A part of Gilles Peterson’s expanded network, Future Bubblers is backed by Arts Council England, which continues to focus on uncovering unsigned talent and growing the audience for innovative, experimental music. The professional recordings, manufacturing and physical release of “Future Bubblers 8.0” is made possible with additional support from PRS Foundation, as Talent Development Partners. Unlike other music initiatives, this compilation acts as a launchpad for emerging artists, utilizing a cooperative model that shares revenue directly with the artist, helping them generate a sustainable income. Previous Future Bubblers artists include Yazmin Lacey KinKai, Lynda Dawn, MC Snowy, Forest Law, Victoria Jane, NeOne The Wonderer and Kayla Painter, , and more. Across six tracks, "Future Bubblers 8.0" eclectically fuses the worlds of R&B, soul, funk, rap, and electronic music in their many forms. The lead single, "Damn," comes from Leicester-based psychedelic Space-Soul band Shadeemus, released 15th October. Bristolian vocalist and producer t l k creates ethereal soundscapes on her track “Legs” , while O.K Asanda, who made Manchester his home, has crafted a unique Alt R&B and soul sound. Songstress JOIISOL blends R&B, Neo-Soul, and Electronic-Jazz with vintage samples. In 2023 the Future Bubblers team announced an entirely new framework to launch a new phase of their talent discovery and artist development scheme. Future Bubblers Academy consists of candidates drawn from underrepresented demographics with a particular focus on those with restricted access to traditional music learning paths. The 6 artists and industry candidates have been drawn from underrepresented demographics, specifically focusing on those with limited access to formal music learning paths. Candidates will be set real-life tasks and challenges across the following areas: Promotions and Marketing, Creating and releasing Masters, Live and Everything Else You Might Need To Know (funding, sync, brand deals), all spanning over a year. Aided by their mentors, creative candidates will put their learning towards a series of tasks, while industry candidates will receive mentorship from the Future Bubblers and Brownswood Recordings team behind the scenes.
