MEET OUR SOUNDCAMP 2024 FINALISTS (PART ONE)

Back in February, we kickstarted Soundcamp 2024, funded by Youth Music and in partnership with Thirty Pound Gentleman. Soundcamp is our in-house artist development programme. To start this year’s project, we welcomed over thirty young people aspiring careers in music to create and collaborate on their own musical projects for our Soundcamp Bootcamp. Through the process, they received 1-2-1 support from industry professionals Layfullstop, Jack Kong, and Werkha. Meanwhile, they got led through sessions on production, music business, and more.

Eight of our attendees were selected to join the full Soundcamp programme at Reform. The finalists are receiving 6 months of music mentorship from industry pros, performance opportunities, and direct support with their unique crafts. Now, they are taking to the stage on the 15th of May at the Blues Kitchen to share all they’ve been working on at our exclusive Soundcamp Showcase, and YOU can join us.

Get a taste of what you can expect from the lineup below, as we introduce you to our first finalists of this year’s Soundcamp.

Jennifer Dala

My name is Jennifer Dala, my pronouns are she/her and I am a singer and songwriter. I’m planning to release some music later this year so you’ll finally be able to hear what I’ve got in the works.  

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

My music is a mixture of Joni Mitchell and Tracey Chapman with its combination of acoustic and synth. My sound has been shaped by soul, indie, alternative and jazz music. 

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I was taking part in any music courses I could to challenge myself and meet other like-minded creatives. What I’m hoping to achieve from the programme is to collaborate with other musicians to push my craft further. Soundcamp looked like a welcoming and supportive space to explore my musicality thoroughly. It’s been really useful to me so far and I’ve already learnt so much more than I expected to.

Where did your journey with music begin?

I’ve always loved music and, as a child, I had piano and guitar lessons. I knew for a long time that I really wanted to be an artist, but it was only in my 20s that I properly started exploring this. Since lockdown, I’ve been playing the guitar a lot more and really shaping my sound to get to where I am today.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

It’s mainly improvisation to me. When I first listen to an instrumental, I will improvise over this by humming and creating melodies. From there, I can write my lyrics. I don’t really write with intent; I like to just see what comes up for me. When I first started writing music, I would write a lot about heartbreak, but now I write about existentialism and my shadow self. I think this development is only possible when you truly allow yourself to be open with your songwriting.

Who are your main inspiration/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

Amy Winehouse and Joni Mitchell are two of my main influences. I love Joni Mitchell’s vocal melodies and her incredible songwriting capabilities. Amy Winehouse was definitely one of my earlier influences. I loved her voice and dug so much into her lyricism. In terms of my aesthetic, I just like being comfortable and expressing myself authentically. I would say Lauryn Hill is my main inspiration for this.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

I think it would have to be Sampha. I would love to write songs for artists and I think Sampha has the perfect distinct sound I’d want to create for.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

My biggest goal is to release my own EP, but also to write songs for bigger names.

FREEQUENCY3

Hey, my name is FREEQUENCY3 and my pronouns are she/her. People can find my music everywhere, on all streaming sites, in places I probably don’t even know about.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?

My music takes listeners on a journey through the ripples of life and all of its nuances. From experiences of relationships with others and yourself, to helping people deal with the shifts in life, my music encourages people to tap into feelings they have been avoiding. However, at the same time, you can bust a little two-step and get on a vibe to my tunes too. I’ve got a nice eclectic range of sounds, songs, hooks and melodies and lyrics to enjoy. You can make new meanings of these tracks each time.

What prompted you to get involved in Soundcamp and what are you hoping to achieve from it? 

I first joined Soundcamp in 2021 when a lot of changes were happening in my life. Much of the time, I was in pain and I had no idea why. I joined the project initially to challenge myself and be in a room with different people to create and collaborate with them. I found it quite overwhelming and I didn’t get through to the final eight artists. So I decided to come back and try it again now I have a full diagnosis regarding my health and can manage my body better. This time, I have been selected as a finalist. The biggest blessing so far has been being able to work with Layfullstop, Jack Kong, Werkha, and other mentors. They are all people I have looked up to for many years. So, for me, it feels like a real honour to even be able to share the room with these people and have conversations about my art with them. I am learning from their experiences every week. I hope to achieve more dynamics in my art from these new perspectives.

Where did your journey with music begin?

My journey began when I was very young; I’ve always loved music. My mum would always be playing music in the house and my uncle was in a band so I used to do raps with him. It all stemmed from there. My journey to being an artist began in 2021 after I DJed at Parklife Festival. The morning after playing, I woke up with severe nerve pain and it took me two years to get a diagnosis. During that time, my whole life changed and I was in severe pain every single day. I lost all the things I was making a name for myself doing. I realised the one thing that ran through all the things I had been doing was music, so I decided to tap back into my inner child and start making beats and raps again. People responded to it well so I thought I’d keep writing and explore these difficult feelings through music.

Describe your creative process from starting to finishing a track.

If I’ve got a beat that’s already there then I will freestyle over it continuously and find a flow I like. Then I will either write the lyrics over the freestyle, or if I am struggling with finding lyrics, I will choose five random words and write around these. There’s a lot of back and forth in my process, correcting and perfecting things. Since starting Soundcamp, I have been more open to approaching tracks in different ways. I feel like I now consider the structure of songs more thoroughly and specifically.

Who are your main inspiration/influences for your sound and aesthetic?

For my sound I’d say J. Cole, Noname, WESTSIDE BOOGIE, Mick Jenkins, Big Sean, but also many of my friends are so talented musically and inspire me. I love artists that can really paint a picture.

If you could collaborate with anyone on a track, who would it be and why?

Right now, I’d love to make a song with Layfullstop. Internationally, I think Smino, Chance the Rapper or Noname.

What are your biggest goals/plans for your music in the future?

One of my biggest goals is to be consistent. It’s really hard to do this when you have a health condition that varies. I’d also love to perform more and do another headline show. I want to show people I am more than just a one-dimensional rapper. I want to show I can make hooks, I can make songs that are going to stick in my head, I can put on a beat, and I can say things that are important. Also, I want to make sure I connect with those that support me a create a solid community.

Grab your free ticket to our Soundcamp Showcase here to witness the pair above live, alongside the rest of the programmes cohort.