The Oram Awards 2020 – Vote now!

Calling all women, girls and gender minority artists who create innovative music, or who are involved in sound and related technologies! The Oram Awards are accepting applications & nominations for their 2020 ceremony. Information about the awards, the prizes (inc. development bursaries from PRS Foundation) and how to apply or nominate another artist are below. You have until Friday 14th August to get your submissions in. Good luck!

Info & Background on The Oram Awards

For the first time, applications for the 4th annual Oram Awards for innovation in sound, music and related technologies are now open to the general public. Six winners will receive development bursaries from PRS Foundation. Any music creator who meets the criteria, or their representative, can now apply.

Named after Daphne Oram, one of the founding members of the original BBC Radiophonic Workshop, the awards aim to build on her legacy. Along with other women of the workshop, including Delia Derbyshire, Glynis Jones, Jenyth Worsley, Maddalena Fagandini and Elizabeth Parker, Oram played a vital role in establishing women at the forefront of innovation in newly-emerging audio technologies not only in the UK but around the world.

Whilst there are many women innovating in sound and music, their work and their voices often struggle to be heard. The Oram Awards will be open to women, girls and gender minorities in recognition of Daphne Oram’s pioneering status as an inspiring role model to other women who are currently under represented in electronic music.

Application criteria & prize information

The Oram Awards are open to women, girls and gender minorities of all ages from 11 years upwards. There is only one category: innovation in sound, music and associated technologies. This year there will be 6 winners and the ceremony will take place in November (date to be confirmed). 2 of the winners will receive special commendations and development bursaries of £1,500. 4 winners receive development bursaries of £500 from PRS Foundation.

The Oram Awards are looking for music and sound creators who:

– are based in the United Kingdom
– create high quality original new music and sound;
– innovate in sound, music and associated technologies;
– through their work have demonstrated that they are deserving of increased recognition;
– are ready for this opportunity and will use the PRS Foundation bursary for future creative and professional development.

PRS Foundation retains the right not to invite submissions from nominees who are already receiving significant funding from another PRS Foundation programme such as the PPL Momentum Fund, The Composers’ Fund or New Music Biennial.

The applications for this year’s awards are open to the public until Friday 14th August. The winners will be announced on 1st November.

Click here to apply or nominate!

 

Get In Her Ears x Summer Sounds 06.08.20

Tash & Kate were in the Hoxton Radio studio spinning some of their favourite summer sounds. Highlights include tracks by Kynsy, heka, Scuti, Evil House Party, Babehaven, Circe and bestfriend. They kicked off the show with Kate Bush and finished with Whitney. Enough said.

Listen back here:

Tracklist
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
Circe – Ten Girls
Ailbhe Reddy – Between Your Teeth
Cehryl – moon eyes
Bestfriend – last bus in the a.m.
Babeheaven – Cassette Beat
The Crayon Set – Summer Song
Mandi (m&i) – into my mind
Bethany Thomas – I’m Not Sorry and I’m Not Scared
Girlhood – sister
Julia Sophie – I Left You
Kynsy – Cold Blue Light
Deaf Surf – Strangers
Izzy Bizu – Tough Pill
Robin Kester – Cigarette Song
Fenne Lily – Three Oh Nine
Dream Nails – Vagina Police
ALYSS – CLUSTERFCK (MONO/POLY REMIX)
Scuti – Weekend
Evil House Party – Wicked
Heka – redwoods
Byenary – Princess Give A Fuck
The Muffin Heads – Snow White
Hannah Moule & The Moulettes – Idiolect Pt.1
Laura Guarch – Fleeting Light
HAAI – Head Above The Parakeets
Whitney Houston – It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay

LISTEN: Laura Guarch – ‘Fleeting Light’

Having established herself as a professional vocalist, with collaborations with ACM Gospel Choir and London Contemporary Voices under her belt, Spanish London-based artist Laura Guarch has now shared her debut single. 

Soaring with Guarch’s stunning crystalline vocals and an anthemic emotion-strewn musicality, ‘Fleeting Light’ builds to an ethereal, glistening soundscape. A cinematic, alt-pop ballad with shades of the other-worldly majesty of the likes of Bjork or Kate Bush. Of the track, Guarch explains:

The idea for Fleeting Light was born on a night looking at the starry sky from a semi-deserted island in Thailand, called Mu Koh Ang Thong. How are the old stars looking at us, humans, and the changes the Earth is experiencing? Fleeting Light imagines million year-old stars looking down on the Earth and watching the history of life on our planet as their Sunday afternoon entertainment.

Listen to ‘Fleeting Light’ here:

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

WATCH: DOLLS – ‘Bubble Bath’

London duo DOLLS’ latest single ‘Bubble Bath’ is as pleasingly frothy as its name suggests. A sugary slice of garage rock, delivered with bucketloads of attitude, it rallies against impossible beauty standards and “toxic nice guys” who feel they are owed a relationship after spending precious time getting to know you as a friend.

With their badass, bubblegum vocals and shout-a-long harmonies, the band, made up of Jade and Bel, turn their anger at these injustices into an empowering, inspiring anthem. Backed by scuzzy guitars, they cry, “we are sisters, mothers, daughters, teachers. Anything. Anything. Anything.” It’s power pop in every sense of the word.

As the band sing “We are either goddesses or whores, beautiful or sluts”, they tackle society’s stupid expectations and contradictions so skilfully – and show everyone that you can have a brilliant time while you do it. Who says you can’t start a revolution on the dance-floor?!

Watch the uplifting, fan-filled, DIY video for ‘Bubble Bath’ now:

‘Bubble Bath’ is taken from DOLLS’ Eggshells EP. It was released as part of the Love Record Store Day event on a beautiful limited edition multi-coloured and etched vinyl LP via iconic soundtrack labels Mondo/Death Waltz, and will be released digitally on 28th August.

Vic Conway

Photo Credit: Keira-Anee Photography