J.Chambers

'I’m really happy to be chosen for Factory Sounds. It’s great to see a big space with lots of collaborators pouring into the local scene with programmes like this and their continued focus on booking local talent. Factory Sounds will help me extend my network both regionally and hopefully nationally, which will assist me with the finalising, marketing and roll out of my next body of work Homecoming.'

Shedding light on his lived experiences through his art, J.Chambers has always been more than a musician with his poetic expressions carrying an undercurrent of profound wisdom.

A turbulent journey of self-discovery, J's upbringing shaped his career, with his parents maintaining and nurturing the importance of staying connected to his Caribbean lineage, and prioritising black history in his education, which was absent in the British school system. This disconnect between the western islands of teaching and the emphasis on understanding his identity at home created the strong need for J's output to be political, fuelling his early days of 'boom-bap' hip hop.

After finding his true sound through experimenting with reggae, returning to his earliest musical context became the pivotal turning point in J's career, leading him to his most authentic sound to date, and inspiring his new project Homecoming.

Instagram / Facebook

STEAM Radio

STEAM Radio started remotely in 2020 to help people feel connected during lockdown. Since then, they’ve grown into the real world, and now operate from a studio above the Old Abbey Taphouse in Hulme, which they are in the process of refurbishing. They provide a centre for a unique community to form around, bringing people together who may not have crossed paths otherwise.

STEAM currently has 80 regular hosts, spanning a massive range of genres and experience levels – from total beginners to touring DJs. They bridge this gap by providing opportunities for emerging hosts to hone their skills, and for emerging artists to platform their music. Their residents are also primarily based in Manchester, but some send in shows from other UK cities and others have filled guest slots from as far as Jakarta and Rio. STEAM Radio has a global outlook with Manchester at its core.

Website / Instagram

FLUFF

'We are so happy to be a part of this recent artistic venture for Manchester. It will be amazing to meet local innovators and to receive mentorship for our work promoting and supporting the music of upcoming LGBTQ+ artists through FLUFF. We hope that being part of this year's Factory Sounds cohort will provide us with a platform for our work as performers, music producers and promoters and that we will be able to connect with like-minded musicians for future collaborations both in the studio and on stage.'

Norrisette is an art-pop artist whose work encompasses composition, classical piano, music production, DJing, performance and visual design. She has recently formed her own band to explore new creative and collaborative landscapes, with Ashley Garrod on bass and Matthew Hill on drums, and has also performed as a featured vocalist across Europe.

Industries is an electronic music project by Markus Hetheier. His music explores and subverts musical structures ranging from field recordings and distorted sounds to harmonic melodies and large beats. He is an electronic music producer, DJ, sound artist, workshop facilitator and practice-based PhD researcher at the School of Digital Arts (SODA).

Together, Norrisette and Industries set up FLUFF – a regular queer electronica night in Manchester. FLUFF aims to provide a platform for queer electronic music producers to perform and test out original music to a live audience, as opposed to being a club night, and has kickstarted the careers of many!

Industries – Instagram / Norisette – Instagram