"I am thrilled to be on the MIF Sounds programme; my gratitude is immeasurable. To have my art and ideas supported by the MIF Sounds team is unbelievably encouraging. I intend to craft ‘Vintage Destiny’ into a genre-bending surrealist Afrofuturistic EP exploring the changing nature of reality due to our reliance on cyberspace, and our resulting societal fragmentation."

“So gassed to be a part of this, I've always felt a strong connection to MIF's programmes and here I’m on it. I can't wait to show everyone what Dirty Freud can do!”

"This has helped me gain huge confidence and courage in my vision of bringing a societal purpose with classical music. It will allow me to pursue my ambition of digital animation which I hope to combine with classical music. As a classical pianist, I am beyond grateful that my unconventional ideas are encouraged and appreciated by MIF and I am looking forward to spreading the beauty of this genre."

“It feels great to be a part of MIF Sounds, and I’m very thankful to have been allocated this support as I know the city is burgeoning with talent at the minute. Hopefully, I can utilise the money and support to galvanise the label, and the recent studio we have acquired.”

“We are buzzin’ to receive this support from Manchester International Festival and look forward to working with their team to bring our project to life. This will give us the chance to showcase the wealth of local talent we have in Manchester and give us a step up to reaching wider audiences.”

“Really overwhelmed and over the moon to have been chosen to be supported by MIF! IT really means a lot to me that I get a new body of work up and off the ground this year - I feel like the time is right and I’m really happy to be supported during this time.”

“After two years of the pandemic greatly impacting the arts and my own musical profession, being awarded through the MIF Sounds programme has completely elated my spirit and focus towards further exposure of sonic identities within the beautiful cultures that connect to us all.”

“Receiving the MIF Sounds support has not only enabled me to initiate my project but also validated the need of supporting underrepresented musicians of Greater Manchester. Through this project we would be creating a platform to represent local British Asian artists to an international audience”

“The leaps of faith and risks that I take in order to advance as a producer and performing artist are all for moments like this. Luck is when opportunity and preparation align - and that’s exactly how I feel. MIF Sounds is the springboard into this next stage of my career.”

“When I decided in February 2020 aged 35 to throw fear to the wind and attempt to become the world’s least likely pop star, I could never have imagined being chosen by MIF Sounds to receive support for the live launch of my debut EP. I’m excited for the journey and grateful beyond words!”