Factory International has announced the fifteen rising stars of Manchester’s music scene selected for the 2026 Factory Sounds artist development programme, supported by adidas Originals for the second consecutive year.
The award-winning scheme, founded in 2021, champions music talent across Greater Manchester with a particular focus on supporting people from underrepresented backgrounds in the sector. Since its inception, Factory Sounds has supported over 50 artists, labels, promoters and more from Manchester’s grassroots scene.
The 2026 cohort includes singer and guitarist Chia Kali, artist and drummer Dahveed, alternative hip-hop artist Derasae, boundary-pushing live and electronic artist Edzor Talez, folk musician Evie Moran, composer and producer Hadi Muhammad, R&B, soul and pop artist Isaac Malibu, songwriter, producer and multimedia artist Lenacha, singer-songwriter and DJ Megan Wroe, electronic artist Mogan, underground rap and hip-hop icons Raise The Bar and Spynal Records, experimental artist and producer Tadhor, soulful R&B songstress Tsana, DJ Uchenna Okafor (Pooch), and three-piece alternative rock band UGLY CLUB.
The programme provides financial support for each artist to use on a project of their choice, alongside mentoring from specialist members of the music sector and Factory International team, and regular workshops in Factory International’s home, Aviva Studios. Previous cohorts have used funding for new releases, studio time, equipment purchases, marketing, music video production, and live events.
Through the partnership with adidas Originals, artists gain enhanced development opportunities including styling, events, networking, and access to the first-of-its kind adidas Originals Recording Studio at Co-op Live, engineered by Abbey Road Studios. Full artist bios and social media links are available on the Factory International website.
The Factory Sounds alumni network showcases the programme’s success in launching careers. 2021 alumnus OneDa released her debut EP Da One during the scheme before collaborating with Mr Scruff and signing with Heavenly Recordings. Her debut album Formula OneDa featured prominently on BBC 6 Music, and she’s performed at Glastonbury, SXSW in Texas and We Out Here.
All-female punk quartet Loose Articles have featured at festivals including Green Man and Reading & Leeds Fest after joining the first Factory Sounds cohort. The band were hand-picked to support the Foo Fighters during their 2024 tour, with their own headline tour set for this year.
The 2025 cohort have already made significant strides, with Shanika Sunrise adding CupcakKe to her roster of supported artists and debuting her latest single ‘f!t’ at Homobloc. Grumpy and Ewan Sim recently played sold-out headline shows at Band On The Wall and Deaf Institute respectively. Further alumni include Rohaan, RIYA, Balraj Singh Samrai, Meduulla, J.Chambers, STEAM Radio MCR, Dirty Freud, All Hands on Deck, Sprechen, James Holt, and Lone Taxidermist.
Factory International’s Head of Music Rivca Burns said: “We’re proud to provide development opportunities that champion the North’s evolving music scene and to welcome a new wave of talent to Factory Sounds. There is so much creativity found right here in Greater Manchester and it was tough to select a final fifteen from all of the incredible applications. It’s a privilege to support this amazing new cohort as they take the next ambitious steps in their careers.”
UGLY CLUB commented: “Being an artist and wanting to create community around your music in an increasingly digital, isolated world is harder than ever. Musicians rely on outlets like Factory Sounds providing invaluable knowledge and expertise to help us navigate the industry. When I got the email through for my band UGLY CLUB I was sat in the studio and literally jumped up and down. This is going to be amazing!”
Raise The Bar MCR and Spynal Records added: “We’re incredibly grateful to receive this funding and support, as it allows us to properly invest in Manchester’s underground rap and hip-hop community in a way that’s often not possible at grassroots level, while keeping ownership and creativity in the hands of the artists themselves.” Edzor Talez said: “Being selected for Factory International Sounds means access to space, support, and belief at a crucial point in my artistic development. It represents an opportunity to deepen my practice, experiment freely, and connect with a wider creative community.”
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