UK songwriters join PRS for Music’s class of 2011

Uk’s youngest talented songwriters join PRS for Music’s prestigious class of 2011

PRS for Music assembled a group of its youngest earning members for its annual Class of 2011 event, celebrating the best in young songwriting and composing talent.

The event brings together the next generation of music creators who are already achieving success in their respective fields, giving the group of 16-19 year-olds a chance to speak with industry experts and further their success in the music business.

BBC 6 music presenter Matt Everitt, award-winning rapper, Wretch 32, and singer-songwriter and former Iron Maiden member, Tony Moore talked about their career experience with advice and tips to encourage and support the young songwriters.

It’s fantastic to bring these rising stars of the songwriting world together and celebrate their achievements. For the music industry in the UK to continue to thrive and be so successful we need these young people to stick at what they’re doing which is why it’s so important to help and encourage them as much as we can with events like these. Our members depend on their royalties to keep creating the music we all love so I hope they’ve found the advice given useful to help them continue to do that.

The songwriters and composers came from all parts of the UK and a mix of music genres:

Fred Cox, aged 19 is a professional freelance music composer from the West Midlands. Fred, under his business name, NoisyFred Productions has worked on various music projects from silent movies, to children's animations, to documentaries in both the UK and U.S. Fred Cox entered the musical world at the age of 10 busking on the streets of Stratford-upon-Avon, earning money to buy music equipment which has taken him to where he is today.

Ian 'Maxsta' Koromah, aged 18, is a Grime MC from East Ham in London. Rated as one of the best MC’s in his age group and also as one of the best in the wider grime scene he has already released his debut mixtape, entitled The Maxtape and has worked with some of the biggest names in the scene such as Dot Rotten, Flowdan, Frisco, Ghetts, J2K, Jammer and Wiley.
Progressive pop band Egyptian Hip Hop from Greater Manchester include band members Alex Hewett, Louis Stevenson-Miller, Alex Pierce and Nick Delap. The group have already attracted major media attention from the likes of The Fly (magazine), Q and NME who have given away demo versions of their song "Rad Pitt" together with playing at various festivals including MIDI festival in France and UK's Reading and Leeds Festivals. BBC Radio One DJ Nick Grimshaw named "Wild Human Child" his single of the week and they recorded a live session for the Huw Stephens show.

Misty Miller, aged 16 from South-West London, is fast gaining global recognition. This ukulele playing singer-songwriter, has been writing songs since she was 8 and now writes lilting pop/folk songs that have a classic feel.  She was discovered at Bestival Festival and has since been part of Burberry Acoustic, a Radio1 Live session with Rob Da Bank and John Kennedy at XFM. She has just released her first album which was recently reviewed by The Guardian. 

Max Brodie, aged 19 from Chester is a successful composer having written music for a number of high-profile commercials including Hoseasons, Kitchens Direct and Dolphin Bathrooms. 

Matthew Thompson, aged 17 from Reading is the songwriter behind the band “Peers”.  He wrote his first song ‘Lovebites’ at the age of just 14 years old. Matthew has already played at last year’s Reading and Leeds festivals. 

Teenage psychedelic band Sen Segur, from Gwynedd in Wales aged 17 - 19, have seen their music featured across the world on radio stations, TV and online. In addition, the young band have already written, recorded and released their first EP record ‘Pen Rhydd’ in May this year.

Sarah Horn, aged 18 from Wakefieldis a contemporary folk musician, who has been playing at folk clubs since the age of 13. Sarah played during the closing of the Galtres Festival in York last year, as well as performing on the main stage at Shepley Spring Festival and at the Moonbeams festival in July. Baz Barwick, aged 19 from Wales, is the songwriter behind Welsh folk-fusion band “One String Loose”.  The band has been exciting audiences around the UK and Europe since 2003, reaching the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, followed with a polished performance at Glastonbury Festival on the Avalon Stage. More recently the band released their second studio album “KUMQUAT” which has been received superbly both by critics and fans. 

Leeds based trio Penguin – Matt Cornish, Joel Small and Danny Prochera all 18, are influenced by the likes of Biffy Clyro and Twin Atlantic and their eclectic mix of soaring riffs and sparce, melodic vocals have been making waves locally since their victory at Voice 2008 in Castleford and Rebel Music’s Battle of the Bands a year later. They have played Barnsley’s Bomfest for the last two years and Huddstock in 2009.

Emma Jane Downing, aged 19, from Sandown on the Isle of Wight, wrote her first song and performed her first gig at the Birmingham NEC at just 13 years old. Emma has already performed at the Isle of Wight festival as well as in bands at many gigs. 

Fabio Lendrum, 19 years old, from London, has already signed a worldwide deal with Warner Records and is currently bringing his highly anticipated debut album to completion.  Fabio received a gold plaque for a production and writing cut on Example’s hit single ‘Won’t Go Quietly’. An early starter Fabio wrote his first song at the age of 11 and performed his first gig at 16.

Ryan Thompson, aged 19-year from County Down in Northern Ireland completed his first song aged 17 and performed at his first gig last year at London’s ‘Orlando Bloom’ event. Known by his DJ name ‘Screendeath’, Ryan has already seen his tracks broadcast across national and local stations including BBC Radio 1, Kiss FM and Rinse FM.

Lea-Anna Gallimore, 19, from London, wrote her first song, ‘If you’ve got love’, with her mum, aged just 9, and has already enjoyed success with both her singles ‘Kisses’ and ‘Kat Play’ broadcast on BBC 1Xtra.

The Class of 2011 event included advice from Gemma Kenyon of PRS for Music’s Membership department, on making the most of a PRS for Music membership and Laura Whitticase from the PRS for Music Foundation who talked through funding opportunities available to young creators.