National Youth Arts Wales is helping young people make their mark on the Welsh music scene.
At the end of March, extraordinary music filled the air as over 20 young musicians from throughout Wales came together at Rockfield Studios, Monmouth for the “Music Futures” residency week.
The “Music Futures” project, led by National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW), is a contemporary music development programme for Wales’s music makers of the future. It enables young people aged 16-18, from diverse backgrounds, to find their potential as artists, and supports them to enter the current Welsh music scene. The project covers genres such as Grime, Indie, Electronica and RnB.
Hosted in the iconic Rockfield Studios, where legends such as Queen, Led Zeppelin, Coldplay and Oasis have made iconic recordings, the Music Futures residency was an exhilarating journey of creativity, collaboration and discovery. Thanks to generous funding from the Welsh Government via Creative Wales, these aspiring musicians were selected to take part in the free week-long programme of songwriting workshops, industry discussions, recording and collaboration sessions and mentorship opportunities.
Gerwyn Evans, Creative Wales Deputy Director, said: “Our Creative Skills Fund was set up to create opportunities for aspiring creatives from all backgrounds and promote inclusive practice across the sectors. It’s fantastic to see NYAW putting their funding to excellent use by providing practical, real-life experiences for the music artists of our next generation, and in such an iconic setting! Our Memorandum of Understanding with the Arts Council for Wales will also enable us to identify new ways of working together which will benefit young creatives and open new doors into the creative industries.”
Throughout the week, participants were guided by our industry professional Mentors and Future Mentors, honing their skills and exploring new horizons in music production, songwriting, and performance. From mastering the art of stage presence to delving into the intricacies of audio engineering, the residency provided a platform for young talents to shine and grow. For many participants, they had already developed skills in computer-based music production – but this was their first opportunity to learn how to collaborate in real time with other musicians.
Lily Webbe, NYAW Music Futures Trainee Producer, said: “The Music Futures residency was such a positive and exhilarating experience for all involved. I hope that this experience has inspired them to explore their creativity and helped them discover the many different pathways and opportunities that the Welsh music scene has to offer. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the fantastic mentors and future mentors that have been involved in this project, and the amazing team at Rockfield. Their support really helped to make the residency a truly magical experience for all.”
Skye Dunning, a participant in this year Music Futures programme said: “This residency has helped everyone in terms of building our courage within recording original music and it has also provided us with useful information in relation to releasing, marketing and promoting our music too. Although we were only there for three days, the industry talks, the collectiveness of the project and being able to collaborate with new people of diverse genres and styles has definitely helped me build my own confidence too”.
But the journey doesn't end there. As we bid farewell to the Music Futures residency week, we look forward to the next chapter in the young participant's musical journey. Soon, you’ll be able to hear the future of Welsh music yourself in an upcoming gig, where these extraordinary young artists will take centre stage, ready to put all they’ve learnt into practice.
Join NYAW as we celebrate the boundless potential of the next generation at The Corn Exchange, Newport on April 28th and get ready to witness the future of music in all its glory.
