Liverpool is known for 2 legendary football teams, being one of the UK’s friendliest cities and the incredible creative industry. This Black History Month we want to spotlight some of our local artists making waves on a citywide and national scale.
Hannah Lynch
Hannah is a DJ and ¼ of Girls Don’t Sync. Born and bred in Toxteth, Hannah states that ‘being a scouser and growing up in Liverpool had a massive impact on my musical journey’ which is huge considering Girls Don’t Sync have had sets in some of the biggest venues and festivals including Glastonbury, Creamfields, Lost & Found, Parklife and Boomtown to name a few! The four-piece collective, who met and established themselves in Liverpool, are pioneers in the DJ industry. They have shared their experience of being ‘patronised by men both in real life and online who underestimated their craft’ and have supported aspiring DJs in their local community and are hoping to expand the teaching element of their group, with a focus on building women’s confidence in a male-dominated industry.
PAPU Raf
Originally from Bolton, PAPU Raf has made a name for himself in the Liverpool music scene. Performing at student favourite Baltic Weekender and at the launch of 2024’s most anticipated spot, Boxpark, he describes his sets as mainly ‘amapiano, but also ventures into afrobeats, afro-house, house and garage’. You can find PAPU Raf hosting Chop.Life at 24 Kitchen Street and on Soundcloud.
Ni Maxine
Singer-songwriter Ni Maxine has been described as being ‘at the forefront of the UK jazz scene.’
From performing at the Cavern Club for her BBC Introducing session, to a sold-out show at the Liverpool Philharmonic and even shooting the video for Changing Every Day in Arts bar’s dance studio, she has kept this city in the heart of her music. Maxine has also co-founded The Wombat Jazz Club, an ‘independent, artist-led label’ who’s goal is to ‘spark intergenerational conversations for change, through music.’
Ashleigh Nugent
Writer, performer and award-winning artist Ashleigh Nugent has a wealth of publishing credits under his belt. His debut novel, Locks, was published in 2023, and is inspired by his own experience as a 17-year-old. Main character Aeon is ‘desperate to find his Black roots and understand the Black identity foisted upon him by his community’ and embarks on a journey to Jamaica that takes a wrong turn.
Ashleigh is also the director of Rise Up. Driven by his own experience, Rise Up work with communities, prisons and other organisations to host projects that help change the lives of those who have had challenging pasts and help break the cycle.
André Jahnoi
Self-defined advocate, academic and artiste André Jahnoi uses his music ‘as a bridge between worlds’ of his British upbringing and Afrikan heritage. His lyrics are purposeful, as his music mirrors his advocacy for social change, and his performances are captivating as his music ‘combines Caribbean rhythm, wheel-and-come wordplay and radical Rastafari thought.’
His debut album, Akoben, was released earlier this year.