Next Steps Community

Inspired by the likes of Nieve Ella and Wolf Alice, Isabel Hudson crafts vulnerable lyrics set to catchy melodies, creating her own unique brand of indie pop/rock.

Follow/ listen here

ORTON is a rapper from a small village on the outskirts of Durham. He delivers hard-hitting lyrics and intricate flows inspired by the North East and his own experiences.

Follow/ listen here

YMP member and talented singer-songwriter Izzy Price shares her own brand of Lizzy McAlpine-inspired indie pop, showcasing her timeless songwriting.

Follow/ listen here

Anna M Heslop is a writer, sound and visual artist, sharing compositions grounded in an electroacoustic approach, using a mixture of found sound, instrumental techniques and voices to creative immersive musical works.

Follow/ listen here

Callum O’Neil is a young, prolific singer-songwriter whose deeply personal songs shine as he prepares to share his first single, co-produced with Tony Brown.

Follow/ listen here

Celia Grace is a well -known and accomplished name in the region, making a long-awaited return with new music shaped by survival and change.

Follow/ listen here

Eddie Doyle is a captivating singer-songwriter with a unique sounds, drawing information from the likes of Radiohead, Bjork and Joni Mitchell.

Follow/ listen here

David Mandele (Purle) is an artist and producer making some interesting and exciting moves in the pop space.

Next Steps helped David progress as an artist, with mentoring around a single release. He was also supported to develop his music production career through shadowing opportunities.

Follow/ listen here

Steff Mundi is a Newcastle-based singer-songwriter. She has supported artists, such as The Early Purple and Frankie Archer, and has performed at the renowned Glasshouse.

Steff utilised Next Steps bursary to purchase essential equipment to enhance live performances, leading to more gigs and touring opportunities.

Follow/ listen here

Ella Winter is an emerging indie pop singer-songwriter at the beginning of her career.

Working alongside fellow Next Steps community member Isabel Maria, Ella recorded her first two singles and worked on release strategies to launch her career as an artist.

Follow/ listen here

Ebenezer Good is a producer, artist, recording engineer and DJ based in Newcastle. He has received support from BBC Radio 1 and has performed at festivals, such as Kendal Calling and Dot2Dot.

We supported Ebenezer in releasing his debut single, producing a music video, and securing a distribution deal.

Follow/ listen here

Lily Mac is a talented singer-songwriter who has been part of YMP for several years and is now forging her path as a solo artist.

From releasing her debut single, to performing as part of a National Theatre production, Lily has benefited greatly from broadening her networks and mentoring support.

Follow/ listen here

Louis Wild is an upcoming composer based in Sunderland. He has composed scores for independent films, such as “Cake Eater” and the award winning “Swine”.

Louis used Next Steps to explore mentorship with experienced film composers and establish connections with the music industry.

Follow/ listen here

Hailing from South Shields, singer-songwriter Patrick Gosling has been working on his solo project for five years, carving a path to becoming one of the most prominent musical talents in the North east.

NextSteps supported Patrick to sign his first publishing deal, leading directly to his first Apple Music playlisting and more synch opportunities.

Follow/ listen here

Melanie Baker is one of the most exciting artists in the North East. Known for her captivating live set, Melanie has supported the likes of dodie, Maisie Peters and Will Varley.

Through Next Steps, Melanie was matched with artist manager Henry Carden, who supported their EP release and helped Melanie access more funding.

Follow/ listen here

Lottie Willis is a hugely talented singer-songwriter from Sunderland who has emerged from YMP to perform as a successful artist. She’s been championed by BBC Introducing and has supported Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Maximo Park and The Lake Poets.

Lottie used her bursary budget to record and release a full EP and was supported with developing marketing and distribution.

Follow/ listen here

Isabel Maria has emerged from YMP to wide acclaim, winning a Northern Writers Award, a North East Culture Award and the prestigious Alan Hull Award. Her music has earned her praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1.

Next Steps supported Isabel to film a series of live session videos to support the release of her EP. She also launched a successful mailing list, following programme mentorship.

Follow/ listen here

Borelle is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for the ukulele. After kick-starting her career in the North East, she’s earned recognition from BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio and The Crack.

Ella worked with mentors to develop her live show, performance and to integrate tracks into her work.

Follow/ listen here

Welsh singer-songwriter Ruby Kelly sings brutally honest tales of her own life and the world around her.

Originally from Wales and now settled in Sunderland, Ruby received mentoring from an established artist to help her navigate a new area and music scene. We also helped facilitate more live opportunities, support studio time, and build networks.

Follow/ listen here

Frankie is a proud Geordie and has taken the city by storm with her live shows, recently selling out three back-to-back gigs.

Working closely with industry expert Chelsea Wood, Frankie gained a wealth of knowledge and built her confidence around releasing and promoting her music, as well as getting some much-needed studio time to work on new music.

Follow/ listen here