alumni

Lydia Lutudi

Lydia Lutudi is an alternative rock and soul singer originally from the USA, previously living in Leicester and now based in London. She has headlined Riverside Festival and a FEMMESTIVAL Showcase at the Forge, performed backing vocals at Glastonbury Festival, and been a repeat winner of talent competitions in Leicester. 

alumni

Maria Winter

Maria Winter is the co-founder of Marisam Events - a female-led live events company which aims to redefine the creative industries in the North East of England, and showcase local talent. Marisam Events hosts a successful event series called 'Late 'n' Live', a live music quiz featuring a live band of local musicians who play the songs for every question. Marisam's other event series include Late 'n' Live Karaoke, and Platform 22.

alumni

Martha Pryer

Martha Pryer is a singer-songwriter based in Manchester. Her music has received plaudits from BBC West, OStereo and NTS Radio, and she has performed at venues and festivals in the UK (First Street Festival, Off The Square, Contact) and Denmark (Spot Festival).

resources

5 Ways DJs and Artists Can Build a Community on Mixcloud

Ready to grow your fanbase on Mixcloud? From tagging your shows to engaging with listeners via livestreams, these 5 tips will help you build a loyal community and stand out as a creator.

resources

Safeguarding - guidance and considerations as organisations move learning online

resources

Safeguarding Minimum Standards – Advice for Applicants

alumni

Matty Lusher

Matty Lusher is a music video director from Aberdeen. Since starting out, he has made a significant impact on helping the Aberdeen rap scene grow. With his NextGen Fund, he was able to shoot and edit three free music videos for three emerging local artists, to help support their careers.

alumni

MRWIZE

MRWIZE, aka Harold Kuenyefu, is a South London-born electronic music artist and producer. All his work is self-recorded and produced, and all his visual work is self-directed. He also composes music for video projects and short films, and has modelled for brands such as Exemplar. To date, he has worked with the likes of Namasenda and Isamaya Ffrench, and played at well-known venues in London, including Corsica Studios.
 

alumni

Niall McDowell

Niall McDowell is a queer folk and alt-country singer/songwriter from Belfast, Country Antrim. Their music has been described as "somewhere between a choirboy and a cowboy" by BBC Radio 1, with songs such as 'Brokeback' and 'It Was An Honour To Be Nominated' lauded for smart writing and vulnerable production. He has sold out The Black Box in Belfast, and performed at Dig With It Magazine's Issue Launch and Belfast's Lord Mayor's Day. He has also been selected for the Oh Yeah Centre's 'Scratch My Progress' talent development programme.

alumni

Okeam Briscoe

Okeam Briscoe is a Birmingham-born singer/songwriter who creates R&B and soul music. Okeam has appeared on Jason Derulo's BBC Three show, 'Project Icon', and has performed at renowned venues such as KOKO London. He aims to inspire men with mental health challenges with his 'BOYSCRYTOO.' EP project, which the NextGen Fund is supporting him to record and release.

Music Video Award in partnership with Notion

For an outstanding music video that features a Youth Music funded artist or has been created by a Youth Music funded project.

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alumni

RENOK9000

RENOK9000 is a DJ and producer from North Shields who runs a record label and club night series called STEREO45, based in Newcastle. The club night has enabled him to showcase and provide press opportunities for a significant number of up-and-coming DJs in the local area.

alumni

RIYA

RIYA is an artist from North West England who writes and produces all her own music. She has received support from Rolling Stone, BBC and ITV, and has performed live at XOYO, Macron Stadium, Troxy, Barbican Theatre, Tate, Oxford Union, Manchester Museum and O2 Academy Islington. She has also been an artist resident at The Glasshouse, and was one of 48 participants in Europe to be selected for the Music Cities Network's 'Link Up Euro Connection' programme.

alumni

Robyn Saunders

Robyn Saunders is a Manchester based clarinettist who specialises in contemporary classical music, musical theatre and drag artistry. They have worked on theatre productions with the likes of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and they are an accomplished music educator. With the support of their NextGen Fund, they plan to host a one-night-only performance on the struggle of childhood isolation, violence and addiction while remembering queer history and celebrating uniqueness.

alumni

Somatic

Somatic is a dual-heritage sound artist, whose creative practice encompasses sound for theatre, dance, screen, club dancefloors and DJing. He has a monthly residency on Subtle Radio, and has performed in cities across the UK, including Oxford, Sheffield, Exeter, Gloucester, Bristol and London, among others. The NextGen Fund has supported Somatic to collaborate and release music with three visual-led artists, to create visual identities for a series of tracks.

alumni

BANJI

BANJI is a rapper, actor, model and youth leader from Bermondsey, South London. He is one of the founding members, and now Associate Director, of the Spit Game collective. As community leader, he runs rap clubs across London, supporting young people to take ownership of their cultures, develop their craft, and where necessary re-engage with school. BANJI received the Young Leader Award at the Youth Music Awards 2024 for the impact of this work. As an actor and film producer, he has starred in and co-produced two BAFTA-qualifying short films, alongside appearing in a range of other film projects.

alumni

Viv Latifa

Viv Latifa is a singer songwriter, performer and recording artist, born in Italy and now based in Edinburgh. She is also a vocal coach for young children, teaching them to sing and write songs. The NextGen Fund is supporting her to write and record four tracks, and create one music video, for her upcoming album.

alumni

Xaira

Xaira is a multidisciplinary artist based in the South East of England. The NextGen Fund is supporting the development of their latest EP, 'Heartbreak Melodies 007'. They have recently been researching and working on a broader project beyond this EP, compiling speculative, futuristic soundscapes from sounds such as those made by the rings of Saturn, and the polyrhythmic modalities of Linquindi (waterdrumming) of the ethnic groups of Baka in Southwestern Cameroon.

alumni

yeguachita

yeguachita is a queer and neurodivergent Latin American singer, songwriter, and producer. They make music of all kinds, ranging from hip-hop and cumbia to vaporwave. Their NextGen Funded mixtape '[ BLESSINGS ]' will explore the more experimental side of their work, with a dystopian retrofuturistic/cyberpunk concept that explores the shortcomings of capitalism and colonialism, and how they leave people traumatised and isolated.

alumni

Yung Yusuf

Yung Yusuf is a Palestinian rapper based in the East of England. He has performed at a variety of renowned venues and events, including at Independent Week 2025. He also delivers rap workshops in collaboration with charities and social initiatives which support refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, such as Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association (CADFA) and Compass Collect.