Bicep/Youth Music/VIP electronic music competition winners announced!

We’re excited to announce the winners of one of our most exciting competitions to date! Charanga VIP Studio Sessions and Youth Music came together to create a competition for young producers making electronic music in 2020. Open to all Youth Music-funded projects and schools using VIP, the competition was judged by Belfast producers and DJs, Bicep.

It was launched in lockdown to celebrate and engage young people creating music during a difficult time and as part of Charanga’s growing partnership with Youth Music. We saw a lot of entries from a range of community organisations and schools particularly.

Students entering the competition could use VIP’s online studio to produce an electronic track with £250 vouchers, a day in the studio with Bicep and an invitation to the Youth Music Awards up for grabs.

Bicep picked out four winners and one overall winner: Rufus, from AudioActive, whose track they thought was ‘well-executed’ and they ‘loved the minute we heard it’. Once COVID-related restrictions eased this autumn, all four winners spent a day in Bicep’s studio in East London.

Here are the winning entries:

First up is Rufus’ track, Lovin U:

Always See The Sun EP by Rufus Blake

Our other winners were James from the Co-op Academy Priesthorpe. Bicep cited the track’s ‘great potential, musically and production-wise’. You can listen to James’ track, Infinity, here:

Infinity by James Grayston

Next up is Adrian from Circle of Light/Offshoots. Bicep thought the track was a ‘really nice idea’ and praised its ‘massive potential’. Take a listen here:

Circle Of Light - The Album by Circle Of Light

And last but not least is Gabe from Sound Communities – a track Bicep describe as ‘very nice all round with great atmospheres, vocals and bass’. Check out Gabe’s music here:

Another by Gabe

In October, the winners also attended the Youth Music Awards 2021 at the Troxy, London – a fantastic night, with Bicep, Pa Salieu headlining, and Charanga’s Max Wheeler presenting the ‘Best Producer Award’.

A huge thank you to Bicep and all the young producers out there who made the competition what it was.

Anyone wishing to access VIP can do so via their local Youth Music project or school. If you would like to find out more about VIP Studio Sessions, email: vip@charanga.com