Jamz Supernova is a UK-based DJ/tastemaker. Not too long ago, she announced a genre-bending night at SXSW of exciting talent from the UK. The show will be curated by Jamz and supported by the British Council in partnership with British Underground and Folded Wing.
“Selector is about the independence and diversity of UK music and taking it out into the world. Bringing all these bands together for one night for SXSW will produce a sensational evening of sound.” — stated Joel Mills, British Council director of music
Selector Presents Jamz Supernova will take place at Seller’s Underground at 213 W 4th St, Austin, Texas, 78701, on Thursday, March 16, starting at 8 pm CT. Feature performers include fast-rising UK talents: British Latinx singer Desta French (8 pm), alt-R&B singer-songwriter TYSON (9 pm), electronica-jazz collective Ishmael Ensemble (10 pm), jazz-punk collective Robocobra Quartet (11 pm), avant-garde art-pop artist Jessica Winter (12am), and Jamz Supernova (1 am). The performances will be recorded for Selector Radio, which has been produced by Folded Wing since 2010. The entertainment will be played out to the show’s four million listeners across 40 countries over the coming weeks.
Jamz Supernova
“Such a joy and a privilege to not only go to SXSW for the first time but be trusted to curate a stage. I’m so proud of our eclectic line up. It really showcases how exciting our musical UK offering is.” – Jamz Supernova stated
What unites these artists, despite their far-ranging sounds and influences, is the magnetic force of Jamz Supernova, who handpicked and curated this lineup from her experience as a label head, radio host, DJ, podcaster, and overall tastemaker. She’s been broadcasting in the industry for over a decade, though she’s only 32. Also, she’s known to fans for slots on BBC Radio 1Xtra (Best Specialist ARIA Gold Winner 2021), BBC 6Music (Broadcast & Press Guild Best Radio Show of 2022), and Selector Radio for the British Council, reaching over four million global listeners.
Jessica Winter
Jessica Winter is an artist who doesn’t belong to one genre, scene, or group, nor is confined by sound; but by song. Taking inspiration from everyday life experiences, she explores sounds from the ’80s, trap, indie, and back around to pure pop. The avant-garde art rock artist just released her latest EP, “Limerence,” on February 10, and is currently on tour supporting Rebecca Black. Also, Jessica is working on her debut album, which is set to be released in 2024.
Ishmael Ensemble
Helmed by producer and saxophonist, Pete Cunningham, Ishmael Ensemble’s music straddles the worlds of electronica and jazz. Comprising a shifting cast of collaborators, steered by Cunningham’s cross-genre approach as a producer, the Bristol collective explore vast sonic terrain with an honesty, intimacy, and emotional heft that is uniquely their own.
Ishmael Ensemble rose to acclaim with their debut album, “A State Of Flow” (2019). The project imbues lush, cinematic compositions with left-field dub and electronic sensibilities, leading to Maida Vale sessions for BBC6 Music’s Gilles Peterson and Tom Ravenscroft. The sophomore album, “Visions Of Light” (2021), saw Cunningham reimagine what the ensemble could do, working with various collaborators to explore soaring strings, writhing electronics, and jagged guitars – leading to festival slots including Glastonbury (West Holts Stage) and New York’s Winter Jazz Festival. Following a 17-date UK & EU Tour, including sell-out shows at London’s Jazz Café and Bristol’s Thekla. Ishmael Ensemble was also the subject of a lengthy feature on the BBC documentary, Jazz UK: Spitting Fire.
Robocobra Quartet
Combining the improvisation of jazz, the humor of standup, and the intensity of punk, experimentation is at the core of Robocobra Quartet from Belfast, Ireland. On stage, the band is protons and electrons circling drummer-vocalist Chris W Ryan; meticulous arrangements and on-the-spot improvisations hang on every word spoken, sung, and shouted by Ryan. These words and rhythms are what propel the music of Robocobra Quartet forward and concoct a sound that is groove-driven but cerebral too, invoking the likes of Fugazi, Talking Heads, and contemporaries such as Black Midi, Squid, and BadBadNotGood. The free nature of the band’s live shows led to them being embraced early on by jazz fanatics just as much as rock fans.
TYSON
Singer, songwriter, record label co-owner, and model, TYSON, was born in London to a deeply musical family. She is the daughter of Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack’s Cameron McVey. Her sister is Mabel, a pop singer.
TYSON’s effortlessly cool alt-R&B sound has earned her accolades including Breakthrough Act of the Year 2022 at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards and found her collaborating with a multitude of talented artists including Joy Orbison and Ezra Collective, soundtracking Stella McCartney’s SS23 runway show in Paris, modeling for Bottega Veneta, joining Sudan Archives on tour, and performing/speaking at a host of festivals worldwide. TYSON’s emotive vocal stylings range from stylishly soulful to experimentally boundless. In addition to making her own music, TYSON also founded her own record label, Ladies Music Pub.
Desta French
Desta French is a Camden-born artist spearheading a new Latinx London sound. Her range of influences spans R&B, Salsa, Cumbia, Latin Jazz, and hip-hop, which you can hear throughout her music – contributing to her colorful catalog and unmistakable sound.
Songs like “Guajira” and “Into the Wave” from her debut bi-lingual EP, “San Lazarus,” in 2020 have been laying down a blueprint for a new generation of British Latinx creatives — unique from the internationally-recognized diaspora established in the United States and the rest of the world. More recently, her EP, “Bendecida,” explores ideas of faith, romance, and cultural identity inspired by the matriarchs who raised her.
SELECTOR RADIO
Presented by Jamz Supernova and broadcast in more than 35 countries around the world, Selector Radio connects a global audience to anything and everything that’s exciting in British music right now. They take you on a virtual tour of the UK, dropping you into the heart of cities like Bristol, Belfast, Cardiff, and Glasgow to listen to the best-emerging talent. Jazz, grime, indie, or electronica – or somewhere in between – each week they put together a truly eclectic playlist and catch up with the artists and labels who are leading the way in UK music. Selector Radio is a Folded Wing production for the British Council.
THE BRITISH COUNCIL
The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. They support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding, and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. They do this through their work in arts and culture, education, and the English language. Also, they work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021-22, they reached over 650 million people.
THE BRITISH UNDERGROUND
The British Underground curates and produces international showcase and streaming projects in music and the arts. They are an Arts Council England NPO and PRSF Talent Development Partner working across cultures from Stormzy to the Royal Shakespeare Company. They have 20 years of experience producing significant showcases and events at South by Southwest, in Austin, Texas, (SXSW).
FOLDED WING – Where Sound Takes Flight
Straight out of Essex, Folded Wing is passionate about producing content that makes a difference. Collaborations with artists, creators, producers, and musicians allow them to take risks and develop new opportunities in the creative space. They forge top-flight partnerships with brands, the BBC, and cultural organizations reaching global audiences with award-winning podcasts, documentaries, and globally syndicated radio shows. Folded Wing has a proven track record in nurturing talent on and off the mic, and a long-standing commitment to increasing diversity in audio. They operate from the east coast of England and in London, Manchester, and Belfast.
We recommend attending Selector Presents Jamz Supernova via SXSW 2023 in Austin, Texas. Also, let us know how you feel in the comment section below. Mel Blanc’s famous catchphrase, That’s All Folks! Thanks for reading another great article on Bong Mines Entertainment – the hot spot for new music and entertainment news. Always remember that (P) Positive, (E) Energy, (A) Always, (C) Creates, (E) Elevation (P.E.A.C.E). Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, and let us know what’s going on. Disclaimer: This post contains Apple Music affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link, we’ll collect a share of sales or other compensation.