Ahead of the opening of its landmark new cultural space later this year, Factory International is pleased to announce the 2023 cohort of musicians who will benefit from the organisation’s music change programme, Factory Sounds.
Each will receive up to £1000 and gain from peer-to-peer support, networking opportunities and the chance to perform at Manchester International Festival (MIF) this summer.
Programmed and operated by the team who also deliver the world-famous MIF, Factory International will commission and present a year-round programme by leading artists from across the world, creating a global destination for arts, music and culture in the heart of Manchester. With music a key part of its offer, the ultra-flexible building will present around 80 gigs a year across its spaces, adding to the city’s thriving music scene which generated £51m for Manchester in 2019*. Factory Sounds demonstrates how the organisation will invest in local talent, as well as bringing global stars to Manchester.
Factory International’s Director of Music Jane Beese, and Talent Development Manager Punam Ramchurn state “Factory Sounds is a programme that nurtures and inspires music creatives to take their career to the next level, and in this third iteration we’ve found another group of extraordinarily talented artists from across Greater Manchester. We always feel so excited for the creatives knowing this opportunity could really be a fantastic step change.”
The selected Factory Sounds recipients include:
The afrobeat influenced rapper PRIDO, currently working on the release of their new single.
“Being a selected artist by Factory International means a lot. I’m proud to be classed as a flag bearer for my city and this has re-enforced my faith in my art and I hope to inspire others to believe in themselves as I have experienced myself”.
Rapper, Poet and DJ Meduulla who will use the support to promote and tour their upcoming EP Oblongata. “I’m really looking forward to developing my creative practice with the support of Factory Sounds. Having a space to connect with different artists is something I’m excited about doing with the programme.”
SHAR, writes and produces music for theatre, film and live performance. Through Factory Sounds they will take the next steps in their career as a songwriter and music producer. “It’s really great to be a part of Factory Sounds, this support and funding will help me realise the next steps in my career and help me to elevate as a songwriter and music producer.”
FREEQUENCY3 is an alternative hip hop rapper soon to release their new single Why You Always Calling. “Factory Sounds gives me the opportunity to release my track in the exactly the way I want to do it and with the vision I had for it. When I hear that I was going to be a part of the cohort, I just had a huge sense of joy and emotions because I realise people understand what I want to do, it’s a big blessing and I’m so excited.”
Jazz influenced, soul singing, song writing and guitar plucking musician, Jasmin Issaka will release an Afro-Psychedelic Futuristic EP and visual experience.
Drum and bass producer Rohaan will develop their skills as they create their next EP.
The solo artist, and multi-instrumentalist James Holt, will master and release two new singles.
Shoegaze indie pop band Foxglove will record and release their debut EP.
Lavender Rodriguez mixes afrobeat, alternative soul/RnB and electronic house and will benefit from Factory Sounds as they work towards developing their new live set.
DJ STNLY will further develop ROJAK, a queer rave ran by and for the Queer, Trans and Intersex People of Colour community
The selection panel included Jane Beese Factory International’s Director of Music, Punam Ramchurn Factory International’s Talent Development Manager, Rivca Burns Festival Square Programme Curator at MIF23, and Malaki Patterson Artistic Director at The Music Works.
Factory Sounds alumni include: All Hands on Deck, Balraj Singh Samrai, Bitez, Chris Massey, Dirty Freud, Edane Ng, Fixed Abode, Gibbon, Hur̃guf, is33n, Jacob Connor, Ku’umba, Lone Taxidermist, Loose Articles, Magpahi, Mali Hayes, Maryanne Royle, Obeka, OneDa, SAF-S2E, Sam Malik, Sophie Cooper, Sprechen, Test Card Girl and Vzion.
Factory Sounds is just one of the ways in which Factory International supports local artists. Building on the organisation’s track record of commissioning artists to make new work, Factory International will be a training ground for the next generation of creators.
The focus will be on creating opportunities for artists from the North of England, particularly those most underrepresented in the sector, to develop work at scale, to be interdisciplinary and support the development of new international networks to export talent from the region.
Other initiatives include a new annual Factory International Fellowship in which six artists from the north will shadow the creation of major new work at Factory International and the festival, as well as providing bursaries and dedicated artistic support; and Artist Takeover – a new Factory International programme dedicated to showcasing new and exciting artists from Greater Manchester and the North of England.
