Three new commissions examining global music cultures

SCAPA is a multidisciplinary Manchester-based creative making waves as a music producer, DJ, engineer and host. With her love for video game composition holding a heavy presence throughout her tracks, and determination to define her own sound, SCAPA fuses synth focused sound design elements, electronic glitches and orchestral arrangements to create her signature sonic experience.

“Nsɛbɛ is a three track audio-visual project made in collaboration with Accra artists and rooted in a new Afro-Electro genre. I’ll be presenting it as an immersive audio installation with projected visuals at a listening party. Each track will be accompanied by snippets of interviews and recordings of Accra soundscapes and stories, allowing audiences to take in the context of the music and become familiar with the artists.”

Head to SCAPA’s website

Phoenix Rousiamanis is a composer and songwriter of electronic and concert music and a performer. She is a fellow at the Onassis Foundation and a London Philharmonic Orchestra ‘Young Composer’ and her works have been performed by performers and ensembles such as Juliet Fraser, the Greek National Radio Orchestra, Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, Riot Ensemble and Psappha Ensemble. Phoenix was the winner of the RNCM ‘Gold Medal Competition’ and the Francis Chagrin Award and she was a finalist of the ‘Michael Tippett Medal’. She studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music.

“My vision is to create a multimedia piece with electronic sound, video, dance and performance that pays tribute to Manchester's queer communities and specifically ballroom culture. Similar to queer communities creating safe havens in the contemporary barren political and environmental climate, I want to pluck out moments of beauty from industrial and violent sound-worlds and highlight the concepts of queer perseverance, compassion and love.”

Head to Phoenix’s website

MCR4PAL are a group of artists, promoters and DJs based in Manchester who came together in 2023 to advocate for solidarity with the people and artists of Palestine. They’ve released two compilations from over 150 Manchester-based musicians raising over £7000 for organisations working on the ground providing aid and relief in Palestine. Additionally the team have produced a zine of art, poetry, photography, and essays, ‘Collective Voices for Palestine’, which raised an additional £2000, as well as organising fundraising events at Feel Good Club, film screenings at CULTPLEX and taken over a room at YES with ‘Hit & Run’.

“This project will build on MCR4PAL and Radio Alhara’s partnership by linking Manchester and Palestinian artists for a remote/digital collaboration resulting in new creative work in the form of an EP/release, a radio show and a listening party/discussion.”

Head to MCR4PAL’s website