Youth Music

Noah Bouchard

Noah Bouchard is an alternative hip-hop artist from Wales. The NextGen Fund enabled him to develop and release his 12-track debut album, 'Love of My Life'. His song 'Dad's Clothes' was the winner of the Lyricist Award at the Youth Music Awards 2024.

Milan

Milan is a musician from Newcastle. He has performed at the Northern Writers Awards and Newcastle Cathedral, alongside Beverly Knight and Soweto Gospel Choir. He has also worked with Write Up and Rise to create the song 'I Am Here', which raises awareness about the impact of mental health crises on young people. With the NextGen Fund, he worked with a producer to record three tracks, and a local videographer to create a high-quality music video to accompany them.

Meduulla

Meduulla is a rapper based in Manchester. She competed on the BBC Three programme The Rap Game, has performed at Reading & Leeds Festival and Green Island Festival, and received support from BBC 1Xtra, who named her track 'Mish Muulla' their Track of the Week. She has also collaborated with e.l.f. Cosmetics, and her song 'Limbo' featuring The Mouse Outfit received the Music Video Award at the Youth Music Awards 2024, in partnership with Notion.

Malan

Malan is a jazz, pop and neo-soul singer from North Wales. She has received support from BBC 1 and BBC 6 Music, received the Triskel Award from the Welsh Music Prize, and had her songs added to Spotify editorial playlists including 'New Music Friday UK'. The NextGen Fund supported her to release her debut EP, 'Bloom'.

Maius Mollis

Maius Mollis is an artist based in the North East of England. Her music has received support from Both Sides Records, Echoes and Dust, Come Play with Me and BBC Introducing. She has also been an artist resident at Siren Studios Penryn.

Luqy

Luqy is a Pakistani singer from Oldham. He has attained hundreds of thousands of streams across his tracks, received regular support from radio shows including BBC Introducing and BBC Asian Network, and has supported high-profile artists including Imran Khan, F1rstman, Panjabi MC and more. He has also performed live as part of BBC Asian Network's Hype on the Mic series.

Lucy Crisp

Lucy Crisp is a singer-songwriter from Derbyshire. She has had support from Notts TV, BBC Introducing East Midlands, and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The NextGen Fund supported her to develop and release her six-track EP, '65 Roses', which reflected on the day-to-day challenges of being an individual living with disability.

Jet Sweeney

Jet Sweeney is a musician, lyricist, producer, model and poet. They have provided vocals for TV projects including the soundtrack for Netflix's Queer Eye. They have also performed at venues including Richmix, Manchester People's History Museum, and the Barbican Centre. They have previously been a member of the Barbican Young Poets and Roundhouse poetry collective, and won the Roundhouse Poetry Slam. As a model, they have appeared in magazines including Noctis and Kaltblut.

J Vessel

J Vessel is a musician, teacher and workshop facilitator from the East of England. He has previously been nominated for a MOBO Award, and has received support from the BBC, Capital Xtra, Clash Magazine, Channel 4 and Reprezent Radio. He has also held music worksops and assemblies in schools and youth clubs across the UK and Europe, including Slovakia and Poland.

Issy Winstanley

Issy Winstanley is a singer originally from Birmingham, now based in London. Her music has received support from BBC Introducing, with her tracks having been named their 'Track of the Week' multiple times. She was also selected to take part in The Music Works' UPSURGE programme, and has performed at the Future Sound of Birmingham Festival.

Ije

Ije is an events professional based in Wolverhampton. She is the founder of MdoubleOD Entertainment, and with her NextGen Fund, organised a live jam session with local bands and artists. She posted content from the event to MdoubleOD's platforms, as part of the weekly videos she makes for artist discovery.

Hillarynx

Hillarynx is a jazz/soul singer based in London. The NextGen Fund supported her release of a content series about her EP 'Sayyings', and the music industry more broadly. This included a Counter-Narratives newsletter, a 'Making Sayyings' video essay and vlog series on YouTube.

G Notes K

G Notes K is an artist based in Wales. He has performed in a variety of venues in Wales, including TramShed, the Wales Millennium Centre, and The Moon; and at festivals including BBC Immersed Festival and the first hip-hop event in Caerphilly.

David Green

David Green is a drummer based in the Lochaber area in the western highlands of Scotland. With the NextGen Fund, he was able to launch a series of open mic sessions in his local area, building a community of musicians in South Lochaber and developing his music and event coordination skills.

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.

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Next Gen

NextGen Community Events

Our NextGen Community events give attendees aged 18-30 the chance to connect with other creatives in their local city, listen to panel discussions from industry experts and watch performances from emerging artists.

funding

NextGen Fund

Grants of up to £3,000 for 18 to 25 year olds creatives (aged up to 30 for those who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or neurodivergent) in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Next funding round opens 29/08/2025.