 and Amazon Music are delighted to announce an expansion of their Step Up Fund by providing free studio time for five independent artists at The Breakthrough Lab, the professional recording studio space created by a partnership between Amazon Music and Metropolis Studios. ){kind=link}
For a second year running, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Amazon Music are delighted to announce an expansion of their Step Up Fund by providing free studio time for five independent artists at The Breakthrough Lab, the professional recording studio space created by a partnership between Amazon Music and Metropolis Studios.
This is in addition to the ten artists who received Step Up grants in July 2026.
With Amazon Music and Metropolis Studios providing further support for engineering costs, the five artists to benefit are Defences, Lemonade Shoelace, Pencil, Saïna and Sol Paradise. (See bios below.)
All will enjoy three days at the bespoke state-of-the-art production facility, based at Metropolis, Europe’s leading independent recording studio.
In celebration of Step Up’s fifth anniversary, the FAC and Amazon Music will also host a special live Artist’s Voice showcase event on Wednesday 16th September at London’s legendary Barfly venue.
Presented in partnership with Signature Brew and Orange Amplifiers, the free entry show will feature performances from some of Step Up’s 2026 cohort, including MOBO-winning duo, ALT BLK ERA, Ashaine White, Defences and Lemonade Shoelace.
Please see full details here. Those wishing to attend must RSVP to guarantee entry.
David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition:
“With the generous support of Amazon Music, I am delighted we can yet again expand Step Up’s commitment to emerging UK talent – providing five brilliant artists and bands with free studio time at The Breakthrough Lab. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop their craft and make use of some genuine state-of-the-art facilities.
“I’m also incredibly excited we can celebrate Step Up’s successes with this special Barfly show. It’s been a real honour to support artists like ALT BLK ERA, Ashaine, Defences and Lemonade Shoelace, and I can think of no better way to mark Step Up’s fifth anniversary.”
Laura Lukanz, Head of Music UK, Australia & New Zealand, Amazon Music:
“At its heart, Step Up has always been about removing barriers for independent artists, and five years into this partnership with the FAC, that mission feels more important than ever. Giving Defences, Lemonade Shoelace, Pencil, Saïna and Sol Paradise access to The Breakthrough Lab is exactly the kind of support that can transform careers, and we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone at the Barfly on 16th September.”
Defences:
“We are thrilled to receive this support from the FAC. They do an amazing job championing the interests of artists in an increasingly challenging industry, and we are honoured to be part of their growing community! We will be using this studio time as an inspiring place to produce and record new music.”
Saïna:
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to be involved in Step Up at such a pivotal time, alongside one of my biggest projects yet. Getting back on stage, recording at The Breakthrough Lab with access to recording and live instrumentation, and receiving support from FAC and Amazon Music team gives me a real chance to showcase my EP, Hotel 555, in different angles – from live sessions to remixes.”
The FAC and Amazon Music’s collaboration on the Step Up Fund goes back to 2022.
The initiative was established in response to the accumulation of financial and structural challenges facing upcoming, independent artists. Since then, more than 50 artists have been provided grants totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. This financing can be used towards any element of a creative project – all with the aim of helping them take their careers to the next level.
2026’s Step Up awardees were ALT BLK ERA, anaiis, Ashaine White, CowboyHunters, DEELA, happydaze, Jords, Leonie Biney, Olympia Vitalis and Y U QT.
Earlier this year, the FAC partnered with London-based brewery Signature Brew and the iconic British amplifier brand Orange Amplification to launch a special edition of Backstage IPA. Only available at independent music venues – including the Barfly – profits from every pint sold are being donated to the FAC, funding our work to support UK artists.
Matt Reynolds, Brand Marketing Manager, Signature Brew:
“Signature Brew was built on collaborating with artists and throughout our 15 year history we’ve always endeavoured to champion and support musicians at all stages of their career. When we were presented with the opportunity to collaborate with Orange Amps it was easy to see the many core values we shared as independent businesses so engrained in the UK music scene.
“Building on the great work Orange Amps were doing to support the FAC with our Backstage IPA felt like a no-brainer. The work that the FAC does for independent musicians is key to keeping the scene alive in a landscape that can be unforgiving to say the least, so given my own background as a touring musician I jumped at the chance to lend a helping hand.
“The natural next step was always going to be to take this collab on the road, and I’m very proud to say that we’ll be bringing Backstage IPA to the FAC’s ‘Artist’s Voice’ showcase at Camden Barfly, an iconic venue that was integral to my own journey as a musician.”
Sarah Yule, Managing Director, Orange Amps
“Orange has always believed that the future of music depends on giving new artists the opportunity to be heard. Grassroots venues, independent artists and organisations like the FAC are where that future is nurtured, and supporting them is something we feel genuinely passionate about. This is why the Signature Brew collaboration made so much sense to us – to support music directly where it happens
“For nearly six decades, Orange has grown alongside the artists and communities that make music heard. We know talent needs places to play, opportunities to create and people willing to back it. We’re incredibly proud to support the Step Up programme, and the FAC, for this awesome night at a legendary venue. We will keep playing our part in giving the next generation of artists the chance to make some noise.”
Meet the 2026 Step Up Breakthrough Lab awardees:
Defences
Over three albums, two EPs and numerous singles, Defences have generated millions of streams and built an intensely loyal fanbase – receiving extensive playlisting on BBC Radio 1, as well as airplay support from Kerrang! Radio, and major endorsements with Jackson Guitars and Mapex Drums.
Following two well-attended UK headline tours in 2025, the band embarked upon three European tours, and performed at Download, Reeperbahn, SXSW London, and The Great Escape. After supporting Røry across the UK/EU and headlining Submit Fest (NL), the band toured with Mason Hill in 2026, headlined High Wycombe’s Phoenix Festival and played a standout slot at RodaRock Festival in Germany, solidifying their growing presence in mainland Europe.
Lemonade Shoelace
Inspired by the surreal and grounded in modern pop, Lemonade Shoelace is the psychedelic project of Ruairi Richman. Blending nostalgia and the futuristic, Ruairi has performed as far as Mexico City, Texas, Paris and Sweden.
Having supported the likes of Yungblud, Unknown Mortal Orchestra & Sports Team, Lemonade Shoelace has taken a break from touring in recent years to focus rigorously on songwriting and experimenting in the studio, emerging with Magnetised: a collection of five prismatic psych-pop songs proving a sharper focus, brighter palettes and a new era for sound and aesthetics.
Pencil
A five-piece London band, Pencil have recently welcomed a new guitarist, Soph Nathan, to their ranks – releasing the single Wingman in late 2025. Gracing festivals and venues across the UK and Europe with their ensemble synergy, they have built a reputation as an enthralling and unmissable live act – performing early packed-out shows at Green Man and The Great Escape.
Following a debut 2023 single on Moshi Moshi, the band have self-released a string of further tracks – supporting The Japanese House, receiving media support from the likes of So Young and securing a 6 Music Session with Marc Riley.
Saïna
Based in North West London, Saïna is a BRIT School graduate who excels as a singer-songwriter, producer and DJ. Influenced by the metropolitan diversity of her home city, she blends Alternative R&B, Neo-Soul and Electronic sounds while exploring Japanese folk sounds and lyrics.
Recognised through live performances at venues such as XOYO, Hootananny, Tape London and Bush Hall, Saïna has also performed at ADE with Pastel, and supported acts such as Bluey Robinson, RUBII and Lewis Fitzgerald. In turn, this has led to support from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio London, Balamii, Reprezent Radio and more. Saïna’s collaboration with Jackson Homer, Movie, was selected as track of the week on BBC 1XTRA, as well as placement on editorial playlists like Fresh Finds, New Music Friday and Life Sucks.
Sol Paradise.
Described by Gilles Peterson as a “great new talent”, Sol is a London-born solo artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer who operates in the UK’s alt-jazz scene. Named Spotify’s Fresh Finds Artist of the Month and cover star of Fresh Finds UK, he has also made big waves on the live circuit, with eight consecutive sold-out headline shows in London, and a fully sold-out Summer 2025 UK tour spanning Glasgow, Bristol, Brighton and Norwich, culminating in a triumphant hometown finale at a packed Omeara. He finished last year with his first international sell-out headline show in Paris, another sold-out London headline at Dalston Curve Garden in September, before joining Emma-Jean Thackray on her UK tour in November – closing out at KOKO.
In 2026, Sol released a new track, Shelter, and continues to receive support from key tastemakers, including John Kennedy (Radio X), Huw Stephens (BBC 6 Music), Angela Griffin (BBC Radio 2), and Jess Iszatt (BBC Introducing).