Supporting the next generation of musicians

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Thursday 7 Sep 2023

Future Proof and Alex Lupo

Back in April 2022 we launched our flagship artist mentoring programme Future Proof. Designed by our Creative Producer, Owen Parry, the program was set to coincide with the reopening of our new spaces in November.

Since then have been working with nine of Bristol’s promising up and coming talents, with lead facilitators MoYah and Alex Lupo.

We caught up with Alex to see what’s been happening since November 2022, including how the Future Proof artists are putting their stamp on our reopening events.

Alex Lupo

Music facilitator and theatre musician

I’m Alex, and I am one of the team facilitating the Future Proof programme. With years of experience as a facilitator and a commitment to inclusive music-making, Future Proof sits really neatly with my mission to support the next generation of musicians.

I have spent the best part of the last two decades working as a music facilitator, specialising in inclusive practice and creating environments where music serves as a catalyst for change and meaningful connections.

I’ve also maintained my own practice as a musician working in the industry with people ranging from the Bristol based Paraorchestra to PJ Harvey and beyond. I’ve also spent some time over the last few years touring internationally as a theatre musician.

A person sits behind drums and music equipment — Alex Lupo

“Witnessing the growth, passion, and dedication of the artists serves as a constant reminder of the profound impact music can have on individuals’ lives.”

Alex Lupo

A group of people in a recording studio.

Mentoring: Building Strong Connections

One of the fundamental pillars of Future Proof is its mentoring offer, which has been a really useful opportunity for our musicians to take a deeper and more personalised dive into their development alongside experienced industry mentors that have been carefully matched.

These curated pairings match each emerging artist with an experienced mentor who provides guidance throughout their musical journey. These pairings are based not only on musical compatibility but also on shared values and aspirations, ensuring a fruitful and nurturing mentorship experience.

Our mentors meet with the artists on a regular basis each month and we’ve made sure we give them the time and space to be able to find a way of working together that best meets their needs and ambitions.

Meet our mentors

Chris Georguiadis

Turbowolf

Chris is the singer, keyboardist and tour manager for the rock band Turbowolf. They have released 3 albums, which Chris has co-produced, through various labels including Universal and currently have a publishing deal with Sony/BMG. Chris also has over 15 years of worldwide tour management experience and is paired with Yiska.

Res One

Paired with B3NJI, and one of the founding members of the crew Split Prophets. Res One has performed live touring the UK and Europe, and supporting some of Hip Hops biggest names such as the Wu Tang Clan, MF Doom, and Pete Rock. After countless releases with Split Prophets, other collaborations and solo material, Res started his own imprint Green Brick Records platforming a roster of current rap artists.

N.Y.T.A

As a producer, N.Y.T.A started releasing his music in 2009 as ‘Mensah’, on labels such as H.E.N.C.H. and the world renowned Deep Medi, going on to do high profile official remixes of UK No 1 singles by artists such as Example, Emile Sandé and Professor Green. Paired with KDoggKT, he now works regularly as an artist mentor for various organisations as well as running a studio for music therapy.

Lady Nade

Paired with Melissa Fear, Lady Nade’s third album ‘Willing’ entered both the official Folk and Americana charts on its release in 2022. With the title track Single winning ‘UK song of the Year’ in the 2022 UK Americana Awards. Nade started writing poems and songs as a form of healing from grief, her songs carry messages of love, loss, hope, relationships, friendships and the positive connection between music, well-being.

Kayla Painter

Composer, producer and multi-disciplinary artist paired with BAST. As well as having performed at Glastonbury, We Out Here and The Great Escape, Kayla has also written music for Disney and Channel 4. Practicing in the more academic reaches of sound design and having completed a Masters in Music, Kayla works with an unusual array of audio samples and various media such as animation, installation and film.

Hodge

DJ and producer Hodge has become increasingly present at the forefront of UK club music, steadily releasing tracks veering between techno, house and post-dubstep through numerous labels such as Livity Sound, Tectonic and Tempa. In between his non-stop international touring stints to the likes of Japan and USA, Hodge is paired with x-o1.

Ben Price

Harbourside Management

Originally the Head of A&R at Future Music before deciding to become a Tour Manager across more than 1000 shows. Ben founded Harbourside Artist Management and now works with clients who are based as far afield as Los Angeles and New York, whilst utilising his expertise to aid new artists in the Bristol such as Xyzelle with whom he is paired.

How do you invest in artists on the programme?

A significant milestone within the programme is the introduction of personal budgets, which empowers the artists to explore and invest in their musical development.

With the support of their mentors, our Future Proof artists have the opportunity to allocate funds towards resources, equipment, and professional development opportunities.

This personalised approach fosters a sense of ownership and empowers our musicians to take charge of their artistic growth in a way that works for them.

Group sessions

Since our last update from MoYah, we have held a series of engaging group sessions. These sessions have served as spaces for collaboration, learning, and creative exploration.

The artists have used this space to share their progress, explore and overcome challenges, and celebrate achievements. These collective experiences have been invaluable, igniting inspiration and fostering a sense of community.

The group sessions have had a wide ranging focus, from wellbeing, to business-focused sessions with professionals from the industry and even offering studio time to our artists where they have collaborated and developed new skills.

Two people sat down working in a music studio

What’s next for Future Proof?

As we progress into the final phase of working with the current Future Proof cohort, there are still exciting opportunities around the corner for our artists. Building upon the solid foundation laid during the group sessions, we are looking forward to delving deeper into workshops and masterclasses tailored to individual interests and aspirations.

These next steps will equip the artists with the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to continue their personal and artistic growth. We are also working with a solid goal in mind at the end of the programme which will coincide with the re-opening of the Bristol Beacon this autumn.

Many of our artists are busy planing performances and showcases of their output that will form part of the re-opening event. We’re especially excited about what shape these will take.

A closed notebook with written music on the cover.

Future Proof continues to be a transformative and empowering journey, not only for the artists but also for facilitators like myself.

Witnessing the growth, passion, and dedication of the artists serves as a constant reminder of the profound impact music can have on individuals’ lives.

I am privileged to be a part of this project, and I am really looking forward to the next chapter.