INTRODUCING THIS YEAR’S SOUNDCAMP FINALISTS: GROUP 3
By Reform Radio
on Thu Aug 18 2022
Soundcamp kicked off this May, inviting new and aspiring artists into the space for a two-week Bootcamp. After the two-week period, 12 finalists were selected to stay on and hone their craft to the next level, with mentoring from some of the best in the business such as Werkha, Jenna G and Anna Mcluckie.
Let us introduce you to our third group of Soundcamp 2022 finalists…
BAMBI RAPTOR
Hi, I’m Imogen. My artist name is Bambi Raptor and I am a producer, singer and songwriter from Manchester. I don’t have any socials or music out yet, but they will be coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
A combination of dancey beats, weird sounds, catchy melodies and emotional lyrics – think Phoebe Bridgers if she’d grown up with a 90s Garage Classics CD and a retro drum machine.
How long have you been doing music? When did you start?
I started playing the piano at 8 years old, then the drums aged 11. Eventually, I joined various Indie Rock, Pop and Grunge bands in my teens. I had always written songs for fun, but during the first lockdown, I decided to take this more seriously and develop an established sound for a new solo original project, which grew into Bambi Raptor.
What are some of your main influences?
I am influenced by the creative production of The Neptunes, SOPHIE, and Gold Panda. The House and Garage sound revival of Disclosure and Sam Gellaitry, and the heartfelt melodic songwriting of Phoebe Bridgers, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to release a short EP of songs that I am really proud of and that encapsulate my sound. I would love to perform a live set of these songs for the first time!
I really want to develop a solid foundation for my music, so that I can continue to develop this project in the future.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I would love to tour the world and play amazing shows with my favourite artists, but I’ve got a lot of work to do if I want to get to that point! In the meantime, I will continue making and releasing music that I enjoy, collaborating with different vocalists and producers, and trying to get my music out to as many people as possible – hopefully, they’ll like it!
Who is your dream collaboration?
This is a tough question! I would love to work with Anomalie – my keyboard skills aren’t as good as I’d like them to be, so to watch him shredding over one of my beats would be crazy! I’d also love to work with a really charismatic vocalist who I could bounce ideas off – Tyler, The Creator or Lizzo would be awesome, and I think the three of us would make something really fun!
BAKE GENTLY
Hi, I’m Bake Gently. A Manchester-based artist who is beginning to release music of his own after working with notable artists in the city such as Quiet Houses and Paige Kennedy. I am inspired by great songwriting, truth and beauty when making music, and strive to balance expression with introversion. You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok @bakegently and listen to my work on all major streaming platforms.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe my sound as commercial with a classic twist. I make Alternative Pop and love blending my music with things I’m influenced by in film, art, literature and life in general. I’m quite a private person really, so I guess a slight air of mystique and aloofness plays into my image as an artist, but hopefully with the impression of not taking myself too seriously at the same time!
How long have you been doing music? Where did you start?
I first got into music after picking up the guitar when I was around ten. I then moved on to bass, which I played in ensembles at school as well as in bands with my mates and pursued it at a degree level, enrolling on a four-year popular music course at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. It was here that I got involved in even more projects and was also honing my songwriting and production which I’ve always done on the side. After graduating during the summer of 2021 I realised that I was most interested in developing these latter skills so started concentrating on my solo project as a vehicle for this.
What are some of your main influences?
I want my sound to be a culmination of the modern Pop experimentalism of Caroline Polachek, the high-fidelity production of Daft Punk and the musical and songwriting class of Steely Dan. I also draw upon storytelling concepts from Japanese Samurai films and Hollywood Westerns for my lyrics, as well as the natural imagery of painters like Caspar David Friedrich and the colourful wordplay of magical realism.
What do you hope to get out of the Soundcamp experience?
I hope to use it as a time to focus on my craft and consolidate my current career choices. I also hope to use it to make new friends in the local arts scene and push me out of my comfort zone in terms of sharing my work.
What do you see for yourself in the future as an artist?
I see myself as someone who will always be creating and striving to make a living from doing what they love. I’d like to find some degree of success or recognition with my project and potentially use it as a springboard to write and produce for other notable artists. I know my sound is one that’s going to take time to develop and flourish so I’m determined to treat my career as a marathon, not a sprint, and enjoy the ride as much as possible.
Who is your dream collaboration?
For my own project, I’d love to collaborate with some of the finest Pop writers out there such as Max Martin and his team, Dr. Luke or Stargate. Alternatively, as a writer/producer working on another artist’s music, I like the idea of collaborating with someone very different to me. I was just thinking the other day how liberating it would be to write a song with a powerful female artist like Doja Cat, Lizzo or Beyoncé.