As part of our Digital Native Artists (DNA) programme, young people taking part in songwriting and production sessions have written some questions to ask members of the team. Next up, introducing Sara!

Sara (She/Her) joined Southampton Music Hub in February as our Youth Voice Engagement Worker for Southampton, as part of the South West Coastal Hub Alliance. Sara will be running an in person 10 week music production club for young women and girls. Find out more about the Girls Make Music: Production Club here.

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How did you get started in music and with writing music, and how did that get you here?

I started making music by writing rap lyrics when I was about 18, it wasn't until I was about 23 that I decided I needed to learn how to produce so I went back to college to get a diploma at DBS in Bristol and then onto get a degree in Music Production from BIMM London University. I then moved down to Southampton in February 2022 and was signed off for a year with anxiety, I slowly started volunteering and getting out there more over the year and I emailed the MAST Mayflower Studios to see if I could volunteer with them to get some experience working in the industry, and they said they had this position available and I should apply so I did and here we are! 

What genre(s) of music do you create?

It's kinda experimental trip hop sort of stuff, I take a lot of influence from Portishead and Massive Attack. I love the heavy drums they use and the eery melodies that accompany them. I'm a very positive, upbeat person most of the time but my music has a lot of darker undertones.

What instruments and tools are you using for recording?

So I mainly just program virtual instruments in logic or use samples, I don't really play any instruments and I've never got too into music theory to be honest. I also sometimes like to take a field recording of some environment or non musical sound and process and edit it in Logic into a form of music. 

Which other artists inspire you?

I accidently sort of already answered this question! But i'll expand a bit more, so trip hop, hiphop/rap and soul are my main influences but artists in any medium that are super authentic and original in their expression are really inspiring to me. I love people that aren't afraid to push boundaries or carve their own path.

What inspires you when you create music?

Everything and anything to be honest, it can be a feeling I have or a phrase that came to my head, it can be a passing strangers conversation or some experience I’ve had in my life. Literally anything.

What's the most important piece of advice you have for aspiring musicians?

Don't follow the crowd, be original, be unique, be bold and daring and don't be afraid to be the authentic truest version of yourself. Also be consistent, don't expect things to happen over night, good things take time and great things take even longer. Belive in yourself to the point of delusion and you'll succeed. 

Check out some of the tools in our ecosystem of music hub to find out more about making music your career.

As part of our Digital Native Artists (DNA) programme, young people taking part in songwriting and production sessions have written some questions to ask members of the team. Next up, introducing JT.

JT (He/Him) has been working with Southampton Music Hub since December 2021. JT works mostly in person in Southampton using his skills as a rapper, drummer, and beatboxer to support young people in learning and developing their own music.

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How did you get started in music and with writing music, and how did that get you here?

I started playing drums in Year 8 of school, then started rapping in Year 9!

What genre(s) of music do you create?

Rap, Hip Hop, Drill and more!

What instruments and tools are you using for recording?

Vocals, Logic Pro X, GarageBand, Drums and more!

Which other artists inspire you?

J Cole, Central Cee, Ard Adz, Lauryn Hill - the list goes on!

What inspires you when you create music?

The energy around me and how reflective I'm feeling, as most of my music is created around my emotions!

What's the most important piece of advice you have for aspiring musicians?

First off - just enjoy creating music! Keep trying, even if you fail! The music industry can be hard to break and requires a lot of time, energy and passion!

Check out some of the tools in our ecosystem of music hub to find out more about making music your career.

On Friday 2 December 2022 two rappers from Bassett Green release their debut tracks, recorded at MAST Music Studio.

The first track, from Nathaniel, is called ‘Life is a Blessing’ and is about “inspiring people to keep trying hard, and to not give up on their dreams, no matter what happens to them.”

The second track, from Mckinley, is called ‘Took Me All These Years’ and is about “the past, and no matter what happens, to keep on trying”.

Nathaniel and Mckinley first took part in rap sessions at their school thanks to the Rap and Literacy Project, funded by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. They have come to the MAST Music Studio as part of the DNA Programme which supports young musicians working in digital music genres.

As part of our Digital Native Artists (DNA) programme, young people taking part in songwriting and production sessions have written some questions to ask members of the team. Next up, introducing Noah Johnson.

Noah Johnson (He/Him) has been working with Southampton Music Hub since March 2020. Noah works both in-person and online from the Isle of Wight, providing music technology provision for young people.

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How did you get started in music and with writing music, and how did that get you here?

I taught myself guitar as a child, and then started learning other instruments throughout my teenage years, including drums, keyboard and vocals. I attended a music making holiday club called Music Matters, and kept attending these clubs every half term and summer holiday. It gave me experience in production, song writing and performance. I then went to university (Platform 1 on the Isle of Wight) to study commercial music. After this I worked with some of the musicians I met at Music Matters and grew my work within community music projects. I moved down to the Isle of Wight in 2018 to study a Masters, and have stayed here since, working with schools and organisations on music technology provision for young people.

What genre(s) of music do you create?

I write electronic, ambient relaxed music, as well as pop and acoustic songwriter music. More recently I have been working on some more electronic styles of music and trying to branch out my understanding of different genres.

What instruments and tools are you using for recording?

My main tool is Logic Pro combined with some small synths and keyboards at home. I like to combine electronic synths with home-made samples and recordings. I also use Pro Tools for mixing music.

Which other artists inspire you?

Production wise, I love Bon iver, Brittany Howard, Ólafur Arnalds and Mitski. I am also creatively inspired by The Staves, Joni Mitchell and Sufjan Stevens.

What inspires you when you create music?

The best way to get my creative juices flowing is to give me a new instrument. Maybe a different style of guitar or synth, or an upright piano. I also find being in different spaces, such as local coffee shops, really helps open my brain up to new creative ideas, as well as going on long walks! 

What's the most important piece of advice you have for aspiring musicians?

Really get to know yourself as a musician, and then work on being unashamedly you! It can feel like time is wasted when you spend time creating things that aren’t connected to who you are. The music industry is a tough cookie, so if you aren’t doing what you love, it becomes much harder!

Check out some of the tools in our ecosystem of music hub to find out more about making music your career.

Check out ‘This is Me"‘, the first track from J Digwa, who has been taking part in FLOW rap sessions with Southampton Music Hub.

FLOW sessions are part of the Digital Native Artists (DNA) programme, are free to join, and support young rappers to tighten up their rhythms, sharpen their rhymes, and improve their flow.

As part of our Digital Native Artists (DNA) programme,  young people taking part in songwriting and production sessions have been  interviewing members of the team. In the first of the series, Chris interviews Matt Brombley.

Matt Brombley (He/Him/They/Them) has worked with Southampton Music Hub since it was formed in 2012, and before that, he worked at Southampton Music Services. He works online, and in-person: both around the city and at the Music Studio at MAST.

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How did you get started in music and with writing music, and how did that get you here?

I started when I was about seven, and started playing drums. Weirdly, I always thought that as a drummer, songwriting wasn't for me. But when I discovered the world of samplers and making music on computers, I found a way to really get into songwriting. Since then, I've been writing and producing music, including getting a degree in music production from Solent University. And now as well as making my own music, I work here at Southampton and IOW Music Hubs, and at Solent University, helping young people get opportunities to make music and express themselves.

What genre(s) of music do you create?

Mostly electronic and pop music. But within that I like to bring in elements from other genres too, including hip hop and indie. I really enjoy listening to a wide variety of music, and I find I get inspired by all that music, even if the thing I make at the end doesn’t sound anything like it.

What instruments and tools are you using for recording?

I use a Mac laptop to create most of my music, and I either work in Logic or Pro Tools. I also use a phone app called Auxy a lot for sketching out song ideas on the go. I have an SE mic for vocals (they don’t make the one I use anymore, but this one is similar) which I connect with a Universal Audio Arrow Thunderbolt Audio Interface. I use a bunch of instruments, some on my Mac, and some hardware synths like my Juno which I use a lot. 

Which other artists inspire you?

I love artists like Frank Ocean, PinkPantheress, Ryan Beatty, London Grammar, Piri & Tommy, Drake, FKA Twigs, Sampha and James Blake. Those are the kind of artists I feel like my music sits well alongside too. But then I also find inspiration in artists whose work sounds nothing like mine, but there is something about the way they create melodies, or craft lyrics, or express themselves vocally which I find can spark new ideas, including artists like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Billie Eilish and Kendrick Lamar. Plus I have all the music I remember from growing up, music from the late 80s, through to the 90s pop, RnB and dance music, then the indie disco and nu rave music of the early 2000s too.

Your new song, ‘Something in the Water’, what is the song about?

I often write music to help me process and understand what is going on in my life and in my head. This song started earlier this year when I was having a really tough mental health patch. As someone who experiences a lot of anxiety, writing this song helped me get my head around why that is, and how it doesn’t just make me weak, but is also what makes me strong.

You’re releasing and promoting your own music, what are the different steps needed to make that happen?

The basic steps are:

1. Songwriting

2. Production / Recording

3. Mixing

4. Mastering

5. Distribution

6. Promotion

So, the first three steps are all about creating the music: songwriting, production and mixing. Some people think of these as separate steps, but for me, I work on them together. I know other people who write a song, then work with someone else to record and mix it, but because I create most of my music on my own, I work on them all the same time. 

Once I have a track I’m really happy with, then I will master it. This is the process of polishing the track up, and getting it ready to be listened to on streaming, radio, download, or whatever format the song will be released as. This process has a bunch of different elements, and can be pretty complex and require a lot of expertise and experience to do well. Some people send their tracks away to be mastered, although this can be quite expensive. Online tools like LANDR are cheaper and can master a track using AI, but the results aren’t always as reliable as a professional doing it. This time round, I’ve been mastering my own music, which has been a challenging but exciting process.

Distribution is the next stage. Lots of people use SoundCloud and YouTube as they’re both free to use and can help you reach a new audience. But most people listen to their music on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and if you want to get your music on those, you’ll need to use a digital distribution service. I use Ditto, but there are loads of others. Usually it takes at least a few weeks from uploading your track until it appears on streaming services.

The final stage is promotion, although you can be doing this all along. Social media is great for finding new people who will enjoy what you make, including TikTok and Instagram. To reach new audiences, the BBC and local radio stations have ways to upload your music to be played on shows like BBC Introducing and Voice FM’s South Coast Music Show. If you’re sending your music to radio, blogs and other sites, its always good to have a press release and Electronic Press Kit (EPK) which contains a biography, photos, song artwork, and a copy of the song to listen to (if it’s not already out yet). There is so much more you can do with music videos, jumping on TikTok trends, physical promotion and more. It’s an area I wish I was better at, and wish I had more time for. But at its heart, it’s about seeking out and getting your music in the ears of people who might enjoy it.

Check out some of the tools in our ecosystem of music hub to find out more about making music your career.

On Saturday 16 July Southampton Music Hub brought performances and workshops to Southampton Mela as part of Art Asia’s vibrant celebration of the city’s cultures and creativity.

With performances from Southampton Youth Wind Band, Harmony Junction, and FLOW rap workshops from the DNA Team, the Mela was a celebration of many of the themes of the year at Southampton Music Hub.

Live Music is BACK

Southampton Youth Wind Band played a phenomenal set at the Mela, and they are just one of the hub’s many groups, bands and orchestras who have enjoyed performing live music this year. Since last September, the city and it’s young people have seen an exciting return of live music. We’ve seen performances for schools, at MAST and the community. We’ve seen performances from young people often alongside and supported by incredible established artists and groups, including rappers, orchestras and more.

Co-creation and Partnership

Harmony Junction was a co-created by Southampton Music Hub and Art Asia and is a great example of the way Southampton Music Hub works in partnership with others to help support diverse and authentic expressions of music and music education. From our Paul Hamlyn Foundation funded Rap and Literacy project, to the Proud to Be events, to young people at the heart of the city’s cultural celebrations, this year has been all about partnership, and that will only continue to grow in the future,

Young People Take The Lead

Our freestyle workshop, with freestyle rapper Tenchoo, at the Mela, is a great example of how this year young people have increasingly been taking the lead in shaping the music offer that is available to them. Our DNA programme includes support for young people to find their voice with songwriting and production, and then use that voice to help pick the programme of masterclasses, groups and workshops to help them flourish. Young people are having an increasing voice in shaping the future of music-making and learning in the city.

A Vibrant Local Ecosystem of Music Education

As Southampton Music Hub closes one year, and looks ahead to the next, its clear to see that music education in the city is about to take another huge step forward following the announcement of the new National Plan for Music Education. Part Southampton' Music Hub’s response will be to grow and develop our support of the vibrant local ecosystem of music education which we saw on display at the Mela festival on Saturday. There is real excitement across the city — from schools, education settings, hub partners and beyond — to see music education in the city become more diverse, more inclusive and more accessible to all.

News highlights of the year:

Want to make, share and promote your own music? Our new Music Studio team have put together a set of tools to help.

The team have picked four common goals:

1. Making a Music Video

2. Making Digital Music

3. Recording Music

4. Creating Album Art and Promotional Material

If we’re missing something from our list, or you have ideas for making it better, let us know!

On Saturday 4 December 2021 a group of young producers, songwriters and musicians came together at MAST Music Studio to talk about the DNA Programme: where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. They created a new song — Right Track — and an accompanying zine which includes illustrated lyrics and a manifesto for the future.

They day was kindly funded by Music Mark and Arts Council England with additional support from Youth Music.

At the end of this school year, Southampton Music Hub is celebrating resilience. 

The past 16 months have been disruptive for everyone, and in the face of such challenging times, we have seen the city’s young musicians, and the adults who support them, show an incredible ability to adapt, to grow, to learn, and to reach out.

Music has motivated us to keep going, and it has also helped us to grow the personal qualities that are so valuable, not just because they make great musicians, but because they make us better people.

So at the end of this school year, we’re celebrating resilience.

Songwriting and Production Mentoring

After Covid disrupted face-to-face music-making, and left young people missing out on so many normal opportunities, Southampton Music Hub responded with a brand new, online songwriting and music production offer, allowing young people to work with a new, more diverse team, of talented young producers to write songs, make beats and rap.

The young people — many of whom have been offered the opportunity to take part from their social worker, NHS team or other support network — have been developing their skills, expressing themselves in the tracks they write, and now, are helping to choose what the programme looks like going forward.

Chris a young producer and songwriter, explains why he wrote his new song, ‘Avalanche’.

“Avalanche is a song about going through struggles of life and difficult times. I wanted to write this song to reach out to other people going through a hard time, to let them know they’re not alone. I’m going to be going into the studio in September to record the full version, including working with a singer to add the chorus.”

— Chris, Young Songwriter

Hear a short clip from the demo for ‘Avalanche’:

“Forty thoughts a second, can’t hold my mind
Spitting these rhymes, ahead of the times
Iceberg with a dark side, on the flip side, I’m a nice guy
Like a cuppa tea, steam floats to the sky
Hanging off a balcony
Cold air made the heat die”

— Lyrics from Verse 1 of Avalanche by Chris

Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub, says:

“From the team supporting them, to the young people taking part, everyone involved has shown incredible resilience. We know that music is a powerful way to explore and express your emotions. This year, more than ever, that creative outlet has been a place we see young people rise to the challenge of learning new skills, facing up to their emotional experiences, and turning that into exciting new music.”

Ahead of UK Music’s “MAPping the Future” conference on the 16 June — an exciting programme of free online sessions for young people aged 16+ interested in a career in the music industry — Southampton Music Hub are sharing some links to help young people in the city explore a future in the music and creative industries.

As Matt Brombley, Development Manager, explains:
”Young people on our mentoring programme are asking us how they can set themselves up for a future career in music, and , with some help from Oli Morris at UK Music, we’ve pulled together some tools that will help them to plan and take their next steps towards a successful future as creative professionals.”

Find Your Role

Use this website from Creative & Cultural Skills to help identify the perfect future role for you!

Careers Information

Use this pack from UK Music to help you identify and plan your next steps.

MAPping the Future Conference

Get Support from a Mentor

Southampton Music Hub’s mentoring team can help you develop your skills, and move forward on your musical journey.

Over the past three months, online songwriting and production mentoring sessions have been a huge success, helping young people write songs, create beats, and produce their own tracks.

For some of the young people taking part, the process of writing songs has not just been about the music at the end, but about finding ways to better understand their mental health journeys, and, with the help of their mentors, write lyrics which help make sense of some of the struggles of the past year.

“Mentoring sessions are a relaxed space to try new things — I’m free to be myself and express my ideas. I was anxious when I first started, but the mentors are super chill and helpful.”

— Chris, young songwriter

As Chris, one young songwriter explains: ”Mentoring sessions are a relaxed space to try new things — I’m free to be myself and express my ideas. I was anxious when I first started, but the mentors are super chill and helpful.”

Matt Brombley, Development Manager for Southampton Music Hub adds: ”It’s been so powerful to see young people discover songwriting as a way of processing and understanding their thoughts, feelings and circumstances. I know that for me, songwriting has been a place where I can get lost when life feels overwhelming; a place where I can say with music, what feels impossible to say with words. It is so exciting to see young people and their mentors find purpose in sharing that process together.”

In 2021, Southampton Music Hub is launching the Digital Native Artists Programme: an exciting approach, which sees young people empowered to take control of shaping, and leading, the music-making they want to be part of.

The programme is being run by two new, Digital Music Engagement Workers — Sheldon and Gurmaan — young digital artists themselves, who have been recruited thanks to new funding from Arts Council England. They’re being supported by the hub’s wider team, including music service tutors and hub partner organisations, to inspire young people to explore new genres of music, and empower them to create their own musical futures.

The programme has kicked off this month with two new opportunities:

1. Online Production and Songwriting: giving young people access to online tools to create new music alongside mentoring support to develop their songwriting and production skills.

Places are limited for now — and invites to take part have already been sent out by virtual school, social workers and more, making sure the young people who often miss out, get the first shot — but anyone interested in taking part can register their interest right now.

Listen to “Why So Lonely” by one of our young songwriters:

2. TikTok Tutorials: quick and easy videos to get young people inspired and skilled up.

These videos are quick to watch, but share tips, tricks and inside secrets on the world of songwriting, music production and more. You can subscribe, or watch online, and leave suggestions for videos you’d like to see in the comments.

We Need You

We’re not stoping there. Coming soon are masterclasses, workshops and more. But, we want to hear from the young and aspiring producers, songwriters and artists out there, so that they can shape, and even lead, the music-making opportunities the project offers.

Find Out More About The DNA Programme