Festival
Upstart Festival 2026
Supported by the Adobe Foundation
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Upstart presents: Creative Frequencies (November 2026)
V&A East is excited to showcase ‘Upstart presents: Creative Frequencies’ — a careers event for young people interested in the music industry. Shaping the future of music and celebrating Black British music excellence.
This one-day takeover will be delivered at V&A East Museum in collaboration with UD Music — the organisation dedicated to educating, empowering and creating life opportunities for young people inspired by the sounds, words and rhythms of Black music culture. Inspired by The Music Is Black: A British Story, the event will celebrate Black British music excellence while helping shape the future of the industry through hands-on workshops, a masterclass and panel discussion.
Workshop 1: Capturing Your Best Sound: Recording Vocals with Chris Layton (1pm - 2.15pm)
Chris Layton is a London-based Recording and Mix Engineer, Producer and Studio Manager who started out running studio workshops for young people in Lambeth's adventure playgrounds before going full-time in music. Working from his own studio and across top London studios for Island, Sony, Atlantic, Disturbing London and Universal, he has engineered for artists including Wretch 32, Ray BLK, Big Zuu, Avelino and Jade (Little Mix), and co-written and engineered vocals on a platinum single, a gold album and multiple UK #1 albums.
Workshop 2: Funding with Mina: How to Fund Your Dream (2.30pm - 3.30pm)
Got a creative project in mind but unsure how to fund it? Funding consultant Hannah Mina walks you through writing successful grant applications for organisations including Arts Council England (ACE), PRS Foundation and Help Musicians. You'll learn how to budget effectively, pitch your vision clearly and avoid the mistakes that trip most applications up. Hannah has secured over £300,000 in successful funding applications and has worked with Youth Music, Saffron Music, the Roundhouse, A New Direction and HQI — through her platform Funding with Mina, she's made funding more accessible for creatives across the UK.
A&R Masterclass with David Sonubi: (3.40pm - 4.45pm)
David Sonubi is a music executive, producer & cultural strategist with a background in sound. After studying theatre sound at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, he joined Island Records as an A&R scout, bringing Unknown T and M Huncho to the label. A founding member of High Roller Collective, home to RECESS, No Signal and Black In The Day, and the creator of Better Listening, whose BLA-01 hi-fi rig has hosted listening sessions from Odeal's pre-release EP with Airbnb to a takeover of Ministry of Sound's main room, ListenLAB in Paris and Nike London's Air Max Day. David will break down what A&Rs look for — real tracks get played in the room and pulled apart live, A&R-style. Expect live demo feedback, an honest look at how talent really gets spotted, and what “artist development” actually involves, plus the common mistakes that quietly close doors and what to have ready before you're in the room, on a call, or sending a DM. There's a Q&A, so bring your project & questions
Panel talk: How to Get Booked / Understanding Live Music (5.05pm - 6.30pm)
Hosted by Naz Hamdi (Naz From Newham), with panellists Millie Finch (Booking Assistant, Defected), Shanumi (Amen GyalDem) and David Sonubi (RECESS). Together they unpack how booking actually works — the booking agent, the artist managing their own bookings, and the label/collective side of the business — looking at what each role actually involves, how they work with (and around) each other, and the practical lessons that only come from doing the job. The event will finish with a screening of a short film about the Sounds & Stories and Making Sound music projects at V&A East.
Workshop 1: Capturing Your Best Sound: Recording Vocals with Chris Layton (1pm - 2.15pm)
Chris Layton is a London-based Recording and Mix Engineer, Producer and Studio Manager who started out running studio workshops for young people in Lambeth's adventure playgrounds before going full-time in music. Working from his own studio and across top London studios for Island, Sony, Atlantic, Disturbing London and Universal, he has engineered for artists including Wretch 32, Ray BLK, Big Zuu, Avelino and Jade (Little Mix), and co-written and engineered vocals on a platinum single, a gold album and multiple UK #1 albums.
Workshop 2: Funding with Mina: How to Fund Your Dream (2.30pm - 3.30pm)
Got a creative project in mind but unsure how to fund it? Funding consultant Hannah Mina walks you through writing successful grant applications for organisations including Arts Council England (ACE), PRS Foundation and Help Musicians. You'll learn how to budget effectively, pitch your vision clearly and avoid the mistakes that trip most applications up. Hannah has secured over £300,000 in successful funding applications and has worked with Youth Music, Saffron Music, the Roundhouse, A New Direction and HQI — through her platform Funding with Mina, she's made funding more accessible for creatives across the UK.
A&R Masterclass with David Sonubi: (3.40pm - 4.45pm)
David Sonubi is a music executive, producer & cultural strategist with a background in sound. After studying theatre sound at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, he joined Island Records as an A&R scout, bringing Unknown T and M Huncho to the label. A founding member of High Roller Collective, home to RECESS, No Signal and Black In The Day, and the creator of Better Listening, whose BLA-01 hi-fi rig has hosted listening sessions from Odeal's pre-release EP with Airbnb to a takeover of Ministry of Sound's main room, ListenLAB in Paris and Nike London's Air Max Day. David will break down what A&Rs look for — real tracks get played in the room and pulled apart live, A&R-style. Expect live demo feedback, an honest look at how talent really gets spotted, and what “artist development” actually involves, plus the common mistakes that quietly close doors and what to have ready before you're in the room, on a call, or sending a DM. There's a Q&A, so bring your project & questions
Panel talk: How to Get Booked / Understanding Live Music (5.05pm - 6.30pm)
Hosted by Naz Hamdi (Naz From Newham), with panellists Millie Finch (Booking Assistant, Defected), Shanumi (Amen GyalDem) and David Sonubi (RECESS). Together they unpack how booking actually works — the booking agent, the artist managing their own bookings, and the label/collective side of the business — looking at what each role actually involves, how they work with (and around) each other, and the practical lessons that only come from doing the job. The event will finish with a screening of a short film about the Sounds & Stories and Making Sound music projects at V&A East.
