FAC announces new Ambassadors including Rina Sawayama, Kelly Lee Owens, Coldcut’s Matt Black, Mogwai, IDER and Cradle of Filth
The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), the UK artist trade body unveils a huge announcement of new Artist Ambassadors. Coming from a wide range of genres and diverse backgrounds, the new ambassadors join the FAC, helping to grow the organisation’s community and amplify it’s message of fair representation for artists.
We are delighted to announce that Japanese-born London-based singer-songwriter, ‘Breakthrough Artist Of The Year’ winner at our last Artist & Manager Awards, and the reason for the BRIT Awards amending its eligibility rules, Rina Sawayama joins the FAC. Next up, Scottish band Mogwai, whose most recent album As The Love Continues scored their first UK Album Charts Number 1, was shortlisted for the Hyundai Mercury Prize ‘Album of the Year’ and crowned Scottish Album of the Year by SMIA and Creative Scotland.
We welcome the heavy metal giants Cradle Of Filth from Suffolk, led by Dani Filth who has weathered three decades of tumult and trial, earning a formidable reputation as one of the most riotously entertaining live bands the metal world has ever produced. Rock band Maxïmo Park, who just released their most impassioned, stirring, and ambitious new album Nature Always Wins, step up alongside South London’s new wave punks Talk Show, who released their debut Fast and Loud on Yala Records, capturing fans with their unique pairing of raw, punk-inspired delivery, with melodic The Cure - inspired elements. Also representing the FAC Ambassadors are Hertfordshire-formed alternative metal band Defences, who have received millions of streams and completed three successful UK tours with multiple sell-out headline shows.
Oxford-formed band Low Island, who released their debut album, under their own terms, self-managed and on their own label Emotional Interference, reaching Number 17 in the Official UK Album Sales Charts as well as London-based duo IDER, who draw inspiration from the likes of The Japanese House and signed to the venerable Glassnote Records for their 2019 debut album, Emotional Education, become FAC Ambassadors. They are joined by singer and songwriter Priya Ragu, who is set to release her debut album on Warner Records, with her boundary-pushing take on R&B and electro-pop infused with sonic elements that reflect her South Asian background.
The FAC announces 10-piece band Nubiyan Twist, a blend of virtuosic players, skilled producers and inspired composers, who join forces to create a unique, infectious sound drawing on jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, latin, soul, reggae and dance music. The winner of the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year, Xhosa Cole, who is an embodiment of the success of numerous community arts programmes in Birmingham joins them alongside Robert Mitchell, one of the most significant voices in British jazz, encompassing many art forms and musical genres. Saxophonist Ray Gelato steps up, credited for helping kick off the Swing revival in the early '80s and developing a huge sound on the tenor sax.
We are joined by British-Iraqi London-based dramatic soprano and composer of new opera Alya Al-Sultani, whose work focuses on integration of a diaspora identity, varied musical loves, the human voice and the digital hum of modern life, structure and free improvisation. London singer-songwriter Anna B Savage, whose songs are heavy with unanswered queries, dilemmas and insecurities, is another new addition to the family alongside worldwide DJ, producer, composer and label boss Hannah Holland from London, with releases on Classic Music Company, Crosstown Rebels, her own imprint Batty Bass. They are accompanied by convention-blurring producer and singer Kelly Lee Owens, who broke out with the release of her acclaimed self-titled album in 2017 and followed up by collaborations with St. Vincent and Bjørk, as well as being called upon to compose the main theme tune for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.
Ross From Friends, AKA British producer Felix Clary Weatherall, who released his keenly anticipated second album Tread via Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder imprint, as well as Matt Black, who is half of DJ duo & multimedia pop group Coldcut, and founders of Ninja Tune, join as FAC Ambassadors. Hannah Scott from Suffolk, whose contemporary folk music made with her creative partner Stefano Della Casa, has been heard in hit TV series, Grey’s Anatomy, on BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, joins the FAC as dual ambassador with our friends from Attitude Is Everything, representing their NEXT STAGE initiative and campaigning for greater inclusivity across the industry. We also welcome Namesbliss, who is known for his catchy anthems, engaging freestyles, and his strong songwriting ability through the mediums of Alternative Rap//Drill/Grime, and is a passionate Creative Entrepreneur working with young creatives over the last 7 years. We are joined by performer, singer, artist, band leader and songwriter, Pauline Black of The Selecter, who has dedicated four decades to the music scene and is often referred to as the Queen of Ska, whilst supporting and campaigning for racial equality throughout her work and having been awarded OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours.
We are pleased to add our long-term supporters to our list of Ambassadors, including Anglo-Pakistani Multi Platinum, Brit Nominated British singer and songwriter Rumer who has performed for President Obama at the White House and is a vocal mental health advocate, as well as Midlands based songwriter Emma McGann, who’s an award nominated artist and livestreamer whose pop anthems have earned recognition and praise from fierce female forces in the industry, including Kyle Minogue, Nancy Sinatra and Beth Hart. Professional Rapper, Manga Author and possible Ninja Shao Dow, who used the tenacity and determination learned from his martial arts to build his music career independently and is managing director of his own label DiY Gang Entertainment, joins the FAC Ambassadors. Laura Bettinson whose project lau.ra has garnered support from all over the world and collaborated with some of the biggest names in the electronic and dance scenes, having been recognised in the Alt Power List 100, and featured on BRONSON's Heart Attack which is certified Gold, also steps up. Last but not least the FAC is happy to announce England-Born and Germany-raised artist Terri Walker, who translates her many cultural origins into her music, as well as Stewart Baxter of Hull’s post-punk absurdist band LIFE, as FAC Ambassadors.
David Martin, CEO, FAC, said:
“In the last 18 months, we have had over 100 ambassadors lend their support to the FAC. They have done so because they recognise the value of a strong, collective artist voice, with some of them joining our Board of Directors to further shape our work. The incredible artists that we are unveiling today are a testament to how far we have come in placing artists in their rightful place at the decision-making end of the music industry. Whether it is fair payment, touring or support during times of crisis, the FAC Ambassadors have stepped up to back the organisation's mission. I’m proud to see these music makers join us today and I thank them for their belief in what the FAC stands for.”
Emma McGann, FAC Ambassador, said:
“I know full well that navigating this industry independently can be an overwhelming challenge for new and upcoming artists. I don’t want them to find themselves lost along the way. So I’m very proud to be an Advocate Artist for an organisation that values transparency, actively informs and advises the community and amplifies our voices as artists. I’m thrilled to be working alongside the FAC and hope to assist as many artists out there as I can to find their own path, rise above the noise and enjoy themselves along the way.”