Five inspiring UK innovators you need to know about right now

This south Londoner composer and DJ made his name with a Boiler Room appearance before he was even 18, and released an inventive woodwind-led classical music EP, ‘Robyn’ to critical acclaim last year. But what’s really interesting about this release was that it was embedded in community: the whole thing was a collab between him and loads of local artists, from the musicians involved, through to the EP’s cover art, created by iconic London-based stylist Ib Kamara. Cktrl says ‘Community gives confidence, more than people admit’. We like that concept.

Catch Cktrl’s Grey Day broadcast on Worldwide FM at 3pm on May 15

That idea of collaboration is threaded through the work of Birmingham DJ and producer, Lauren Ralph, too. His first productions came about through strong ties to the local community, working with local MCs H1, Ninioh, Kojay, Silence and Pshay as part of the Blue Mafia Crew. He’s now working with more of Birmingham’s best MCs, and has recently started a new show on No Signal, a radio station that champions Black British musicians. ‘My community was very important to how I got started out as a producer. It was my music teacher who lent me a microphone. Birmingham group The Oddysee and producer Ugly ear inspired me to start making more beats,’ he explains. ‘I feel supported when I’m with close friends. The ones who’ve been there for me since the get go.’

Catch Lauren Ralph’s Grey Day broadcast on No Signal at 4pm on May 15

It’s all about self-sufficiency for Meme Gold, a very highly-regarded independent designer from Manchester: she makes, models and photographs her designs. But it’s through her many other pursuits that you begin to see just how embedded she is in her city – and how she brings her creativity to enliven its culture. Meme has hosted radio shows on Reform Radio and NTS, has a residency at iconic club night Swing Ting, and has just started a dance duo, See Me, with her mate Seren. And it’s Manchester that comes up a lot when Meme talks: ‘What I have found in Manchester, and the communities I work with and in, is the space you’re given... People feel like they have to conform or they’re screwed,’ she says. ‘It was the community around me that showed me that doesn’t have to happen’.

Catch Meme Gold’s live Grey Day broadcast on Reform Radio at 1pm on May 15

This superb – and prolific – visual artist from Granby, Liverpool has had a huge last year or so. Her illustration and design has taken off in a big way, with commissions for book covers, articles and artwork for the national football team, but her aims go beyond personal gain. She’s keen to find ways of preserving the legacy of Liverpool’s Black community, as well as helping the next generation of creators to have a platform for their work. A lot of that is focused on her own neighbourhood of Granby, where Sumuyya has created Granby Press – a working printing press that’s used as a focal point for the area’s people, artists and musicians. Sumuyya says ‘Liverpool right now is a real hive, specifically of black creatives… It’s mad but it’s only really been during lockdown that we’ve all clocked each-other in a creative way. And that we’re all in L8! So now the question is: how can we create a support system for each other that isn’t reliant on a gatekeeper to offer salvation and money?’ We’d bet on her finding that out, to be fair.

Catch Sumuyya’s Grey Day broadcast on Melodic Distraction at 2pm on May 15

Jonathan Fernandez – known to Glasglow clubbers as Wheelman – is a DJ and promoter who has spent a lot of time over the last few years throwing some very cool parties for fellow creatively-minded souls. His night, Stereotone, grew into a label on which Jonny also released his own music – something he’s focused on more throughout lockdown. However, it’s the Glasgow club scene and its wealth of innovative creative talent that Jonny is keen to tap into as we get back to normality, working alongside, bringing together and collaborating with a local community as talented as anywhere. Reorganising what’s going on around this local talent is something Jonny is excited by: ‘The focus on booking big names meant the scene had been struggling in some ways. It feels like the right time to focus on that now.’

Catch Wheelman’s Grey Day broadcast on Clyde Built Radio at 5pm on May 15