NextGen Fund Round Seven Recipients

Alex James' debut EP, 'WAVES', will embody a collection of songs which can each be interpreted in their own unique way. "It aims not only to provide some relatability and a sense of hope, but also provides proof that an individual with DMD can make waves in a generally inaccessible industry," he says.

"Imagine a world where you were always watched, every move, every breath, win, loss and mistake. This project takes my experience of an intense paranoid psychosis and repackages it into the story of a star, constantly watched by the world but never acknowledged for their gifts," Ambrose explains of their NextGen Fund supported project, 'Silent Paparazzi'.

Athena Aperta plans to use the Youth Music NextGen Fund to release two singles from their upcoming album. It will be a project with "a variety of instruments and sounds exploring vulnerability, a journey from BPD, depression, anxiety, addiction towards ADHD diagnosis, autism self-diagnosis, sobriety, CPTSD awareness and spiritual practice. I want to provide music to help others heal," they share.

Blades plans to make a self-titled indie EP consisting of three to four songs that she plans to release individually to gain exposure and develop a fan base. The tracks will be a mixture of self-produced and collaborative with another producer. As well as the project itself, Blades will use the NextGen Fund to hire a rehearsal space for her release show, a promo shoot with a photographer and a live music video shot with videographer, as well as festival travel support.

Boo plans to host four club nights and four free open decks sessions in order to provide elevated paid performance opportunities to local artists. 'Ghetec' will be a hub for emerging artists and cutting edge electronic music.

Branwell Black's 'Sell My Soul' project will be their first EP with songs that they have been touring for the past three years. "It will be four Pop/Rock songs with a queer message of freedom, being true to yourself and never 'selling your soul'," they say.

Catriona has composed a set of five songs for the electric harp, electric guitar, drumkit and bass. The multi-instrumentalist is set to perform these in upcoming October and November gigs, including the London Jazz Festival. She also plans to record them in a studio for an EP, 'Triquetra'.

Charlotte Forman plans to tour her music around the UK to build new fans and release new music with the Youth Music NextGen Fund. The EP will be based on all personal experiences, and include Charlotte's experience of having autism.

Cherry will release a single titled 'Ebb and Flow', produced by herself in her home studio, and outsourced for mixing and mastering. Cherry will undertake the marketing and promotion herself. She plans to also make a music video which she will use to create marketing content across socials.

DEELA plans to create a project by collaborating with emerging UK artists. Expect versatile tracks, hard-bass hitting beats and DEELA expanding her wings to try new genres

DJ PEBZ will use the Youth Music NextGen Fund for Square 1 Sessions (S1S), a music platform for young people (16-24) in East London who are aspiring artists. S1S is a place where young people can create their own music, meet new people and get insights into the music industry.

Ekkinz will release a self-produced EP, 'Glimmer', featuring a blend of drill and jersey club instrumentals. "It delves into themes of infatuation, attachment, uncertainty and healing, exploring the intersection of mental health in relationships. The title refers to the hope creative outlets can provide as-well as the sonic pallet throughout the EP," he explains.

Eli plans to release three singles in the style of 90s and 2000s R&B/Soul. His inspirations include Boys II Men, 112, Usher and Justin Timberlake. Eli will be writing, producing, mixing and mastering this project. He wants to explore his skills as a musician, particularly as a producer and songwriter.

Frankie will record and release a three track EP, 'Lessons', using the Youth Music NextGen Fund for recording costs, mixing and mastering, press shots and cover art. She also plans to hire a social and digital marketing agency for several months and create a music video.

"Combining the traditional songwriting of my piano ballads with the alt-rock edge of my band, I make pessimistic pop music to reflect the spirit of my generation," Frankie says. Based in Manchester, he recently headlined the iconic Deaf Institute. His single 'Albatross' has been described as "Amy Winehouse, influenced by Trip Hop".

Hannah Paloma will record a single using the Youth Music NextGen Fund as well as creating a live music video featuring some of the songs in her discography. She hopes that these plans will help to define her sound as an artist.

'Rediscovery' is an Afro R&B project that will dive deep into a journey we can all relate to. "It's about rediscovering ourselves as we get older, finding what truly makes us happy, and coming back to our true selves with sometimes losing friends and family along the way," Icey explains.

James will work on a six month project, building up his zero-waste merch network for artists to access used clothing and get their designs printed onto them. He hopes to turn 'AGAIN' into an established local business, along with the creation of a national roll-out plan ready for implementation.

JusHarry will release a seven-track project called 'Dreams Die At Home', exploring the challenges he faces as an artist with autism and mental health issues. "It's a rallying cry for all those who have felt marginalised, involving collaboration with producers, performers, creative directors, videographers and graphic designers who have all experienced adversity in their own careers and lives," he says.

Lune is a non-hierarchical record label and creative platform involved in the facilitation, production and distribution of music, publications and events. It aims to provide a collective outlet for marginalised/peripheral artists in the UK and internationally, a broad church for divergent, genreless music.

Consisting of six tracks, this project will bring together a story of Livvy's journey "over the last two years of becoming an independent strong woman and everything that comes with stepping into adulthood in a new city and discovering yourself in the 21st century."

The project is an eight track album and centres around a road trip into Europe (the project will be made and released from Wales). There will also be a documentary of the process during creation, as well as music videos to accompany the rollout in order to offer something unique to the current landscape.

Maddie will release three songs featuring works in Just Intonation (pure tuning) for microtonal guitar and piano, cello, synth and voice. She will build a live set for these songs and create live videos to market them and secure gigs.

Maple's project involves the creation of her debut EP, consisting of four original songs. She plans to record them in a studio alongside her friend who is a cellist.

Mollie's project is a self-written/produced EP/mixtape that opens up conversations around queerness, sexuality, Autism and ADHD through a Dreampop / Bedroom Pop sonic lens.

The focus of Naima's project is to produce, self-release and create the artwork for two singles, exploring identity, belonging, community and vocal layering, which will help her to make the step-change in her career from session musician to solo artist with original music.

RUÁ is an experimental folk singer-songwriter planning a conceptual EP exploring the topics of conflicted identities, featuring underrepresented voices. The main themes are: gender and sexuality, morals and ideologies, and heritage and nationality. There will be accompanying music videos, and an event to mark the EP launch. It will be a cross-community and cross-disciplinary project.

Saloni's EP is a body of six bilingual tracks with a mix of genres and languages to bridge the gap between the East and West. She will use the Youth Music NextGen Fund to write and compose three tracks, create one music video and market for the EP.

Sarah will create their an album following challenges she has faced this year. She aims to put a focus on production for this project using the Youth Music NextGen Fund.

"After feeling extreme levels of frustration towards various aspects of life in the UK, and fully believing that "we can be better", I travelled to different countries hoping that, through experiencing different cultures, I could better understand myself and those around me. 'Road Trippin' is the story of that journey," Shogun offers.

sorry stacy's album will focus "on a personal journey of transition from isolation into adulthood in a post-pandemic world." They will deliver two new singles and two accompanying music videos.

Sunkissed Child's debut EP, 'Sunkissed', is aptly set to be released during the summer of 2024. It will feature a culmination of over a year's worth of releases that will blend R&B, Neo-Soul, and Jazz, with Middle-Eastern influences, and a strong infusion of sunkissed / blissful energies.

Tom will create a four-track concept EP, taking a stance against mental illness, using metaphors such as seasons and rebirth in order to provide uplift and comfort to people who may be struggling or have struggled. "I love to celebrate wellness, and would deeply love my music to do the same," he adds.

Yumé will create a three-part experimental electronic composition "exploring the devastation, anger, and helplessness I've [felt] as a trans person attempting to access healthcare from the NHS. The piece centres around chopped/warped screams, orchestral instruments, and glitchy noise that collectively scream in the face of these systems that demand that we worship them," she says.