Youth Music

Lucy DK

Lucy DK is a singer from Leicestershire, now based in London. She has performed at Tramlines Festival, Kindred, The Moustache Bar, and more. Her debut single 'Queen Bed' was premiered in Complex Magazine.

LDEEA

LDEEA is an artist from Luton. She has headlined and organised jams, open mics and talent showcases, and performed at events like Newtonville Carnival, Peng Femme Jam and and Luton's Christmas Light switch-on. With the NextGen Fund, she is working on her latest EP, 'REGROWTH'.

Koba Sno

Koba Sno is an artist, producer and choreographer based in London. They have previously supported bands like Walt Disco and Lucia & The Best Boys, and were previously the co-creator of Void Festival, which was launched in collaboration with DICE and Rich Mix, and raised money for Black Minds Matter UK, UK Black Pride and Equal Justice Initiative.

KG

KG is a rapper, youth worker, actor and poet from Bradford. She has performed in Parliament for International Women's Day, played an active part in Bradford's bid to become City of Culture 2025, won a Bradford Community Stars award for her input on the KCU campaign, and has been featured in an exhibition at The Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth.

Jemma Freese

Jemma Freese is a keyboardist and vocalist who has collaborated with the likes of J Frisco, J2oh and Maximo Park. She has had support from programmes including Serious' Take Five scheme, Jazz North Northern Line, and Sage Gateshead's Summer Studios Scheme. Her music has also been played on BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 3, and she has performed at EFG London Jazz Festival.

James Jones

James Jones is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Caerphilly, specialising in jazz violin, flamenco guitar and ukelele. He has supported ABBA The Show at Cardiff International Arena, playing to an audience of 5,000, was longlisted for the Welsh Music Prize, and won the Music Producer Award at the Youth Music Awards 2023.

IMVN

IMVN is an artist, producer and violinist based in London. She was selected to take part in the AIAIAI X Beautiful Academy programme, and the 'Reframe' residency at the Southbank Centre, where she provided sound design for an immersive installation. Her debut EP FAZE was premiered by Wonderland Magazine, and she recently performed at the Southbank Centre as part of their 'futuretense' series of shows.

Hulton

Hulton is a bilingual rapper from Brighton, who fuses Colombian and English hip-hop and pop in his music. He has received support from BBC 1Xtra and BBC Introducing, with his 2024 single 'Background' being named their 'Track of the Week'. He has also performed at venues including Chalk in Brighton, The O2 Academy2 Islington in London, and at Voces del Suburbio Festival in Bogotá, Colombia.

Freya

Freya is a neo-soul singer-songwriter based in London. Her singles have gained spots on popular Spotify Editorial playlists, including 'Nightcap'. With the NextGen Fund, she has been working on her EP 'Comfort in Discomfort'.

Dulzo the Great

Dulzo is a Zimbabwe-born rapper with Malawi heritage, now based in Leicester. The NextGen Fund has supported him to create six R&B songs as an introduction to his new sound as a solo artist. He is also establishing himself as a community leader, motivating and inspiring others in his network and local area.

DFlexXx

DFlexXx is a hip-hop and trap artist from Wales. He has played at venues across Wales including the Wales Millennium Centre, Tramshed Cardiff and Clwb Ifor Bach; as well as performed on the lineup of Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The NextGen Fund is supporting him to revelop and release his 'Prince of Wales' EP, with 25% of all proceeds from album sales set to go to The Prince's Trust, to empower other young creatives.

Damsel Elysium

Damsel Elysium is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, experimental sound, visual and performance artist based in London. They have performed at the Southbank Centre, Tate Modern and Union Chapel, collaborated with FKA Twigs, Celeste and the London Contemporary Orchestra, and been commissioned for Simone Rocha, Vogue X Gucci, and Byredo.

Cralla

Cralla is a rapper and songwriter from Wolverhampton. With the NextGen Fund, he was able to release his EP 'Royal Infirmary', which was a collection of songs about his experience of hospital following a serious crash. Writing the EP provided Cralla with an outlet for expression during the challenging process of recovery.

Cat Rose

Cat Rose is a musician, writer and theatre maker based in Plymouth. She is a music mentor at the Barbican Theatre and an arts practitioner at Theatre Royal Plymouth. She reached the final three of Plymouth's Laureate of Words, and won the Under the Bridge project with Fotonow. She was also named runner-up in the South-West heat of the UK Unsigned singer-songwriter competition.

BINA.

BINA. is a singer-songwriter and producer based in London. Her music has amassed millions of streams to date, she has supported high-profile musicians on tour including Ego Ella May, IAMDDB and Baby Rose, and she has performed at festivals including Cross The Tracks and We Out Here. She has further sold out her own London headline shows, and performed internationally across Europe. In 2025, she will also be performing at Brick Lane Jazz Festival.

Archy Moor

Archy Moor is an artist based in Milton Keynes. He has collaborated with renowned producers including Earl Saga, Mikewavvs and Nick Mills, and supported Frankie Gunn & Harvey Stew at Opium in Dublin to a sold-out audience.

Angel of Origin

Angel of Origin is a DJ, producer and audiovisual artist based in Nottingham. He performed a DJ set supporting Bicep during Youth Music's Give A Gig Week, hosts his own radio show on Swing Dash, and designs posters, graphics, animations and visuals for various music projects.

Amy Laurenson

Amy Laurenson is a musician from the Shetland Isles, currently based in Glasgow. She has been named BBC Radio Scotland Youth Traditional Musician of the Year, and performed at a variety of festivals including Edinburgh TradFest, Shetland Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Eden Court 'Under Canvas' Festival, and more.

Connor Williams

Connor Williams (AKA 333) is a promoter based in Wales. He has put on successful shows in venues such as The Moon Club, Clwb Ifor Bach and Porter's, and with the NextGen Fund, has founded 'Diwylliant' - a series of live music events which showcase punk, queer punk and alternative rock music in Cardiff.

Yumé NET

Yumé NET is an artist, producer and session keyboardist based in London. She has taken part in programmes including Qube Futures and 360RA Academy, and was named the winner of the Qube Futures EP Competition. She has also established herself as a presence in London's jazz music scene, through her live solo performances at venues including Notting Hill Arts Club, The Crypt, AMP Studios, Shacklewell Arms, and more.

Tom Hodson

Tom Hodson is an artist, drummer, hip-hop producer and DJ from Belper, Derbyshire. With the support of the NextGen Fund, he will be releasing a 4-track concept EP called 'Every Day I Wake Up', which seeks to uplift and comfort others struggling with mental illness, rewriting the script from one of darkness to one of love, consciousness and positivity.

Sunkissed Child

Sunkissed Child is a Lebanese artist based between Leeds and London. They have received support from BBC Radio 6, been longlisted for Glastonbury's Emerging Talent Competition, and performed at notable festivals and venues including Brudenell Social Club, We Out Here Festival, and Sound of Europe Festival in Turkey.

sorry stacy

sorry stacy is a Russian-Ukrainian multimedia artist, born in Estonia and now based in Wales. She has previously been part of the Forte Project, and performed at festivals including FOCUS Wales and Theatr Brycheiniog. She has also collaborated with fellow NextGen Fund Recipient Mali Hâf, and received recognition and support from BBC Horizons.

Shogun Shato

Shogun Shato is a rapper based in South London. He has taken part in programmes led by Grounded Sounds, the Southbank Centre and Ninja Tune, and recently hosted his NextGen-Funded event, 'Road Trippin': Tales From The Road' - an EP launch party paired with a tasting menu of meals inspired by the locations on the album.

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We offer funding, networking events, and paid roles and training opportunities for those who face barriers. Our goal is to make the future of the music industries more accessible, more diverse, and more creative.

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Next Gen

NextGen Community Events

Our NextGen Community events give attendees aged 18-30 the chance to connect with other creatives in their local city, listen to panel discussions from industry experts and watch performances from emerging artists.

funding

NextGen Fund

Grants of up to £3,000 for 18 to 25 year olds creatives (aged up to 30 for those who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or neurodivergent) in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Funding round opens 10/01/2025