Nubya Garcia, Joel Culpepper and Nuha Ruby Ra

On 20 October 2021 we were joined by industry guests, PRS Members and partners, for the return of PRS Presents at The Forge Bar, in collaboration with PRS Foundation. Hosted by President of PRS Members’ Council Michelle Escoffery & CEO of PRS Foundation Joe Frankland with fantastic performances from three #FundedByPRSF artists: Avant-punk queen Nuha Ruby Ra, unforgettable and dynamic Soul and R&B artist Joel Culpepper & multi award-winning saxophonist & composer Nubya Garcia.

Gallery

Performances

About the artists

Nubya Garcia

Multi award-winning saxophonist and composer, who has been supported by the PRS Foundation throughout her career, Nubya Garcia, is set to perform two tracks from her latest album SOURCE. Nubya is also a member of the experimental septet, Nerija, and has toured extensively internationally, playing in venues across Latin America, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States.

In 2021 she won Downbeat’s Critic’s Poll Rising Star Award, Tenor Saxophone; the Parliamentary Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year Award and received a Jazz Journalist Award nomination for Up & Coming Musician of the Year. SOURCE has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2021 Mercury Prize, one of only 12 albums to be nominated in celebration of the best of U.K. Music. SOURCE has also been nominated for Album of the year at this year’s Jazz FM Awards 2021, in association with PPL & PRS for Music.

Joel Culpepper

In an uncertain world, one thing is for sure; Joel Culpepper has an unforgettable voice and a distinctive style that defy comparison.

Blazing into 2019 with a sizzling slice of bittersweet sunshine soul, PPL Momentum Funded, Joel and long-term collaborator and producer Swindle team up with UK rapper Kojey Radical for latest track, ‘Caroline, No’. Following hard on the heels of Colors of Berlin release ‘Woman’, which has racked up over 5 million YouTube views and 2 million+ Spotify streams, and a guest vocal spot on DJ Yoda's 'London Fields’, ‘Caroline, No’ is the sublime first fruits of an eagerly awaited debut album. Bringing together timeless soul music with seductive and sensual vocals, the album, due for release this year, features collaborations with FKJ, Swindle, Redinho and Guy Chambers, among a litany of stellar musical talent.

Previous releases, including the ‘Skydive’ EP and ‘Tortoise’ saw the cream of the music scene including Grammy award winning producer Jimmy Hogarth, Roy Davis Jr., and Jools Holland’s Musical Director Phil Veacock, queueing up to work with Joel. His ‘Afraid to Be King’ single was a BBC Radio 6 Music Record of the Week earning him a Gilles Peterson session, with further radio support for Joel coming from Lauren Laverne, Annie Mac, Chris Hawkins, Huw Stephens, Trevor Nelson, Mary Anne Hobbs, DJ Target, Toddla T, Charlie Sloth, Jamie East and Steve Lamacq.

Nuha Ruby Ra

East London’s avant-punk queen Nuha Ruby Ra has been spending the last year or so cultivating a dedicated following and racking up an impressive catalogue of collaborators from around the world. She has recently released her debut EP ‘How To Move’ on Brace Yourself Records.

Cutting her teeth in various musical projects and art collectives, Nuha Ruby Ra is a performance powerhouse sharply focused on her own artistic vision. Regardless of who joins her in the studio or on stage, it’s a beast tamed and conducted by her. Equally adept to presenting these sermons with a chaotic, pulsating seven or eight person live band as she is stripping it right back to herself, the music is something that can be effortlessly molded to suit her mood. Constantly evolving and always adapting.

Nuha has performed alongside the likes of Bo Ningen, Uncanny Valley, Charlie Boyer and more, and appeared on recordings by Flamingods and Warmduscher. In the short time she’s been playing these tracks she’s amassed support slots with Fat White Family, Surfbort, Amyl and the Sniffers, Bambara, Japanese Television as well as joining a twelve-date tour with Snapped Ankles.

In February 2021, Nuha Ruby Ra was awarded PRS Foundation’s Open Fund for Music Creators.