FAC & Amazon Music offer a Step Up boost to five more UK artists

Gigi Moss, lleo, Maya Lane, Nia Wyn and Richard Carter will all receive three days of studio time at The Breakthrough Lab - the bespoke, state-of-the-art production facility operated by Amazon Music and Metropolis Studios

The FAC and Amazon Music are delighted to announce an end of year boost to their Step Up Fund, with five independent UK artists being awarded three days of studio time at The Breakthrough Lab - the professional recording studio space created by a partnership between Amazon Music and Metropolis Studios. 

With Amazon Music also providing support for engineering costs, the five artists to benefit are Gigi Moss, lleo, Maya Lane, Nia Wyn and Richard Carter. (See bios below.)

This expansion of the fund is in addition to the ten artists who received Step Up grants in July 2025, and sees Amazon Music further its commitment to championing artists by backing the FAC’s goal of supporting upcoming independent talent. 

Laura Lukanz, Head of Music Industry, Amazon Music UK:

"We're incredibly proud to continue our work with the FAC and Metropolis Studios by extending additional funding to these five talented artists through The Breakthrough Lab. This opportunity provides crucial studio time and resources that will help Gigi, lleo, Maya, Nia and Richard expand their creative possibilities. Supporting independent artists is fundamental to our purpose at Amazon Music, and we're delighted to build upon the success of the Step Up Fund with this end-of-year boost.

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition:

“The FAC is delighted to announce this end-of-year boost to Step Up. Although the fund has been an unqualified success and provided grants to over 40 independent artists since 2022, it’s also ridiculously oversubscribed. Therefore, when Amazon Music suggested this opportunity, we jumped at it. It’s an incredibly generous gesture, and we hope Gigi, lleo, Maya, Nia and Richard will benefit greatly from access to The Breakthrough Lab’s amazing facilities.”

Nia Wyn: 

“I’m so grateful to Amazon Music for this opportunity to record at Breakthrough Labs Studio. The ability to have time and record at a major studio like Metropolis is so valuable to an independent artist like myself, and I'm looking forward to working on songs for my next record, recording a variety of instruments live, and experimenting with new ideas.”

Gigi Moss:

“I would really like to thank the FAC and Amazon Music for this opportunity. To be able to have a space like this to work in as an independent artist, with people I love and connect with creatively is such a privilege. It’s something all independent artists dream for so I am so grateful that you guys have recognised my work and believed in it, it truly goes a long way.”

Launched in 2023, by Amazon Music and Europe’s leading independent recording studio, Metropolis Studios, The Breakthrough Lab is a bespoke state-of-the-art production studio that offers its facilities to the emerging artist community. Highlighting both companies’ commitment to supporting developing talent, The Breakthrough Lab builds upon previous collaborations, including the launch of a 11.2.8 spatial mix studio in Metropolis’ West London complex. 

The FAC and Amazon Music’s collaboration on the Step Up Fund goes back to 2022. 

The initiative was established in response to the accumulation of financial and structural challenges facing upcoming, independent artists. Since then, more than 40 artists have been provided grants totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. This financing can be used towards any element of a creative project - all with the aim of helping them take their careers to the next level. 

This year’s Step Up awardees were 4AM KRU, Arz, Balancing Act, BINA., Crae Wolf, edbl, Ellie Dixon, Jadu Heart, Mellina Tey and namesbliss.

Meet the 2025 Step Up Breakthrough Lab awardees:

Gigi Moss

Reaching a mass online audience through DIY short-form video, Gigi’s music has struck a real chord in 2025. With zero promo, her track High Hopes - released in September - accumulated 500k streams in less than four weeks. The follow-up, Last Letter, has carried on that momentum - translating Gigi’s TikTok and Instagram following into millions of streams. With a sound that sits somewhere between Adele, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, exciting things await in 2026. 

lleo

lleo is a London-based artist known for her bold, blended alt pop sound infused with emotional depth.

With a unique style dubbed "bipolar pop," lleo explores themes like mental health and identity, resonating deeply with listeners. Her 2022 EP Am I Making Sense? and 2024's wild ride showcase her distinct approach, combining energetic production with vulnerability. With over 1.7 million

streams, lleo’s music offers a space for emotional connection and raw honesty in pop music.

Maya Lane 

A singer-songwriter from London, Maya’s country/folk style draws upon influences including

Fleetwood Mac, Kacey Musgraves, HAIM and Joni Mitchell. Releasing her most recent EP, The Hurt & The Healing, in September 2025, Maya has picked up support from tastemakers at  Clash, Notion, The Line of Best Fit, The Independent and Wonderland. She has also supported acts including Jade Bird, Far From Saints, Alyssa Bonaguru, Jack Kane, Margo Price, Breland and Brandy Clark and performed at The Great Escape, SXSW London, The Long Road, BST Hyde Park and Country 2 Country at The O2.

Nia Wyn

Growing up in a small town in North Wales, Nia writes, produces and sings songs about modern issues - queerness, neurodivergence, hard times people face in the UK, and mental health. Releasing her debut album A Pleasure To Have In Class in early 2025, Nia issued the powerful and gritty 'I Wish It Would Rain' in November, produced by and featuring Paul Weller on backing vocals, hammond organ and guitar. She has also supported Weller on tour (as well as Paloma Faith, Durand Jones and Say She She) and performed at Glastonbury, Green Man, Latitude, SXSW London, All Points East and Lytham Festival.

Richard Carter

Richard’s musical journey was shaped by diverse influences and seamlessly blends hip-hop, orchestral, pop, indie, and gospel and explores themes of mental health, love, and power struggles. Helping soundtrack Talk To Me, the biggest horror film of 2023 (his track Le Monde has been streamed over 100m times) Richard received the Rising Star Award at the Youth Music Awards in October 2024. He has continued to issue new music this year with the tracks Magic, Boo To You and SWAGGA and an EP, The Concept Of Cool.