Our Story
How it started…
In summer 2019, Circle of Light hosted a Youth Music funded project which aimed to create a safe space for those facing mental health problems and music industry barriers. Mostly strangers to each other, a group of 30 young people from Nottingham came together in Metronome’s underground studio to make a collaborative music album in just 3 weeks. Guided by rapper Scor-Zay-Zee and community mogul Tricia Gardiner, the project was an incredible success. The album was professionally released with local label I’m Not From London and was pressed to vinyl. With the support of BBC Inside Out and Summaya from BBC Radio Leicester, we hosted a huge album launch gig at the Metronome venue and it wasn't long before our entire city knew who we were and wanted to get involved. The rest of 2019 and the beginning of 2020 was packed with radio and TV interviews. We performed as a collective for Hockey Hustle and on Rock City's main stage for Beat The Streets. We worked on a film score for the British Film Institute and won awards from Youth Music and YCA.
How it’s going…
We have finally set up camp in our new home at Fisher Gate Point where we’ve built a creative space and recording studio. This space has been used to host our second, third and fourth COL album project and the COL family grew and grew. We have won some more awesome awards, set up our own youth run record label and partnered with Rock School to provide certified educational pathways. This is just the beginning! We imagine a future where access to music is equal, where grassroots talent is nurtured by industry leaders and where young people feel safe enough to take charge in manifesting their ideas. Circle of Light is where the culture and innovators of the next generation are flourishing and it is causing rumbles across the UK music industry.
Awards
Youth Music Group Track Award
Having formed on the very first COL project, FORM - a collective of four incredibly talented female artists went to Troxy in London to collect their much deserved Youth Music Award for Original Group Track 2023.
Youth Music Live Performance Award
Mae Monypenny AKA EAM did us proud at the Youth Music awards in 2019 when she won the Live Performance Award for her incredible use of a loop pedal and vocal layering.
Future Sound of Nottingham Comp
EMiDORA (FKA EM), just won the annual Future Sound Of Nottingham competition with her gorgeous violin. Her prize is a slot on the Saturday main stage at this Splendour Festival 2023!
Young Creative Award
Form is COL’s female collective. The 4 members consist of Emily Makis, Tiffany Jade, Simran Johal and Poppy Scoffings who won a Young Creative Award in the competitive 18-24’s music category 2020.
Drum & Bass Awards Best Vocalist
We have an abundance of proudness for one of COL’s first year participants, Emily Makis, for winning the title of ‘Best Vocalist’ at the Drum and Bass awards 2023. Very much deserved Big MaK.
Youth Music X Bicep Competition
Adrian Rayworth AKA Rayworth came 3rd runner up in Youth Musics 2020 Bicep competition for his production on the electronic track Connection made as part of our second album project.
BBC Inside Out Documentary
Previous Projects
2019
COL Album Project 1
COL Performance - Spanky Van Dykes
BBC Insider - Circle of Light Documentary
COL Album 1 Launch Gig - Metronome
COL stage - Hockley Hustle
2023
COL Launches Grants for Young Artists
Storm The Studio Project
HOAM Studio Launch Event
COL x HOAM Competition
HOAM X UON Event
HOAM Live Sessions
2020
Youth Music X COL - Christmas Album Project
Voice Over Project - Barnardos Christmas TV Advert
Lockdown Zoom Masterclasses
COL Album Project 2
COL Album Launch - Livestream
COL Live Performance - Nottstopping Festival
COL Performance - Light Hustle Festival
Film Score for the British Film Institute
COL Performance - Beat the Streets, Rock City Main Stage
2024
COL JAM Weekend
Leicester Music Conference Tour
YOUSTUDIO Sessions For Artists
Rock School London Awards Centre Registration
2021
COL Podcast Ep.2
COL Podcast Launch Ep.1
COL Album Project 3
COL Album Launch Gig & Livestream - Nottingham Contemporary
RSL Diploma Launch
Website & Music Studio Launch
COL Performance - To Hull And Back Festival
2022
SoNG X Youth Music - Give A Gig Week
COL Podcast Ep.3
Circle of Light Album Project 4
Music for Soundtrack Project with Leon Dixon-Goulden
Nottin Industry X COL - Creative Content Workshop
COL Podcast Ep.4
RSL Diploma Completion
COL Album Launch Gig - The Bodega
Arts Award Centre Registration
Industry Mentors
We are proud to share that four of our Circle of Light leaders are trained in mental health first aid.
We are grateful for Youth Music, who provide the funding and continued support that helps to make the Circle of Light Project a grassroots staple in the Nottingham community, and a rising national platform for amplifying young creative voices.