NEXT LEVEL: Previous Artists
A collaboration between Big Team and Bristol Beacon, NEXT LEVEL is our Artist Development programme designed to support the city’s best emerging talent by developing their skills, granting key networking and performance opportunities, access to mentorship and much more in order to help the next generation of Bristol talent advance their careers.
Since its inception in 2022, NEXT LEVEL has served as a crucial opportunity for the creative development of Bristol-based singers, rappers and MCs aged 18-30 through a range of opportunities including access to our redeveloped studios and stages as part of a creative studio week, performance opportunities at the likes of Love Saves the Day and Forwards Festival through Big Team’s festival circuit, mentorship from acclaimed artists including Sam Interface, Dread MC, GROVE, N.Y.T.A. and NGAIO, specially curated curated industry workshops designed to offer guidance in navigating the music industry hosted by Team Love, Saffron, Boomtown Festival and Hey? What!, as well as an opportunity to show off their hard work to their peers, industry professionals and new audiences with the NEXT LEVEL Showcase.
Keep reading to learn more about previous NEXT LEVEL artists and watch project documentaries to get a taste of their work.
Meet the NEXT LEVEL 2024 artists
Ava Zarate
Ava Zarate
Ava Zarate, the London-born, Bristol-based artist began writing songs when she was 12, and hasn’t slowed down since. Like many emerging artists, she was able to develop her creativity and style during lockdown and began producing her own tracks. While her sound has explored many genres, it can be described as a fusion of alt-pop, folk, R&B and psychedelia.
Off the back of two recent single releases, she has an upcoming EP scheduled to drop. Her love of live performance across shows in Bristol and her native home of London have given her an appetite for sharing her talents on stage and connecting with the audience.
Laura Dia
Laura Dia
Laura Dia, Nigerian- Irish singer hailing from Bristol, began her music career performing covers on youtube and instagram, however in the summer of 2020 expanded her skills into production, releasing her own music independently.
With a sound that lies within the realms of contemporary R&B, Pop and Soul, she also draws inspiration from indie rock, hip hop, and her West- African heritage. With a uniquely polarised voice; delicate and sweet, yet managing to harness a powerful and soulful sound, she’s a multi-instrumentalist, performing with both piano and guitar, and combining that with her ability in lyricism, various singing styles and characteristic harmonies.
Marns
Marns
Bristol-based soulful singer Marns began her musical journey at 16, performing at iconic venues across the city. Not only have her magnetic performances extended to festivals like Bristol Harbour Festival and Latitude, but her melodious tunes have been broadcast on the likes of Ujima Radio, SWU.fm and BBC radio.
Rellz & YB Micz
Rellz & YB Micz
Bristol-based duo Rellz & Y.B Micz are fresh on the scene. Their partnership began free-styling and has grown from there, having already been performed in the city and working on music ahead of a planned summer release.
Sambee
Sambee
Samuel Ikpe, aka Sambee, is a multi-talented artist based in Bristol. Hailing from Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, Sambee brings a fresh perspective to the music scene with his fusion of Afro-Alternative, R&B and Soul influences. Drawing inspiration from renowned artists such as Burna Boy,Mannywellz, Wizkid, and 2 Chainz, Sambee is all about good vibes, great fashion, poignant storytelling and infectious melodies that resonate with audiences.
A member of POPBOYS – a producer collective featuring some of the best talent within the African music scene. After the release of his first single GAOU in 2018, he dropped his debut album in 2020 and is currently set to release his new project, Big Head, very soon…
Ssadcharlie
Ssadcharlie
Having performed in theatre tours UK-wide since the age of four, Ssadcharlie’s love of music and performance was kindled from a very young age, and fueled by the eclectic music scene in their hometown of Bristol. This led them to writing and producing their own music, subsequently releasing it in their early teenage years.
With a love for experimental music, their own work encompasses and draws on raw emotion, which transcends into their performance on stage, drawing influences from hip hop, punk, and everything in between. Not only that, but their music explores issues surrounding homophobia, love and adolescence.
Their third album, Beautifully Uncomfortable, was released in 2022 and helped cement their upfront, experimental sound.
Meet the NEXT LEVEL 2023 artists
B3NJI
B3NJI
B3nji, aka Kai Benjamin, is a half-Japanese rapper and singer/songwriter who takes pride in his bouncy flows and energetic live performances.
A semi-finalist on the 2022 season of The Voice UK, he had all four coaches (Will.i.am, Anne-Marie, Tom Jones and Olly Murs) turn for him at the Blind Auditions, and is boasts radio play on the likes of BBC Cornwall and BBC Introducing in the West.
Rebekah Dinnall
Rebekah Dinnall
Rebekah is a Bristol-based experimental reggae and dub artist. Incorporating rich melodies and captivating harmonies, she draws on her Jamaican roots to combine the modern and traditional, creating a contemporary sound made for people to feel seen.
Solo Jane
Solo Jane
Originally hailing from Exeter, Solo Jane now resides in Bristol. An expressive, lyrical and emotive alternative R&B singer, she has been working hard to cement herself in the Bristol music scene.
With her first single hitting over 2 million streams, she is going from strength to strength. No stranger to BBC introducing, three of her releases have been track of the week and other accomplishments include DJ Targets touchdown tour, +44 playlist and Earmilk Publication.
G U Y
G U Y
G U Y is an up and coming artist from the South West, raised in a small town called Devzies. His genre-spanning music is inspired by his Jamaican heritage, touching on hip hop, R&B, and pop.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Dave, Berwyn, and Kojey Radical, his sound involves catchy hooks and strong melodies. Since moving to Bristol he has been ramping up his career, performing at venues and local festivals and has been featured on BBC Introducing and Ujima Radio.
RED
RED
RED is a singer-songwriter-producer with a gift for lofty storytelling and a penchant for bass-driven pop fusion. From Gucci campaigns and Glastonbury festival, to Academies and theatres around the country, she’s made a name for herself as a vocal powerhouse on the UK drag scene.
Now, as a proud trans woman, she’s ready to level up, unleash her music on the world and cement her place in the music industry.
Asher Simmons
Asher Simmons
Asher Simmons is a Bahamian singer, songwriter and beat maker who was born in Paget, Bermuda, and raised in Abaco, Bahamas. Drawing inspiration from his upbringing, he is known for his melodic delivery and surgical lyricism.
Already hitting the ground running in the UK music scene, in 2022 he performed at Glastonbury, and has been featured as a spotlight artist in the Bristol Black History Month Magazine.
Watch: Next Level 2023 Documentary
To get an insight into what went down in the project last year, watch our mini-doc here:
Meet the NEXT LEVEL 2022 artists
Watch: Next Level 2022 Documentary
In April 2022 we launched Next Level with Big Team and partnered with some of Bristol’s biggest names in music – Team Love, Pirate Studios, Crack Magazine and SWU FM – to find and inspire six local upcoming acts with an unparalleled heavyweight package of artist development support.
Watch the short documentary looking back over the year so far, immerse yourself in their sounds, and discover how the Next Level 2022 artists are defining the future of music in Bristol.
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Project collaborators and partners
NEXT LEVEL is produced by Bristol Beacon and Big Team with support from Team Love, Pirate Studios, SWU.fm, Boomtown Festival, Love Saves The Day and Hey!What?
We would also like to thank Out of Hand for their help in promotion of the 2024 programme.
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