Introducing our Artist Development Program

Last year, we received an Arts Council England Grassroots Music grant of £29,910, which is going towards our Hybrid Manifest project.

We are in the midst of transforming our studio space; increasing our reach and accessibility, as well as running an exciting new Artist Development Program.

About the Program

The goal of this program is to provide five grassroots music artists with the opportunity to rehearse, record and release their music with us.

We want to uplift local talent by providing artists with expert mentoring, support and exposure to advance their careers.

By the end, our artists will have a professionally produced original piece of work to showcase and will play a paid gig here in the studio.

The five artists were selected by a panel of judges including our mentors Kweku Sackey and Sarah Jay Hawley. The criteria for selection was based on talent, creativity, potential impact and how much we can do for them.

Who is on the program?

Nate Kennedy

Soulful singer/songwriter Nate Kennedy takes influence from the greats of neo soul, bossa nova, jazz fusion, alt rock & folk. His music is filled with stories of love and learning, asking the questions there aren't always answers for.

Masha Jana

Masha Jana is an indie-rock artist blending Slavic roots with contemporary Western influences. Inspired by Soviet bard songs, she crafts introspective lyrics with raw emotion. Known for her evocative storytelling, she refines her sound through songwriting camps and collaborations, creating dreamy soundscapes with guitar loops and vocal layers in live performances.

Monqi

As an up-and-coming indie artist in the Sheffield music scene, Monqi's music radiates a warmth that is uplifting, melancholic and calming all at once. Through poetic lyricism, Monqi invites you into her surreal and introspective world.

Francis Gordon

Half-South African, half-Peruvian, genre-blurring Sheffield-based artist, Francis Gordon, is known for her sharp lyrical edge and passion for social change. Weaving contemporary beat poetry with electronica, hip-hop, soul, jazz, and world music, she delivers a unique fusion of sound and spoken word—poetry that pulses with rhythm and raw emotion.

Take Four

A four-piece Sheffield-based band who blend genres of soul, blues, funk, R&B and jazz. Through the last year, they’ve been playing live around Sheffield, exploring their unique sound and connecting through performance.

What they will receive

Each artist has already received a 1:1 consultation to best understand their goals and how we can help them.

Within each artist’s individual plan they will receive:

• 20 hours of rehearsal time

• 2 days studio time recording with one of our producers

• 6-8 hours of professional mentoring from Kweku Sackey and Sarah Jay Hawley

• A paid gig here at our studio

• Links to our professional industry networks

• Group workshops centered around performance, confidence building and writing

• Other opportunities to play at Sheffield music venues

This program is already underway and we’re already enjoying seeing our artists grow and develop.

Stay up to date by following our socials and ongoing blog posts.