Darshae

Darshae is a singer from Birmingham. She has performed at Simmer Down Festival, MADE Festival, and supported Bobby Valentino on his UK tour. She has also received support from BBC 1Xtra, and has been a MOBO UnSung finalist.

Claudia Fenoglio

Claudia Fenoglio is a singer from Leeds. She has gained the attention of BBC Introducing and Launchpad; was chosen to appear on a Come Play with Me artist compilation vinyl by members of PRS; and has played at Future Sounds, Super Friendz, Long Division and Live at Leeds Festival. Her song 'Girlfriends on TV' was shortlisted for the Original Track (Solo) Award at the Youth Music Awards 2024.

4 The Brotherhood

4 The Brotherhood is a Filipino-Jamaican singer based in London. He has received support from BBC Introducing South, Wonderland Magazine and DMY Magazine. He was also shortlisted for the Music Video Award at the Youth Music Awards 2024.

BOWLZY

BOWLZY is a rap artist from South West England. He has received support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing in the South West, and set up a record label in collaboration with Sound Communities CIC (Oceanside Records). He was also nominated for the Original Track Award at the Youth Music Awards 2022.

becca kate

becca kate is a singer-songwriter from Bristol. She has previously won the UK Songwriting Contest, and her music has received support from BBC Introducing. With the NextGen Fund, was able to release her latest EP 'The Providence'.

Baby Panna

Baby Panna is a rapper based in Portsmouth. To date, his music has reached over 2.8 million streams across 175 different countries. The NextGen Fund supported him to release a 10-song mixtape ('Vibes and Energies 2') accompanied by two music videos, create a magazine, and curate and deliver an art exhibition with live music performances.

Anusha

Anusha is an artist based in London. The NextGen Fund supported her to release 'Burden', a multimedia project that explores the emotional journey disabled people go through when they've been recently diagnosed. The project combined a single with an accompanying zine and music video.

Alt Blk Era

Alt Blk Era is an alternative / metal band based in Nottingham. They have won several awards, including a MOBO Award for Best Alternative Music Act, and the Future Sound of Nottingham Competition. They have also performed at Glastonbury Festival, opened the main stage at Splendour Festival, and received support and airplay from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 and BBC East Midlands.

Alien Izz

Alien Izz is a DJ and producer based in Liverpool. She has performed at a variety of shows and festivals both nationally and internationally, including the Baltic Weekender, Gottwood Festival, and Outlook Origins and Hideout Festival in Croatia. She is also a member of the female and non-binary DJ collective Sisu Crew, and has received support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1 Dance.

Tom Auton

Tom Auton is a rock artist from Cardiff who self-produces and mixes all his own music. He has achieved several million streams on Spotify across his tracks, sold out local shows at Clwb Ifor Bach (Cardiff) and Le Pub (Newport), and played at The Joiners, Guildhall and London's O2 Academy2. He has also supported artists including Feeder and Jack Savoretti.

Tay Temple

Tay Temple is an artist based in Manchester. She has had support from BBC Introducing Tees and BBC Introducing Manchester, and has headlined several venues in Manchester and Birmingham. The NextGen Fund supported her to release her EP, 'I Can See Everything'.

Talia Andrea

Talia Andrea is a promoter based in London. With the NextGen Fund, she founded FEMMESTIVAL – a music festival and concert series with all-female lineups. The festival was shortlisted for ‘Best Launch Event / One To Watch’ at the Access All Areas Awards 2023, and Talia was named one of AAA's '30UnderThirty' in 2024. She was also the winner of ‘Rising Star (Industry)’ award at the Youth Music Awards 2024, sponsored by Songkick.

She has been interviewed in press and radio, including by BBC Radio London, and has spoken at conferences including Ditto's Meet The Music Industry and the Night Time Economy Summit. Last year, she also received PRS Foundation's Early Career Promoter Fund.

Sweet Philly

Sweet Philly is a club producer, composer, mix engineer and DJ originally from Ireland, now based in Scotland. They regularly DJ in Edinburgh and Dublin, particularly as part of the Queer club collective 'Femmergy', which runs parties focusing on safe club spaces for Queer clubgoers while raising money for charity. They have supported notable names such as Uniiqu3, Bimini Bon Boulash and Taahliah.

Spent

Spent is an electronic, experimental and hyperpop producer and vocalist based in Glasgow Their NextGen Fund grant helped them amplify the release of their first album through sound design, artwork, promo and a launch party.

Siteng

Siteng is an artist, songwriter, producer, sound designer, DJ and audiovisual director originally from China, now based in London. Along with the NextGen Fund, she has been selected for Wired4Music's Generate Fund, and Sound and Music's 'In Motion Composer Development Programme' for 2024. With her NextGen Fund, she created and launched her album 'Violent Divinity', and coordinated an exhibition inspired by the themes of the EP, featuring 8 Asian female artists across a variety of disciplines. Her track 'Broken (Home is my Prison)' was shortlisted for the Lyricist Award at the Youth Music Awards 2024.

Sharifa

Sharifa is an artist, producer and DJ from Derby. He has had press support from Brick Magazine and Paper Magazine; radio interviews and airplay from BBC Radio Derby, BBC Radio London and BBC 1Xtra; and has performed at shows including Mello Festival and BBC Proms.

shandanan

shandanan is a singer, songwriter and producer from Birmingham. Her music has received support from BBC 1Xtra, Girl Grind UK and Punch Records, and she was selected by Mahalia to feature in her Mahalia Presents event series, sponsored by Dr. Martens.

Sebastian Golgiri

Sebastian Golgiri is a singer and songwriter who works across classical, indie, jazz, opera and ballads. He has performed at LSO St Lukes, The Albany, The Southbank and South London Gallery; and with the NextGen Fund, was able to release his latest EP, 'Imagine'.

Raston

Raston is an artist from Liverpool. With the NextGen Fund, he has been working on three new singles with bilingual lyrics (English and Shona), bringing Zimbabwean culture to the musical landscape of the UK.

Yemi Yohannes

South East

Yemi Yohannes is a London-based creative artist, known for her soulful spoken word poetry. Her performance credits include BBC Radio London, The Photographer’s Gallery, Sofar Sounds, COP26, the National Youth Theatre and more. With her work, she aims to make poetry more accessible in the mainstream. The NextGen Fund is supporting Yemi to create a solo EP exploring spoken word with jungle music, alongside a specific focus on choral sounds and storytelling.

Pronouns: she/her

The Yard Woman

South West

The Yard Woman is a Greek-born, London-based DJ and producer. She has previously worked with Richie Hawtin, and has released tracks through respected labels including Simulate, Einmusika, Running Clouds, Pets Recordings and Epidemic Sound. With the help of the NextGen Fund, she is currently transitioning from her established work in Melodic Techno to explore new creative and professional possibilities in Melodic House. She plans to produce and release a two-track EP, bringing a fresh narrative-driven sound to the genre, and seeking to represent queer women in the electronic music scene.

Pronouns: she/her

Surafeal Bruke

Greater London

Surafeal Bruke is the founder of GRADIENT, a platform celebrating the UK's vibrant and diverse music and creative scenes. The NextGen Fund will help Surafeal to scale up GRADIENT, hosting events with higher capacities throughout London, and offering additional support for artists, including workshops and networking opportunities.

Pronouns: he/him

Superlate

North West

Superlate is a dance/pop producer based in Liverpool. His releases have gained support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Merseyside, and BBC Introducing; he performed in front of 10,000 people at the Eurovision Main Stage in Liverpool in 2023; and has also performed at BBC Introducing LIVE at The Cavern Club. He has also co-produced tracks for Youngr and worked with Grammy-nominated producer Adriano Allaverdi. He is now working on two thematic EPs, 'The Tropics' and 'The Moment', with the backing of the NextGen Fund.

Pronouns: he/him

Sunny Side Down

West Midlands

Sunny Side Down is an indie, rock and alternative singer-songwriter. The NextGen Fund is supporting them to create and release their third album, which will be an emotional picture of them and the people around them over the last three years. With their music, they aim to capture the intensity and sweetness of learning to be a person.

Pronouns: they/them