Factory International

Reframe: Meet the Residency artists

Meet the incredible mix of artists and creatives taking part in Reframe: The Residency in Manchester.

A photograph of Benedicte Tee looking straight at the camera

Benedicte Tee

Multi-genre artist Benedicte Tee is carving out her dream career as a composer and singer-songwriter. Born into a family of musicians, this has always been her destiny. She began experimenting with different sounds as a young child learning the piano. Her unique style draws inspiration from a variety of artists including pop-R&B trio FLO, gospel duo Mary Mary, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems and The Voice 2021 winner Annatoria.

Instagram / TikTok

Headshot of Claire Muhlawako Madzura

Claire Muhlawako Madzura

18-year-old British-Zimbabwean activist and filmmaker Claire Muhlawako Madzura is already making waves across Manchester and the UK. Shortlisted for the 2021 Lit in Colour Creative Student Prize, Claire believes in the power of storytelling to share truth in extraordinary ways. She is currently focused on refining her skills as a filmmaker and joins REFRAME in the hope of learning from fellow young Black creatives in Manchester. She is excited to be part of a residency that empowers the next generation of talent.

Instagram / LinkedIn / Twitter and TikTok

Corey Brown rapping into microphone in front of a screen that reads 'Superlative and Karis Jade'

Superlative aka Corey Brown

Rapper and producer Corey Brown – better known as Superlative – began making beats in his bedroom in Bolton. Fast forward a few years and he’s bagged collaborations with Manchester legend Mr Scruff and hip-hop master collective The Mouse Outfit. A big fan of golden-age hip-hop, Corey also embraces the bounce and complexity of modern trap-inspired beats. Raw, eager and relatable bars bring an aura of honesty to his work.

Website / Instagram

Headshot of David Rey

David Rey

No gimmicks, no facades, just straight-up realness. David Rey makes music that is true to life. A versatile rap artist, David landed on the Manchester map via London and Southampton and is a fast-rising star of the city’s hip-hop scene. Signed to Mic Check Management (MCM), he released his debut EP Before I Begin in 2022, with tracks featuring on BBC Music Introducing. His lyrical control over the mic has earned him many fans, who are drawn to his natural flow and rhythm.

Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / Youtube

Headshot of DEELA in front of a dark green background

DEELA

Lagos-born rapper DEELA is best known for her brazen assertiveness and razor-sharp lyrics. With a unique cadence that keeps listeners hooked, DEELA is a force to be reckoned with. Her sound combines effortless flows with trap and hip-hop, pulling inspiration from a range of artists including Nudy, Young Thug and Nicki Minaj. At only 20 years old, DEELA is co-signed by Nigerian pop artist Cruel Santino and has appeared on BBC Music Introducing, NTS Radio and Manchester’s Reform Radio.

Website

Headshot of Femi Tahiru

Femi Tahiru

Producer, instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Femi Tahiru is a true rising star. With a dedicated following here in Manchester, Femi has performed at iconic venues including Gorilla, Band on the Wall and the Deaf Institute. Recently signed to New York hip-hop label Payday Records, Femi combines smooth R&B vocals with vibrant beats and soulful chords. His widely acclaimed debut EP D.E.M.O.S was played on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and BBC Music Introducing and his latest single Jussai was featured in Wonderland Magazine.

Linktree

Black and white headshot of Filipe Rosario Da Silva

Filipe Rosario Da Silva

Filipe Rosario Da Silva is a Manchester-based graphic artist and all-round creative who is passionate about creating stunning and unique designs. Visually engaging and stimulating, this is art designed to capture the viewer’s attention and communicate a specific message. With a background in Design Engineering, Product Development and Graphic Design, Filipe combines various forms of media such as photography, illustration, 3D and typography. Filipe has several creative connections across the city, having worked as a graphic designer here in Manchester.

Instagram

Headshot of Hannah Njoroge

Hannah Njoroge

Emerging multidisciplinary artist Hannah Njoroge is always thinking outside the box. Combining storytelling, music, painting, writing and photography, Hannah pushes the boundaries of the contemporary art scene to explore the world around us. Her exceptional vision and versatile creativity set her apart as one to watch. Always embracing new artistic territories and possibilities, Hannah is currently immersed in the world of digital art. She is excited for the opportunity to use the REFRAME residency to explore this burgeoning field.

Instagram

Sepia photo of Iyunoluwa Yemi-Shodimu stood between the shadows of two people

Iyunoluwa Yemi-Shodimu

Independent musician, songwriter and composer Iyunoluwa Yemi-Shodimu has an impressive list of performances under their belt. As part of production duos GOMID and Smooch Soundsystem, Iyunoluwa has taken to the stage in some of the UK’s most renowned underground arts venues from Manchester’s The White Hotel to London’s Reference Point, Venue MOT and Mimosa House. Iyunoluwa has directed and produced several videos, long form film pieces, events, online and live performances with support from an ever-growing community of young, inspired and driven creatives.

Youtube / Linktree

Photograph of Izzy Odelola

Izzy Odelola

Izzy Odelola is a Manchester-based drummer, percussionist and ambient composer with a prime focus on synthesis and music for film. As both a performer and composer, Izzy has crafted a unique sound that is rhythmically dominant and feelings based. Izzy’s work is all about musical instinct and trusting the power of improvisation. They take the approach of the weirder the better (most of the time).

Website / Instagram / Soundcloud

Black and white photograph of Joshua Drakes doing a peace sign

Joshua Drakes

Joshua Drakes is a Manchester creative focused on photography and graphic design. He has worked with a variety of clients across the city, specialising in fashion and lifestyle photography. His images tell the various stories of his clients, and he is always seeking out new subjects. Rarely seen without a camera, Joshua takes inspiration from his mother, art and nature.

Instagram / Website

Headshot of Linda Wachaga smiling

Linda Wachaga

Kenyan, Manchester-based Linda Wachaga is one to watch. A multitalented filmmaker, visual artist, performer and writer. Once a member of the prestigious National Youth Theatre, Linda has performed at some of the UK’s biggest and most exciting venues including The Yard, the Almeida Theatre and the Arcola Theatre. In 2022, she staged her first short play on touch deprivation and AI, and her short film Changing Rearranging – a spoken word tribute to her hometown Oldham – received an honourable mention for BFI’s filmmaking challenge.

Instagram / Twitter

Headshot of Micah Stalgic

Micah Stalgic

Alapelode Oluwatobi – aka Micah Stalgic – is a versatile Nigerian artist known for his unique blend of hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats. Once a competitor on Nigeria’s Got Talent, Micah is now a regular on the Manchester music scene as a board member for Reform Radio, artist advisor at Manchester Independents and host on Pie Radio. His music has been played on BBC Music Introducing and he has performed across the city’s iconic venues as well as Sounds from the Other City festival.

Instagram / Website / Youtube / TikTok

Headshot of Monique Nsiash

Monique Nsiah

Monique Nsiah is a multifaceted creative with a passion for storytelling through filmmaking, photography and poetry. With experience in TV production and her own environmentally friendly clothing brand NSIAH, Monique’s creativity shows no bounds. Her work includes affirmative, feel-good prints in beautiful pastel colours as well as a range of t-shirts, hoodies and bags.

Instagram

Black and white headshot of Nico Walker looking down at a camera

Nico Walker

South Manchester film photographer Nico Walker is fascinated by stories. With a background in filmmaking and production, Nico has settled on the documentary as a form that captures the most meaningful moments in time. Nico sees the camera like a diary – a means of recording life as it happens. Nico will use the REFRAME residency to experiment with different styles and methods.

Instagram

Blurry black and white photograph by Obi Dickson

Alpha Twang

Alpha Twang is an electronic musician and radio presenter interested in landscapes, memory and time as well as the geography of Manchester. Their recent work includes being the sound designer for the theatrical monologue Let Me Count The Ways. Influenced by the sublime, hypnotic ecstasy of Philip Glass, they hope to one day create something like Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters.

Linktree

Photograph of Omari Taylor

Omari Taylor

Self-taught photographer and filmmaker Omari Taylor works across fashion, sports and documentary. Still experimenting, Omari is always looking for new creative disciplines. He draws inspiration from the inner-city environments in which he was raised, and the dystopian worlds depicted in film and TV. His work is often rich in contrast, interested in architecture and has a generally sombre tone.

Website / Instagram

Photograph of Papa Nii Akushey Quaye sitting on a stool surrounded by his artworks

Papa Nii Akushey Quaye

Papa Nii Akushey Quaye is a British-Ghanaian multidisciplinary artist whose current practice is centred around the diasporic identity and experience. Not bound by any medium, he works primarily with photography, textile and time-based media. His work deconstructs cultural symbols, everyday objects and fragments of his own memory, reassembling them to express the tension between combat and harmony that is so familiar to the diasporic experience.

Website / Instagram

Photograph of Ronke Jane Adelakun wearing a patterned orange and red dress

Ronke Jane Adelakun

Multi-talented artist Ronke Jane Adelakun has a passion for visual storytelling. Her breath-taking images always convey a powerful message. As a freelance photographer, poet and fashion designer, Ronke is driven by a desire to showcase the multifaceted nature of Black women and to challenge stereotypes. Her photographs have graced the pages of global publications including Hello Magazine and Stylist Magazine.

Website / Instagram

Photograph of Ruby Ramelize smiling at a viewpoint above a city

Ruby Ramelize

British-born filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Ruby Ramelize seeks out sentimental moments and connections through her work. Influenced by her Caribbean and Nigerian heritage, Ruby sees her films as an extension of herself, delving into who she is and her own personal histories. A highlight of her career so far is an interview with her grandfather about his Windrush experience, which explores her family’s legacy.

Instagram / Portfolio

Photograph of Benedicte Tee with their back turned

Shemel Rose-Thompson

Photographer Shemel Rose-Thompson is an established freelancer, who takes inspiration from her home in Old Trafford and the wider city of Manchester. Her work is immersed in the sprawling mass of the city, focusing on the representations of people and place. Socially conscious and inspired by change, Shemel is driven by their experiences with the hardships of society.

Instagram

Headshot of Solomon Hughes

Solomon Hughes

Manchester-based Solomon Hughes works across various fields of photography, focusing on documentary and portraiture. His Instagram is a kaleidoscope of cool colours with snaps of Norway and Portugal. Solomon is always seeking new dimensions for artistic expression and is currently experimenting with video and audio. He is part of Mugen Motions, a group of friends creating visuals for their favourite music.

Instagram / Youtube

Black and white headshot of Timon Benson

Timon Benson

25-year-old self-taught photographer Timon Benson uses documentary photography to ruminate over the sentimental parts of his life, recounting these moments to create new, enduring narratives. Raised in the north of England, Timon explores photographing the northern underground music scene alongside his personal work, and has played a part in shaping the public perception of growing artists. 

Instagram

Photograph of Wezlees partially obscured by leaves and branches

Wezlees

Photographer, videographer, editor and DJ Wezlees is a man of many talents. Whether he’s creating promo films for companies or music videos, Wezlees knows how to capture the essence of a subject on film. Wezlees also has a deep love for house music and hosts his own radio show HouseMuntu where he connects with listeners over a shared passion for music.

Instagram / HouseMuntu

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