27.09.2021

“It honestly reminded me why I wanted to get into music in the first place”: A summer on the #TodayatApple Music Programme

Young and talented music artists took their talent to the next level this summer at Spotlight on a brand new Today at Apple artist development programme – now check out their new tracks! 

With restrictions easing, London’s music scene slowly coming back to life and young people FINALLY allowed back in our centres, this summer Today at Apple and Spotlight launched a 4 week intensive face to face artist development programme.

Collaborating with Apple, Reprezent Radio, Platoon studios and hosted by the amazing DJ Carly Wilford, we offered 10 artists aged 16-25 the chance to collaborate, create their own tracks, and receive professional feedback from leading names across the music industry.

Using creative arts to support Spotlight’s young people helps them develop self-belief, learn the importance of teamwork and get inspired about their future. They cultivate their talent; learn to recognise their value to society and how to express themselves in positive ways.

Artist Pritt at Reprezent Radio just before her song went on air

Programmes such as these are vital for creating opportunities for our young people. Since Spotlight opened, over 4200 young people have accessed our creative offerings.

These young artists, ranging from singers and rappers to musicians and producers, spent four intensive weeks developing their sound, growing their talent and creating high quality content. After a long, long lockdown without studio access or in-person group collaboration and support, it was amazing to hear music around the Spotlight building again!

The programme has almost too many highlights to mention, but here are a few:

• Heading to world-class Platoon studios to record their tracks and have them mixed and masters by professional producers
• The legend that is Nile Rodgers stepping into the building for an interview with Reprezent DJ Melle Brown, a masterclass in collaboration and making music to “connect with a million souls” and even an impromptu improv jam session with the young artists (Catch it on BBC London and on BBC Radio London).
• (Because we’re sure you’ve all missed live music as much as we have) finishing off the Spotlight summer programme with a huge live performance at the Linc centre which got the whole crowd going
• The end of programme trip to Brixton for a celebration broadcast on Reprezent Radio itself, where the artists got to play their track on live radio and be interviewed about their process.

Reprezent DJ Melle Brown interviews the one and only Nile Rodgers

As Yvonne Han, a 20 year old, a young artist on the programme said:

“It was such an incredible opportunity, it’s once in a lifetime, it was honestly just magical.” 

“It just reminded me of why I wanted to get into music in the first place, and I think finding this community has honestly been such a blessing.” 

Now, you can listen to them yourselves! Listen quickly though, they’ll only be up there for a few more weeks before the real release campaign begins!

Click here to listen to their pre-release tracks:

It’s been incredible to work with a group of such talented, dedicated, and passionate young artists. Keep an eye on them, this is only the beginning.

Want to grow as a music artist? Sign up to our Studio sessions here