2017 Blog

24th April 2018

Flash Funding Winners 2017: Where are They Now?

In May 2017, in collaboration with PRS Foundation, we sponsored a Flash Funding to give emerging artists the chance to press 500 12" vinyl to progress in their music career. We hosted a live decision panel that took place at The Great Escape Festival where industry experts Pat Carr [Infectious Records/BMG], Julie Weir [Music For Nations/Sony], John Kennedy [Radio X] and John Robb [Louder Than War] proclaimed the funding winners.

A year later, we are now giving our readers an update to report on how our Vinyl service was valuable to them.

Join us again this year at The Great Escape for another Flash Funding Live Panel with Julie Weir [Music For Nations/Sony], Nadia Khan [CTRL Management], Nadine Shah [Artist], and one more special guest to be announced soon, more info here.

Speakman Sound

Brand new duo Speakman Sound take dance into unchartered territories with their fresh take on electronic music. Brothers Todd and Guy spent their childhood in the Glastonbury area immersed in music through their father, a well-known guitarist heavily involved with the psychedelic music scene, and grew into adolescence against a backdrop of rave culture in Somerset.

“We’re really honoured to have been selected for this award. The work PRS Foundation do to support young musicians and artists at important stages of their careers is hugely important and this partnership with Key Production and Modo is really forward-thinking, supporting us to release some vinyl is exactly what we need. The live panel process at The Great Escape was also really valuable and illuminating, allowing others to learn and grow from this year’s submissions.” – Speakman Sound

"The vinyl looked and sounded great, the band were delighted to have their own piece of vinyl to co-incide with the release of the EP. We sold them at gigs, distributed in shops, sold online and give-aways. We also distributed it around the country via Cargo Records in line with the release in November last year, as well as selling on our online store and at shows and running a couple of competitions. It was a useful and valuable ingredient to throw into our EP release campaign. Even though It’s still early days, as a developing act we’ve still got a lot to sell, the drip-feeding of merch sales at shows over upcoming months will be a useful cash injection to help with expenses. It’s great to have some physical merch to sell at shows and for fans to walk away with. Our fans response to our vinyl release was warmly and would definitely recommend other bands to participate in the PRS Flash Funding. If they have the demand for a physical release and have a distributor and team around them to make the most out of it."

Speakman Sound are about to unleash a next single to follow-up from the Warm EP which will be dropping over the summer, a couple of festivals are in the diary – we’re particularly looking forward to Blue Dot in July - and we’ll be announcing a new London headline date to tie-in with the single release very soon.

Upcoming performances: Cheltenham Racecourse 1st Jun 2018

Website | Spotify | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Them Blends

From all corners of the planet, Them Blends formed in the madness that is London and has created a body of work in the far away island of Sonder Sandoy in Norway. Them Blends is a movement that wants to take you to the eye of cow mountain.

“This album has been made with love and care over a year and we can’t thank PRS Foundation enough for helping us make this project become a reality and something everyone can touch. Big love to the Flash Fund!” – Them Blends

We are Giving it all to the Norwegian woods, playing with wheel barrows and recording our good friends the whales. Recording with Norways biggest Garage producer - Benny Sex.

Been making sounds with Mary Gold from New Orleans Running amuck in the heart of Berlin Getting sentimental on the coast of Ireland All in the eyes of cow mountain.

Check out Them Blends' live session in The Count's living room where they have written all their songs!

Facebook | Soundcloud

Yassassin

After releasing ‘Social Politics’ and ‘Pretty Face’ last year, London five-piece Yassassin are ready for a revolution. Their debut EP Vitamin Y encapsulates their contagious energy and their genre-spanning abilities. Produced by Dave Allen (The Cure, Neneh Cherry) and mixed by Mike Moore (Liam Gallagher), Vitamin Y may be just what the doctor ordered.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen for the PRS Foundation’s Flash Funding in association with Key Production Group. For a band at our stage in the game, every bit of help make a huge difference to what we can achieve. We are so excited for our debut EP release and cannot wait for people to hear it.” – Yassassin

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Vulgarians

Vulgarians are a four-piece Post-punk band from Hull. Having continuously toured throughout the UK supporting both their EP releases, with artists such as; The Wytches, whilst gaining continuous support from the likes of Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq, Vulgarians will utilize the flash funding towards the release of their debut album.

“We couldn’t be more appreciative of the work both PRS Foundation and Key Production do. This allows artists from varied backgrounds and genres to be given numerous opportunities that may not be financially possible. The Flash Funding will support us throughout the release of our debut album, and provide us with the platform to release hundreds of vinyl copies!” – Vulgarians

Upcoming performances: Belgrave Music Hall 12th May 2018