Who are the people behind UD Music?

This summer, we’re hosting a colourful pop-up experience to listen, explore and share in moments of feel-good connection through music. That includes some seriously blissful DJ sets and performances from rising musicians – handpicked by UD Music. But who are they? Well, UD Music is an organisation that aims to educate, empower and create life opportunities for young people inspired by the sounds, words and rhythms of Black music culture. Whether musicians are on their first steps into music, breaking into notoriously competitive creative environments, or on the cusp of making it big, UD provides the tools they need, from confidence-building to creating structures to build on opportunities and form networks. Here’s a little more info on the organisation and how you can support them.

What does UD Music do?

With 25 years of experience in nurturing and supporting Black and culturally diverse artists, it serves as a bridge between burgeoning talent and the music industry. ‘It's overarchingly talent development, and it's enabling young people to believe that a career in music could be for them, particularly young people who don't have access to resources and networks,’ says founder Pamela McCormick MBE.

Since UD’s inception in 2000, it’s worked tirelessly to ensure young people get the resources and space to create and explore their potential. In fact, in 2023, UD was named a National Youth Music Organisation by Arts Council England, affirming it as a nationally recognised music education and talent development organisation – a far cry from its grassroots beginnings. 

‘A really important part of our ethos, which has been with us for the 25 years since Pamela founded the business, is that Black music should be respected in the same way and on the same level as every other form of music,’ says Chantelle Fiddy, UD’s Marketing Consultant. ‘You know, like opera, classical, pop, etc. Because in the past, that really wasn't the case. Times have changed now, but we've had to fight a big fight over the years, and we continue to do so, especially where music education has been stripped out of schools – there's an even greater need for organisations like UD to exist.’

Who has come out of the scheme?

Some pretty big names, actually! Little Simz would come to UD and record tracks in her school uniform. Skepta, Devlin, Wretch 32 and Ghetts have all been involved, and Labrinth was an integral part of the UD Vocal Collective that later became Flames Collective, a vocal harmony group now developed by long-time collaborator and Musical Director, Andy Gilbert. ‘Essentially, it's a place where you come to work together as a group,’ says Kadian Foster, assistant tutor and project support, for the Collective. ‘But it’s also a place to work on your vocals and learn how to sing together, and from that, you get opportunities to perform at a plethora of different live performances. Some of the recent ones we've done are with RAYE at the EMA Awards and the BRIT Awards, and just recently, we've been working with Cian Ducrot, doing content with him and his show in Kingston.’

Where can I find them?

UD Music have been operating out of Talent House in Stratford since 2022, which was a ground-breaking £4.1 million project co-funded by the Mayor of London and developed in partnership with East London Dance. It’s a pretty impressive spot, offering state-of-the-art recording studios, rehearsal rooms and teaching spaces, all available at a low cost. ‘I've heard from young people saying that at school, they don't have the kind of tech that we have. So, I think it's really important they have a place where they can come and express themselves and be creative and also learn what tech is being used today,’ Foster says. 

The whole goal of it is to help launch careers and ensure East London’s young people continue to benefit from the 2012 Olympic Games’ regeneration legacy. Since opening, they’ve welcomed the likes of BERWYN, Ray BLK, Ruff Sqwad, Nicole Blakk, and many, many more. Plus, it’s delivered a wide range of songwriting camps, EPs and content recording sessions for rising creatives. ‘It was designed with an idea of it being a home for young people to feel ownership, and it's a place for them, and also high spec enough to attract the industry to want to be involved,’ McCormick explains. ‘It took us about five years to pull it off, because we had to raise a lot of money, and for a small team, that was quite an undertaking, and it was all during COVID… We’re very proud of the sense of ownership that young people have of the space.’

To those who feel inspired to apply for UD Music, ‘The entry points are probably more to do with the community engagement programme at Talent House, free studio time, open mics, jams, attending as an audience member,’ explains McCormick. ‘Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. We're not socially led and we're not a youth club; our driver is talent. So, some of our projects, like the Flames Collective, it’s audition entry and then the Incubator.’

What’s happening at Westfield?

This summer, UD Music are taking over Saturday afternoons at Westfield London, where we’re hosting our Sounds of the Summer programme. The talent appearing here comes directly from the UD community. You’ll hear individual members of Flames Collective (Promise Kadree, Bella Hales, Shanay Maliya and more), artists from the Incubator (artist development) programme (including Dia Day, Isabelle Mettle, Rio Sterling, Teodora & Shelbee Tee), stand-out performers from UD Open Mic events (Shantéh, Ashaine White, Richard Carter), studio residents (Nicole Blakk), alumni (Olympia Vitalis, Jack Joy) and more.

‘It gives another kind of opportunity for them, as independent artists, to step up. And it gives them an opportunity to engage with a new audience,’ McCormick says, speaking of the Westfield takeover., And what UD hopes to achieve throughout the coming weeks. ‘Generally, it's always just about moving forward and growth. And more partnerships to create more opportunities for young people.’

To see UD Music in action, come to our Saturday sessions, where they’ll be spotlighting up-and-coming artists for 15 minutes on the hour from 1pm until the evening.