love it, it is inspiring to see so much talent in the room and be at the beginning of a lot of seriously good musician’s careers. On the other hand, I think it puts into perspective a little how I have come full circle but I am still relatively in the same place with my music. There is always the imposter syndrome writhing away in the back of my mind. But, if I can add anything on top of my experience to what the facilitators are saying, I will, and everything I say I believe, it is just whether I myself have my own proof of it working for me.

What advice would you give somebody thinking of applying for Soundcamp next year? 

Give it a shot and see what happens. If you get chosen that’s cool, if you don’t that’s also cool. You don’t need it to become the thing you are supposed to be, it can help take yourself seriously and it can help with learning specific things about the industry but there are many famous musicians who didn’t go through Soundcamp who are successful. The boot camp is such a hotbed of creativity and talent, that even if you attend that and make some connections you will be winning. The amount of music I have heard of being made as a result of the boot camp is actually ridiculous, so many conversations come up about the collaboration that’s happened since with lots of different people. It’s beautiful. That, for me, is the reason you go to Soundcamp. 

The process helped me so much and I know that it helps all those that get through it. The first bit of creative confidence I got with my music was Werkha listening to my music on the first day of attending and taking an interest in what I had done. That was the spark. Go to the boot camp and just allow yourself to create. What happens after that is out of your control but as long as you are creating you will be good.

Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?

I have a music project coming out soon! Hopefully, it will be done and out within the next few months. It is a folk project. No name yet but it will be the debut project from my new alias bathhat. The project is just me and some guitar and it is the first project that I feel I will like in 3 years so that’s a positive. 

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BEHIND THE SCENES: SOUNDCAMP

Soundcamp 2022 started this month, kicking off with a two week Bootcamp which just wrapped up. Filling the space with the best up and coming musical talents across Manchester. For those of you that are not familiar with Soundcamp, it’s a 12-week training and artist development programme that we started back in 2018, funded by the lovely Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman

Joining Soundcamp once again, facilitators and artists Jenna GWerkha and Anna Mcluckie kicked off the project and got the ball rolling, offering their industry knowledge and mentorship to those involved. At the end of the Bootcamp, twelve artists were selected to progress onto the 12-month mentorship programme, granting the opportunity to take their craft to the next level. 

If you don’t know our fabulous facilitators, let’s get you acquainted. Jenna G is a vocalist and MC who has worked with the likes of Danni Minogue, Aleesha Dixon and Chase & Status. Werkha is a DJ and producer, who has recently dropped an album, ‘All Werk Is Play’. Last but not least, Anna McLuckie is a singer, songwriter and harpist based in Manchester, who you can catch playing at the Deaf Institute at the end of the month.

Participants such as Manchester-based Atha, who is an aspiring events host and musician, touched on how it has been working with industry professionals, commenting that the facilitators have been “caring, giving us the space to ask them questions which is comforting and beneficial”. Freelance actor, open mic organiser and poet Boshra adds that the environment created by the facilitators was “welcoming, which is important and they genuinely want to help”, whilst guitarist Fabio explains how each artist seemed to be “well-rooted in the industry”.

As always, we strive to maintain an aura of inclusivity, encouraging those involved to be their authentic selves. Beatrix Dexter a self-proclaimed ‘authentic, innovative and daring’ artist and participant says how the experience of working with the likes of Jenna, Werkha and Anna was insightful and ‘every day was enlightening and very focus driven’.

As a music course and artist development programme, collaboration is thoroughly encouraged throughout. One of the collaborative tasks during the Bootcamp was to create a piece on either nature or identity, spurring creations of beautiful spoken word pieces, whilst other activities included musical creations. During the second week, one group wrote a dreamy three-part harmony on one side of the room and on the other side of the room, there was some high energy rapping going on, proving just how eclectic each person’s style is.  

It was great to see those involved appearing comfortable, honest, supporting one another, and having a bit of a laugh. People shared their work, from poetry to lyricism, creating blends of genres. One group, including Fabio, created a track fusing Folk, EDM and gritty Rap, surprising themselves with an original song that worked incredibly well. This narrative led the rest of Soundcamp’s journey, with Atha commenting that she’s ‘met at least five different musicians, five different instrumentalists and five producers, so it’s like a network of people with different skills and it’s amazing’.

With creative energy flourishing within the group, we set out to find out who was inspiring the group. 

WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION?

BOSHRA, ACTOR & POET. ‘Myself. As humans, we go through so much in our lives and I feel like our stories, our past, our struggles and our successes are inspirational in themselves. We as humans inspire ourselves constantly and being creative in this industry is difficult. You have to fail, learn, fail, learn and be okay with rejections, whilst keeping on going and finding alternative ways to bloom, expand and develop.’

FABIO, GUITARIST. ‘I try not to have idols because I don’t believe in having them, but I do have people I look up to who trigger parts of my brain and make me feel inspired. Casey Edwards and Mic Gordon, who are more on the gaming side of things with soundtracks, are incredibly inspirational to me. The experimental side of their gaming works is great, especially as someone who likes electronic and distorted sounds.’

JOY, MODEL & SINGER.  ‘My Mother. She gave me life but she also taught me life. My mother came to the UK from Africa and made a life for us, she worked so hard for me and my siblings and that’s something I admire so much.’

IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE? 

SOPHIE, JAZZ MUSICIAN. ‘If I could collaborate with anyone living, it would be the legend, Beverly Knight. She is an incredible vocalist and hands down an amazing person. I take lots of my writing inspiration from her. And of course, Ella Fitzgerald. A Jazz legend who means so much to so many people and her legacy lives on. I like to think I take a leaf out of her book every single day.’

FABIO, GUITARIST. ‘While they were alive, Prince or Jimi Hendrix. That would have been pretty cool.’

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM SOUNDCAMP? DID YOU SET YOURSELF ANY PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE BOOTCAMP?

BEATRIX DEXTER, MUSICIAN. ‘To make more connections, network with people and improve my confidence. I wanted to learn more about the industry and what next steps I should take as an artist. ‘

JOY, MODEL & SINGER. ‘A voice for myself. I wanted to get a bit more confident in the talent that I have. Now I feel I’m in the right headspace, I just needed to meet the right people and be in the right space.’

SOPHIE, JAZZ MUSICIAN & MINDFULNESS TEACHER. ‘I joined Soundcamp to collaborate with local people and make connections.’

There was a great variety of performances at the showcase and an incredibly supportive environment was encouraged throughout. What began with nervous energy, soon transformed into laughter and self-confidence. First up was Toby with a very pure and heartfelt spoken-word piece, resulting in a crowd of applause and wooing. Toby fist-pumped the air and faces of joy populated the room, setting the scene for the performances to follow. Soundcamp 2018 alumni IORA played a number of tunes. Their music is electronic-based, so it was great to hear it played differently live. Flavours of Drum N’ Bass with vocals on top, acoustic Indie with spoken word and swing influenced pieces with a jazzy soulful feel.

As the Bootcamp came to an end, friendships had been made and wonderful artistry created, with those involved leaving on a high.

To find out more about our upcoming projects, please drop us a line at projects@reformradio.co.uk – come get involved, meet people and get creative! 

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blog Featured on Homepage Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

SOUNDCAMP SPOTLIGHT: ANAMELIA

Soundcamp is a 12 week programme that gives up and coming artists the opportunity to develop their performance and music business skills, delivered in partnership with Youth Music. The Soundcamp Spotlight series is a feature that aims to shine the light on Soundcamp artists and share their story with our audience.

Taking the reins for this instalment is Anamelia…

Please could you introduce yourself? 

Hey yo, my name is Anamelia aka Ana*meh*lia aka Anamelly aka The Polecunian.

When did your musical journey start?  

I was very very young when I first started singing and performing, I’m talking 3/4 years of age. My first ever award diploma for singing and performing dates back to when I was 3 years old.

How would you best describe your production and mixing style?

Production I would say is quite holistic. I much prefer producing in a way where I’m directing someone who’s waaaaay more skilled than me on the sound production side of things and engineering things. I’m quite techy, but making beats isn’t really my preferred way of working as I’m very easily distracted. I can’t seem to sit in front of a computer screen for too long. I’m more of throw ideas in the air type of person and compose and produce through directing sound producers.

You were part of the Soundcamp cohort back in 2019, what were some of your highlights?

Definitely performing at Night & Day, probably having Jenna G as my mentor too, & mostly the confidence I have gained in my own art. Seeing again how different every single artist was and how there were almost no right or wrong answers with music or art. Just fully immersing myself in that particular moment. Soundcamp was probably the first time I had a chance to finish some of my beats and I actually showed them to a room full of people.

Last year, you were recognised by VICE in an article titled: ‘The UK Is Overlooking Its Homegrown Polish Rappers.’ You speak about being a Polish rapper in the UK and the challenges you have faced. What are some of these challenges? How do you think the UK could change, or progress, to support artists like yourself. 

I think Polish people, we’re still very much a minority group and I guess we’re still portrayed in our stereotypes. TV shows and programmes very much put us in these boxes where actors are builders or cleaners but there are sooooo many successful business owners or creatives in this country. There’s a whole underground Hip Hop scene of Poles in Manchester, I presume there’s probably one in London, too. I know there’s one in Edinburgh, Peterborough and Brum. This just makes me wonder why these artists never reach the mainstream, or access developmental projects or funding. This is a big topic to break down, I have done some research, but with a lot of this I might be wrong as from my observation so far, I have a feeling there might be people out there who don’t even want to identify as Polish artists (for various reasons) and hence why I haven’t found them – but this is definitely ongoing research that I’m actually looking into as part of my masters right now.

BUT, as per myself, I have a lot of support around me and I think people need to stop being dismissive of how much of expertise I have, and perhaps consciously give someone like myself – a foreign woman – a chance to speak up, showcase music and recognise my ideas and projects as worthy, by giving me help in areas that I might be struggling with. I guess we’re new to this country, or at least I can speak for myself.

This industry is EXTREMELY competitive, I’d even say that it is one of the hardest industries in the world and it is always easier and smoother when you know the right people. I think as a Polish community, we’re still building our contacts database within the British society. I’m not here to play victim, these are just my observations. I’m here to develop and build my community up, if they’re unaware of these projects around the city, I shout about them, I help people with marketing. I basically try to utilise my skills and knowledge to help people, and that’s why I’m a mentor at a University I guess.

You took part in HERchester in 2021 – what made you decide to get involved?

I wanted to develop my rap skills, I always rapped or used melodic rap techniques but never called myself a rapper. That was definitely a moment for me when something flipped and I realised that I’m a full rounded artist, which means – if I wanna do a rap track, I can do that as that’s my art and that’s my expression for that particular moment & I would very much encourage everyone to try that mindset – just be free and don’t allow ‘society’ or the industry to put you in boxes.

What are you hoping your next steps will be? 

I’m constantly working on things but I guess it is fair for me to announce that I have started a business, in partnership with someone. We’re doing events, we have a bookings system/agency thing going on & we actually have a recording studio/band rehearsal space out for hire in town. It’s been pretty much word of mouth at the moment. But this is definitely another example of how a bit of funding from the Arts Council has now gone a loooooong way for me. They gave me a couple of grand during Covid to build a home studio, and with my mate, we built acoustic panels from scratch – ordered wood, and specific absorbent material, not gonna go into all the ingredients, but I’m quite proactive and resourceful – knowing that I didn’t have enough budget to buy panels, we purchased the materials and did them ourselves. We measured the whole room to get specific acoustics to know how many panels we needed and in what measurement to get the right sound with advice from some sound engineering pros. I mean, I don’t actually like math but we fully pulled it off. I mention this to give an example of how a bit of funding can go a long way for an artist like myself or other upcoming/emerging artists

Obviously, I’m constantly making music. I’ve just been to Spain last month to film, and Poland last weekend to perform. I’m doing okay. I’m in London every few weeks working on something too, but generally, I’m performing in the Northern Quarter every week, so that’s where Manchester can catch me. As per new music, I pretty much have featured releases every month. Solo stuff is currently in the works. 

Anything upcoming that you would like to shout out?

Come see me perform – at Wilson’s Social 8 -11pm every Thursday. We’re also gonna be starting themed dance events like Salsa, Disco or Funk and Soul night with a full band on a Friday, so keep a lookout for these on my socials & hopefully see you there 🙂 

What was the last event you went to? 

Probably the ones I play, as I perform 2/3 times a week I have very little free time in the evenings but boy, I do have a need to go to see someone soon! H.E.R is coming to Manchester so I’m hoping to get tickets and Tyler the Creator is playing at Parklife so I’m gonna try to hustle some tickets too.

Are there any local artists/musicians/collectives that you would like to shout out? 

Yes! My Polish peeps – PPZ and the Slum Dog Crew. My favourite people Guacamaya Latin band who I’ve had the pleasure of working with recently.

And finally… What’s one thing that’s happened recently that’s made you smile?

I have moved into my own flat, as in, this is the first time in my life where I’m living entirely on my own and I’m LOOOOVING it!

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Projects Thirty Pound Gentleman Upcoming Projects Youth Music

SOUNDCAMP (FUNDED BY YOUTH MUSIC)

Are you looking to progress as an artist? We’ve got just the project for you!

Soundcamp is a 12-week training and artist development programme that we started back in 2018. Funded by Youth Music and partnered with Thirty Pound Gentleman.

Starting off with a two-week Bootcamp, at the end of this duration, 12 artists will be selected to progress onto the 12-month mentorship programme. Take a look at our Bootcamp video from 2020 to get an idea of what it’s all about.

With opportunities to collaborate with artists, receive mentoring from professional artists such as Jenna G, Werka and Anna Mcluckie – and work on your sound engineering skills – come and show us what you’re made of.

Jenna G has been with us from the very beginning. An incredible talent in the Manchester music scene, who in more recent years hosted our International Women’s Day panel. DJ and producer Werka has been on the likes of BBC Radio 6’s The People’s Party, hosted by Afrodeutsche, produced by our team at Reform Radio. As for Anna Mcluckie, she’s a singer and Harpist from Manchester who has facilitated Soundcamp since it started.

Take a look at our event that was held at Night & Day Cafe back in 2019, showcasing all the amazing work from the Soundcamp programme.

Last year, we hosted a virtual stage for the We Out Here Festival, inviting the 12 Soundcamp finalists into the space to perform. With artists ranging from Joe Roche, Inka, Lashimba and more! Catch Inka’s Soundcamp showcase down below or click here to see all of the artist’s performances.

With Soundcamp comes endless opportunities and possibilities for your future as an artist. Don’t hesitate and apply now.

See the flyer below for more details or email projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.

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Arts Council blog Events Funders Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

WOH Thursdays: Part 4 ft KING, Sarah Angel, SIBZ and Zed Bias

WOH Thursdays is a 4 part series, premiering all the performances from Reform’s Stage at We Out Here On Line & On Air Festival. The stage gave Soundcamp graduates the opportunity to perform alongside…

On Friday 28th May, performances from KING, Sibz, Sarah Angel and Zed Bias will be going live.

KING

French Born, London based singer songwriter KING allies the musical details of French lyrical culture with the soothing tones of her soulful voice.

KING takes inspiration not only from her French upbringings but the great tradition of genre-fluidity, on a quest of sonic expansion with the trait of being experimentally audacious.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:00 (BST) to catch the performance.

Sarah Angel

Sarah Angel is a singer-songwrited and visual artist bring word play, double entendres, and her unique viewpoint of the world into her multidisciplinary artform.

Sarah Angel has a particular presence as a performer and songwriter, and is informed by her deep understanding of visual artistry, that has very much captured the attention of the Manchester scene and beyond.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:15 (BST) to catch the performance.

SIBZ

Specialising in spiritualistic hedonism and raucous beats, SIBZ‘s bold and braggadocio performances deliver emotional expressionism in a heated package.

SIBZ delivers a strong alternative vision of rap, presenting psychedelic self-produced sounds and an emotive approach to performance.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:30 (BST) to catch the performance.

Zed Bias

The iconic artist that continues to innovate and stay connected to the grass roots, traversing UKG, UK funky, Dubstep, Broken Beat and other bass sounds with DJ sets that have always been a mainstay.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:30 (BST) to catch the performance.

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Arts Council blog Events Funders Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

WOH Thursdays: Part 3 ft The Mirror Ball Test, SUTTY, Trees.R.Good and Queen Tamika

WOH Thursdays is a 4 part series, premiering all the performances from Reform’s Stage at We Out Here On Line & On Air Festival. The stage gave Soundcamp graduates the opportunity to perform alongside…

On 20th May, performances from Trees.R.Good, Queen Tamika, Sutty and The Mirror Ball Test will be going live.

Trees.R.Good

Trees.R.Good is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ spreading her extended European heritage through bass driven, groove infused sounds.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:00 (BST) to catch the performance.

Queen Tamika

Born in Manchester, the singer-songwriter, rapper, model and performer is an all around creative who uses influences from her Caribbean heritage and life experiences to give us soul nourishing music, draped in advice and wisdom.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:15 (BST) to catch the performance.

SUTTY

SUTTY is a singer-songwriter, producer and flautist based in Manchester. She creates and collaborates on hip hop beats, singing over them with soulful vocals and honest lyrics.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:30 (BST) to catch the performance.

The Mirror Ball Test

The Mirror Ball Test are a 7-piece jazz fusion band from Manchester, whose music is an exploration of the world through psychedelic interpretations, and grounded in melodic and layered soundtracks.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:40 (BST) to catch the performance.

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Arts Council blog Events Funders Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

WOH Thursdays: Part 2 ft Renee Stormz & Alto Sounds, Aaliyah Espirt, Inka, Skarlet and Joe Roche

WOH Thursdays is a 4 part series, premiering all the performances from Reform’s Stage at We Out Here On Line & On Air Festival.  The stage gave Soundcamp graduates the opportunity to perform alongside some of Manchester’s finest artists. 

On 13th May, performances from Joe Roche, Skarlet, INKA, Aaliyah Esprite and Renee Stormz will be going live.

Joe Roche

Joe Roche represents the new school old school. From receiving recent support from Jaguar on Radio 1 to spreading his wings across the Mancunian club circuit and beyond. Adding signature versatility to the acid house dimension has seen this young DJ/producer rise through the ranks.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:00 (BST) to catch the performance.

Skarlet

Skarlet is an electro-folk singer-songwriter who writes about real experiences, drawing out the light from the darkness with her jazzy, blues rich voice.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:15 (BST) to catch the performance.

INKA

Based in South Manchester, Inka is an inspired DJ/producer who has been turning heads in the UK underground for a while, mesmerising dance floors up and down the country with his unmistakable selections. From the studio, he manages to bend and fuse sub-low frequencies with his own unique influences from the worlds of hip-hop, soul and ambience, creating a trademark Inka-style.

Expect to be taken on a journey through sound at his shows, as he sets his own unique productions alongside some of the deepest cuts around. The Beeswaxx resident and co-founder is always experimenting with his sets & delivers the energy every time so make sure you pull up.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:25 (BST) to catch the performance.

Aaliyah Esprit

Aaliyah Esprit is a singer, songwriter who’s been making waves with her fusion of lounge R&B sound with soul and trap and her sweltering vocals, with a standout release on Future Bubblers and a string of festival performances.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:45 (BST) to catch the performance.

Renee Stormz

Renee Stormz is an MC, writer & singer, delivering bouncy flows articulating poignant truths that explore the experiences of a black woman growing up in the West. Renee presents powerful songs, solo and collaboratively.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 21:05 (BST) to catch the performance.

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Arts Council blog Events Funders Thirty Pound Gentleman Youth Music

WOH Thursdays: Part 1 ft Yelena Lashimba, KUPI, Babyflxcko & Zeyla

WOH Thursdays is a 4 part series, premiering all the performances from Reform’s Stage at We Out Here On Line & On Air Festival. The stage gave Soundcamp graduates the opportunity to perform alongside

On 6th May, performances from Yelena Lashimba, KUPI, Babyflxcko and Zelya will be going live.

Yelena Lashimba

Yelena Lashimba uses inspiration from percussive genres like Samba and Afro to carve a unique indie RnB sound, infusing smooth vocals alongside the occasional spoken word verse as part of a new generation using their art to champion feminism.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:00 (BST) to catch the performance.

KUPI

Formed within the vacuum of lockdown, KUPI is a newly born experimental music project piecing together highly detailed rabbit holes of sound for you to fall down. Within these sonic environments, lush soundscapes flow and crash around mangled found sounds and jagged walls of electronic percussion.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:15 (BST) to catch the performance.

Babyflxcko

Bethany White better known as Babyflxcko, Sheffield born singer/songwriter has been surrounded by music her whole life with a family full of musicians. Being a young girl she spent time singing daily in her bedroom and figuring out which music best suited her voice. Growing up she had (still has) a great passion for Hip Hop and Rap.

Her influences Amy Winehouse, Billie Eilish, Jhene AikoMichael Jackson, Kali Uchis, Lauryn Hill etc inspired her love for Soul, Jazz and R&B.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:30 (BST) to catch the performance.

Zeyla

Raised on a rich heritage of Hip, Hop, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Reggae & House, Zeyla is a multi-genre DJ and Reform Resident, who makes it her point to share her experiences of the world through her mixing.

Head to Reform‘s Youtube at 20:45 (BST) to catch the performance.