A Week with Wu-Lu
A collaborative music project for artists interested in cross-genre experimentation.
- When
- 11-15 March 2024, 10am-6pm
- Where
- MAP Charity, LS9 7DR
- Deadline
- 4th February 2024
Led by “one of the most interesting names on the experimental hip-hop scene”, Wu-Lu makes a hell of a noise and defies genre conventions with a vital mix of metal, screamo punk, dub and hip-hop.
Based in Leeds over 5 days, you’ll work with a group of other curious artists to create new music ahead of a live performance.
During the week you’ll move between live rooms, recording studios and DIY set-ups. Consider this project a playground for you to try new things with new people. You’re welcome to bring your own equipment and instruments, or use some of ours.
Who it’s for
We're looking for all kinds of musicians (e.g. rappers, producers, vocalists, instrumentalists, DJs) who are:
- Aged 18 or over (no upper age limit)
- Making or interested in sample-based music, such as hip-hop, house, garage, jungle, as well as hardcore, drill, metal and rap - there are no boundaries here!
- Keen to collaborate with other artists
- Excited by the myriad of sounds Wu-Lu splices together in his work
To support the Northern music scene, we'll prioritise applications from people in the North of England (North East, North West and Yorkshire regions). However we’re open to hearing from people across the UK.
We also want to ensure the group can showcase diverse experiences and perspectives of the UK music scene. We encourage applications from musicians who are/identify as:
- D/deaf, Disabled and/or neurodivergent
- Global Majority*
- Women and people of marginalised genders
- LGBTQIA+
- Working Class
*Global Majority is a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’. Globally, these groups currently represent approximately 80% of the world’s population. (Source: Rosemary Campbell-Stephens MBE, Leeds Beckett University)
Costs
The project is free to attend. To help you take part we’ll cover:
- Travel and accommodation costs
- Access costs - for things like disability support, translation or childcare
Bursaries of £350 are also available to people who:
- Need to take unpaid leave from work to take part
- Work in a freelance capacity and will have to turn down work to take part
- Are in low income employment
- Receive Universal Credit, or another job allowance, as their main income
If you’re not eligible for a bursary, we’ll provide you with £30 per day to cover expenses.
When and where
We’ll have an initial online meet-up on Wednesday 6 March, 6-8pm.
The residency will take place at MAP Charity, LS9 7DR from Monday 11 - Friday 15 March 2024, 10am-6pm.
On the evening of Friday 15 March there’ll be a live sharing for an invited audience.
How to apply
In our application form we'll ask you some basic details, along with the following questions:
- Tell us a little bit about yourself and the music you make.
- What excites you about this residency and exploring sample based music?
- Why is collaboration important to you?
- What do you think is a musical or creative strength of yours? And what is something that you’d like to get better at?
You can either answer these questions in writing, or you can record yourself. If you do this, you'll just need to include links to your video or audio recordings. Have a read of our Top Tips for Applicants for more information on how to answer these questions.
We’ll also ask for a couple of links to examples of your music.
The application deadline is 11pm on Sunday 4 February 2024.
You're welcome to apply with support from a personal assistant or carer. If there is anything we can do to help you to apply, please let us know.
Head over to our Google Form to apply.
Nominate someone
If you know someone who you think would be interested in taking part, why not nominate them?
Send the person’s name and email address/social media profile to [email protected] and we’ll send them the application details.
Venue access information
MAP Charity has level access across the venue with accessible toilets on each floor.
There is also a quiet breakout space available for anyone who needs it throughout the residency.
Safer spaces
At all of our projects we aim to create spaces that are welcoming, engaging and supportive. Spaces where everyone is able to be themselves, but also where abuse and discrimination are not tolerated.
Creating a safe and welcoming environment, where everyone is respected and valued, is also at the heart of safeguarding, and Brighter Sound’s safeguarding approach.
Read our Safer Spaces Policy for more information.
Got questions?
Get in touch with our Project Coordinator Kinaya by emailing [email protected].
Or you can give us a call on 0161 546 5334. Please leave a message and we’ll get back to you.
“I’m a sample-based producer at heart so I want to explore how musicians can create together using their instruments and phone recordings as a starting point. Together we’ll build a sample bank of unique sounds and styles that we’ll use to produce something unexpected and new.”
Wu-Lu
About Wu-Lu
With his revolutionary energy, intense rap and punk aesthetic, Wu-Lu (aka Miles Romans-Hopcraft) has built a name for himself as one of the most interesting names on the experimental hip-hop scene.
Formed by the multicultural energy of South London, he makes a hell of a noise to wake us all from our slumber and defying genre conventions with a vital mix of metal, screamo punk, dub and hip-hop. Also inspirations from jazz, soul and beat poetry find their way into the sound.
In 2022 he released the masterpiece "Loggerhead" on Warp Records. An album that received praise from The Line of Best Fit who claimed: "The prevailing feeling throughout "Loggerhead" is one of punk, through its take-no-prisoners sound, and its desire to bring kindred spirits together as a community."
That feeling also comes through when Wu-Lu performs live. Here he is known for letting the room explode in a massive mosh-pit while he and his band releases a hell of metallic guitars, wild drum and bass-rhythms and lyrical hand grenades.
