Brownswood Music announce the UK’s Future Bubblers of music

Funded by Arts Council England – the nationwide hunt for untapped leftfield talent reveals its year 1 selection

Almost 300 submissions received from across England

Leading music execs and artists nominated as mentors

Help Musicians UK confirm £10k bursary fund to support artists’ development

Nine promising young music acts from across England have been selected by Brownswood Music to receive a year of one-to-one mentoring as part of the music company’s recently launched ‘Future Bubblers’ project. Beginning in April this year and based out of two focus cities, Nottingham and Salford, Future Bubblers is a three-year talent discovery, mentoring and development project conceived by BBC 6 Music DJ, Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Music company. An ambitious nationwide search, funded by Arts Council England, the project aims to break down the barriers for emerging musicians from cities across England and encourage artists making innovative and left-field music. Shortlisted from almost 300 applications the selected candidates – the ‘Bubblers’ - will now receive a year of professional and creative support via a bespoke mentoring programme, giving them music industry insights, tools and the self-confidence towards achieving their individual artistic ambitions. Helping the Bubblers to unlock industry doors and helping them to develop skills and flourish locally, a panel of esteemed music industry execs and seasoned artists have been signed up to act as their personal mentors. The nine confirmed Bubblers and their mentor pairings are: Congi (Nottingham)A production duo representing the bassier end with a distinct ‘UK’ vibe that draws on jazz, soul, hip hop and grime influences.Mentor: Swindle aka Cameron Palmer (Artist) Snowy (Nottingham)An incredibly talented Grime wordsmith.Mentor: Sway (MC and music business exec.) Thru Colours (London)Infusing the sounds of dancehall & dub with techno to create 'dancehall techno'.Mentor: Max Wheeler (artist and producer, ‘Anushka’) Yazmin Lacey (Nottingham)A beautifully gifted singer songwriter out of NottinghamMentor: Victoria Port (artist, ‘Anushka’) Three Body Trio (Nottingham)Free jazz meets electro from this brave musical trio out of NottinghamMentor: Simon Goffe (Managing Director of Brownswood Music) Medikul (Loughborough)A young beats driven producerMentor: Alex Patchwork (Project Manager for Ninja Tune and Brainfeeder) Kid Katharsis aka Abdus (Manchester)A glitchy dream pop singer songwriter.Mentor: Rob Gallagher aka Earl Zinger (artist) Revenu (Hull)Influenced by the Detroit techno world delivering innovative sounds through the prism of the UK underground.Mentor: Alex Patchwork (Project Manager for Ninja Tune and Brainfeeder) Munro (London)Representing the housi-er end of the spectrum for someone making music for such a short time, Alex shows lots of promise.Mentor: Will Horrocks (artist, LV) “The artists we have selected are a varied spread musically and geographically”, commented project lead, Amy Frenchum. “They epitomise the values of the Future Bubblers project, which is to find the best in new music, specifically that which falls between the cracks... stylistically speaking.” To support Brownswood Music with its mission, Help Musicians UK is offering a £10k bursary fund, which will be divided among the Bubblers and invested in developing their careers. The Bubblers will work with their mentor and the Brownswood team to put together a tailored proposal for financial support. The grants will enable the artists to take forward their creative work and build their profile, for example by covering specific promotional costs, studio time or collaborations with live musicians. Tim Foxon, Talent Programme Manager at Help Musicians UK said “We’re excited about the emerging artists that Brownswood have uncovered through their nationwide search and pleased that we can help the Bubblers go the extra mile with these special bursaries.” How the nine candidates found their way onto the Brownswood stereo To fill the gaps in support that still exist in the music industry, despite the opportunities to connect provided by the internet, the Brownswood team worked tirelessly to connect with local networks in each of the focus cities; searching for talent through old school person-to-person networks, demo drop-off boxes in record stores; workshops in community centres; and even a series of free community street parties that Gilles Peterson himself made appearances at as a surprise headline DJ. A leftfield, genreless, innovative world of music needs nurturing  The Future Bubblers project was born out of the awareness that a specific ‘sound’ - that being the more leftfield, genreless, innovative world of music - was incredibly under-represented in the sector of music funding and industry education. For the Future Bubblers team, the music industry felt quite narrow in terms of development opportunities. Focused instead on the ‘here and now’, making young music makers feel like they have to conform to market pressures and compromise a slow and natural musical growth and evolution. “The music industry is a scary place, that is ever changing and it’s hard for a young music maker to understand their place within it, especially if they are making music slightly off-centre and if they are based away from London where it all seems to be going on,” explained Amy Frenchum. “Future Bubblers is about creating a network of exciting and innovative music talent and giving them the contacts and opportunities to navigate their way naturally and in a real-life non-jargon way.” Year One partners included Rough Trade and MIMM in Nottingham, and Reform Radio and Islington Mill in Salford. Future Bubblers continues for a further two years, with Hull already confirmed as a focus city for year two. The scheme is open to all musicians from across England, further details will be announced early 2016. www.futurebubblers.com - ENDS – Press ContactFor more information, interview requests and images, please contact:Nate Taylor @ Name PRnathan@namepr.co.uk / 07889 872700 Editor Notes - Who are the artists, who are the mentors and why? In their own words Artist: CongiMentor: Swindle aka Cameron Palmer Artist Bio:We are Congi, a duo from Nottingham. We are music producers and DJ's. We started making music together out of a common love of early dubstep. Hip-hop, grime, jazz and soul are other favourites of ours. We put out our first full length album in 2014 and followed that with an EP in 2015. We are currently working on our second album, the music for which feels more expansive and freer than before, a mind state we are starting to adopt in our DJ sets too. Mentor Bio:Swindle speaks from the heart on this, because he is a true craftsman who does things his own way, and it’s in his blood. From his very earliest memories the sounds he remembers around the house were blues, funk and jazz. But growing up around south London, other music was naturally seeping in too: pirate radio was ubiquitous at his primary school in the mid-90s, the sound was jungle. “‘Original Nuttah’, M-Beat ‘Incredible’, those ‘Junglist Massive’ CD compilations…” Then the two worlds collided. Swindle epitomises underground innovation and musically, with his latest album “Peace Love and Music” he continues on the jazzy path that his records on Brownswood and Deep Medi put him on the map for. Why?Swindle’s “outside the box” thinking and the way he’s steered his own career without losing that vision, thinking in a “how can I do this?” positive ground-breaking, let’s try something new kinda way”, rather than a “let’s do it the run of the mill” kinda way is going to be something really positive for Congi. And of course, the whole Butterz/Deep Medi sound is bang on the money in terms of their production values and references. Artist: SnowyMentor: Sway Artist Bio:Coming from Nottingham, I have been one of the more prominent figures of the Nottingham Grime scene throughout its growth. Starting out in youth clubs with fellow MCs, I have gone from strength to strength and am now known as one of the scene leaders for Grime within Nottingham and as one of the best youngers in the country. Mentor Bio:Sway aka Derek Safo aka Del Boy aka Mustapha the Great aka Swah aka SuperSwah aka Swizzle aka Safo Dan, however you refer to him, the UK Hip Hop scene hails London rapper Sway as one of its real trailblazers. Doing it his way and his way only from day dot, as well as remaining an incredibly relevant artist, Sway has developed an impressive “business” side to his music, with production companies and support from industry heavyweights at Universal. Why?Sway’s musical journey and skill set are going to be incredibly complimentary to Snowy’s evolution as an artist. His integrity as an artist and real independent outlook on his music and how it fits in the “industry” is something that is really going to benefit Snowy. He’s a businessman as well as an artist. Artist: Thru ColoursMentor:  Max Wheeler (Anushka - artist and producer) Artist Bio:Thru Colours is a project by myself Toby Harrison, infusing the sounds of dancehall & dub with techno to create 'dancehall techno'. Influences on the techno side include Len Faki, Randomer, Ben Sims, Roman Poncet & FJAAK, and on the dub/dancehall side influences range from King Tubby, Adrian Sherwood to Buju Banton.I also run the night 'Noise Report', where I showcase my own sounds alongside other upcoming DJs & producers, always accompanied by a visual element - be that audio triggered visuals or a makeshift art exhibition.With a deep love for sound-systems & club culture, I see the future of Thru Colours to be a further exploration of making dance-floors move, and playing with club concepts. Mentor Bio:"As a recording artist on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, Max is one half of duo Anushka with over 2 million plays online, an album and world tour in 2014/15 and Radio 1 plaudits from Annie Mac, Skream and others. Max is a musician/producer, consultant, author and youth music tutor, specialising in Rap, Urban & Electronic music, soundtracks, remixes and peer-to-peer education projects. He has conducted thousands of workshops across the country teaching rap, beatmaking, songwriting and production to everyone from young offenders to social workers in prisons, primary schools, special needs projects and community groups. His work on lyric writing with young people has been highlighted in a peer reviewed journal by academic Luke Dickens and he is the author of VIP Studio Sessions, a major secondary school programme from international education leader Charanga.” Why?As someone who has shown self-assurance and innovation to pursue sonics that otherwise wouldn’t be considered natural pairings, Max will surely help to guide Toby as he navigates his techno/dancehall fusion sounds. Additionally, Max’s ability and skill as a trainer and user of Ableton will be invaluable as Toby looks to develop his live show and so give a real vision to the events he’d like to set as a way to frame his new sound movement. Artist: Yazmin LaceyMentor:  Victoria Port (Anushka) Artist Bio:After years of writing and bedroom performances I took to the stage late 2013 and haven't looked back since. Born and raised in East Ham and residing in Nottingham, I used the Midlands’ hub of creativity to explore my craft. Just reaching my 11th gig, I’ve already had air time from BBC 1xtra & BBC Introducing, supported Ego Ella May, Shelter Point, and Harleigh Blu. “Sultry tones and dynamic melodies tell her journey in a beautifully honest way, drawing on influences from female icons in music, from jazz to funk, soul to lovers rock, folk to electronic,” is how my music has been described. Mentor Bio:Influenced by the artistry of Erykah Badu, the lyricism of Lauryn Hill and the vibes of Aaliyah, Victoria Port has always had her roots planted in Future soul, jazz and r’n’b. After studying music at university Victoria signed to Gilles Peterson's Brownswood recordings as part of duo Anushka in 2013. She has since performed worldwide and received support from the likes of Annie Mac, Jamie Cullum and Marie Anne Hobbs. Why?After meeting and getting along like proverbial houses on fire, Yazmin and Victoria are real singing soul sisters. Looking to develop her self-confidence and ideas as a female singer, and avoiding the trappings of becoming the “go-to” feature girl, Yazmin will reap from Victoria’s experience moving in these worlds of writing sessions/studios and live shows. Additionally, Victoria’s expertise as a vocal coach will further enhance the vocal appeal of Yazmin’s solo project. Artist: Three Body TrioMentor: Simon Goffe Artist Bio:We play groove-based electronic music with the spirit of free jazz. We use a mess of hardware, software and instruments to make beats inspired by the greats of jazz, funk and hip hop. We believe in improvised music that is charged with spontaneity and imperfection, and has the crackle and hiss of cables and machines. Mentor Bio:Simon Goffe runs Brownswood Music with partner Gilles Peterson – a record label, publishing company, events and brand development business. Besides the record label they also organise annual events including the Worldwide Awards in London and the Worldwide Festival in south of France. In the last 12 months they have set up a Production company (Mistral Productions) and been awarded NPO status by the Arts Council to run a 3 year project to develop new artists. Simon started out as a DJ and club promoter in the 1980’s, becoming a freelance music journalist for Echoes, Blues & Soul, i-D and the NME. He set up his own promotion and marketing company, Secret Promotions, before becoming Label Manager at Fiction/Desire Records. He then set up his own Heavyweight Management company in 1990, initially to represent Double Trouble and Rebel MC and subsequently acts including US3, Shut Up & Dance, The Freestylers and Sway. He also managed Roni Size for 10 years in which period Roni won the Mercury Music Prize. Simon then became Senior A&R manager at Universal Music publishing. “I’m excited about being a Future Bubblers mentor as I am keen to encourage the next generation of artists and pass on the benefit of my experience wherever possible." Why?Very sure of their sound and where it is headed, Three Body Trio voiced a need to understand the bigger “music industry” picture and how the various other elements combine to elevate their project to the next level. And with a CV as broad and impressive as Simon Goffe’s there seemed no one better placed to help join those dots, especially considering the music world in which Simon is currently active. Artist: MedikulMentor: Alex Patchwork Artist Bio:I'm Medikul, a music producer from Nottingham. I make beats pulling a variety of sounds and influences from everyday life, and everything influences me. I enjoy making music which incorporates found sounds and naturally occurring rhythms, but wears styles and influences from hip-hop/downtempo, jungle and footwork. I aim to find an outlet which will allow me to confidently present my music, and the music of others like me, to audiences of like-minded people so the eclectic beats scene can be enjoyed by everyone. Mentor Bio:Alex Patchwork - the "patchwork" part comes from DJing, running parties in London and generally messing about with music with two of my mates under the name Patchwork Pirates from about 2003 to 2010, when we switched things up and started a record label and regular events as Earnest Endeavours. I still do the odd remix and DJ here and there when the opportunity arises. On the career side of things I started out as a music journalist and went on to work for Soul Jazz Records, Brownswood Recordings / Gilles Peterson Worldwide, and I currently work at Ninja Tune as a project manager, running campaigns across our family of imprints: Ninja Tune, Brainfeeder, Werkdiscs, Counter, Big Dada and Technicolour. Why?Musically Alex Patchwork’s network of contacts and tastes are so in tune with where Medikul draws influence and inspiration. Alongside this, his years of experience in A&R and project management, and his own skill in production mean he is well set to provide specific and constructive feedback as Medikul looks to develop his productions and intricacies of sound. Artist: Kid KatharsisMentor: Rob G Artist Bio:I am Kid Katharsis. I am a singer-songwriter. I am influenced by lots of stuff. So I see myself heading different ways. The future is always uncertain. Mentor Bio:Post punk reggae funk School bands into clubs. Clubs on the mic into spoken word and Galliano. Signed to a major and experienced the music business with singles, video’s and producers, odd artwork break ups culminating in five albums. I did a lot of touring for five or six years. After that, I started a new group 2bo4 and a record label Red Egyptian. At the same time started out solo as Earl Zinger. Toured extensively with both and did many collaborations with many artists. Used many names to explore other creative outlets with many assorted live experiences. Most recently made and toured William Adamson project with band and solo. Whilst performing vocals with Gilles at DJ gigs and just putting out a new project The Diabolical Liberties. “I’m excited to be a Future Bubblers mentor at a time when the UK needs its cutting edge music scene encouraged like never before” Why?The decision to put Abdus in the capable and experienced hands of Robert Gallagher was very much a pairing of skill set and musical attitude. Abdus’ intention to manoeuvre his music as independently as possible, in developing his recording skills and putting together an effective live incarnation of his music, is an attitude embodied by the various incarnations of Rob G’s musical journey. Artist: RevenuMentor: Alex Patchwork Artist Bio:My name’s Liam van Rijn, I’m from Hull and Revenu is my musical outlet. My main influences are things, sounds and musical ideas that wouldn’t normally be put together, soulful, imperfect, outside the box music. I try to immerse myself in all types of music but I’m particularly shifted towards artists like Actress, Thom Yorke, Silver Apples, Boards of Canada. Hopefully I am heading in the direction of writing a lot more music, continue to DJ and prepare to take the music I make as Revenu out with a 'band'. Mentor Bio:Alex Patchwork - the "patchwork" part comes from DJing, running parties in London and generally messing about with music with two of my mates under the name Patchwork Pirates from about 2003 to 2010, when we switched things up and started a record label and regular events as Earnest Endeavours. I still do the odd remix and DJ here and there when the opportunity arises. On the career side of things I started out as a music journalist and went on to work for Soul Jazz Records, Brownswood Recordings / Gilles Peterson Worldwide, and I currently work at Ninja Tune as a project manager, running campaigns across our family of imprints: Ninja Tune, Brainfeeder, Werkdiscs, Counter, Big Dada and Technicolour. Why?Musically Alex Patchwork’s network of contacts and tastes are so in tune with where Revenu draws influence and inspiration. Alongside this, his years of experience in A&R and project management, and his own skill in production mean he is well set to provide specific and constructive feedback as Revenu looks to hone his productions, intricacies of sound and explore opportunities to collaborate and further develop. Artist: MunroMentor: Will Horrocks (LV) Artist Bio:Alex Raybould. 24 years oldSoulful, relaxed, rhythm-focused jams whatever the weather.Brewed in North London, matured in South Melbourne, spilt in Manchester - now bubbling. Mentor Bio:As one half of LV (Brownswood, Hyperdub, Keysound) Will has worked with some of the UK's foremost labels and released four critically acclaimed albums as well as numerous singles and remixes. He has DJed and played live across the world and is a regular on radio. For the last two years he has also been mentoring and leading studio sessions at Raw Sounds, a music project for young people in Brixton, South London. Why?Sonically there are lot of ways that Alex will draw from the sonic innovation evident in Will’s productions. Also a pairing of practicality; as someone who wants to develop his experience and confidence in the studio/production world, the fact that Alex and Will are both south London based and can spend some 1-on-1 contact time was a definite plus and factor in the decision of this pairing.