Media Release Tune Into Nature Music Prize Winner
LYDIAH selected as recipient of the inaugural Tune Into Nature Music Prize
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is delighted to announce the winner of the Tune Into Nature Music Prize, originated by Professor Miles Richardson from the Nature Connectedness Research Group at the University of Derby and supported by Selfridges, Tileyard London and YSP. The winner LYDIAH says:
“Becoming the winner of the Tune Into Nature Music Prize has been such a blessing, I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity. It’s definitely going to help me progress as an artist. Having Selfridges play my track in store and to be associated with such an incredible movement for Project Earth is something that I am very proud of and excited for. I’m able to use the funding to support my debut EP, which couldn’t have come at a better time! The Prize is such a great project and the message is so important. I can’t thank Miles, Martyn and everyone who supports it enough.”
Twenty-one year old LYDIAH, based in Liverpool, has been selected as the winner of the Tune Into Nature Music Prize for her entry I Eden. The composition is written from the point of view of Mother Nature and highlights the dangers of humans becoming increasingly distanced from the natural world. LYDIAH will receive a £1,000 grant to support her work, the opportunity to perform at Timber Festival in 2021 and a remix with Tileyard London produced by Principal Martyn Ware (Heaven 17), who says: “I thoroughly enjoyed helping to judge some exceptional entries for this unique competition. Our winner is a very talented young artist who I’m looking forward to meeting and working with to create an exciting remix. As an artist and an activist myself, I hope this will encourage more young people to creatively respond to the issues we face today. We all want the success of this year’s competition to encourage even more entries next year.”
The Prize is the brainchild of Miles Richardson, Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby. The research team at the University of Derby has found that the connection between young people and nature dips during teenage years and takes more than a decade to recover. Research also shows that references to nature in contemporary music have decreased consistently since the 1950s. This matters as a close connection with nature helps both the wellbeing of people and our planet, as people who are tuned into nature are more likely to care for it, as Miles says: “LYDIAH’s lyrics stood out as they tell the story of the importance of the simple things in nature, the birds and the trees - and their beauty. Our research this year shows that tuning into these simple things really matters for nature’s wellbeing and our own wellbeing - yet people tend not to notice them. Through singing of Mother Nature’s loss LYDIAH helps highlight their importance.” I Eden will be broadcast through Selfridges’ flagship store on 3 and 10 October as part of the organisation’s Project Earth initiative which pledges its long-term commitment to creating a more sustainable future for people and the planet.
The Prize was selected by a team comprising Prof. Miles Richardson of the Nature Connectedness Research Group at the University of Derby; Dr Simon Lesley, Course Director of BA (Hons) Popular Music at Birmingham City University; musician Sam Lee; music critic Kristan J Caryl; Selfridges; Tileyard London; and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, to highlight the need for a new relationship with nature and provide vital support for young creative practitioners. It was facilitated by Yorkshire Sculpture Park as part of its mission to be an agent of positive change, bringing people together who wouldn’t otherwise meet to realise shared ambitions.
The judges were impressed by many of the 180 entries and highly recommend a number, which ranged from folk (Iona Lane, Alyshah Monroe); instrumental (Faraaz Hussain); folk/jazz (Sullie Burgess); as well as tracks inspired by the lockdown (Sarah Carton, Niamh Gibbs, Max Greaves); and contemporary tracks inspired by simple pleasures in nature (Caslean, Omar Gutierrez, Tyler Worthington, Shivelights). The judges express their gratitude to everyone who took part.
Listen to the winning entry - I Eden by LYDIAH
LYDIAH Photograph by: Paula Baines
Project partners Press enquiries Svetlana Leu, Sutton: +44 (0)20 7183 3577 / [email protected] Helen Pheby, YSP: +44 (0)7794 061 766 / [email protected]
Listings information Near Wakefield and Barnsley – M1 Junction 38 +44 (0)1924 832631 | ysp.org.uk Open seven days a week, except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Booking essential, via ysp.org.uk
Notes to editors
About LYDIAH LYDIAH is an alternative-folk artist from Liverpool who carries her uniquely soulful vocal with vivid, poetic lyrics. Through her atmospheric and captivating performances, her music draws you in to a world full of complex characters and dark stories. In 2019 she took part in the Levi’s music project in collaboration with Warner Music and artist mentor Loyle Carner. This involved a six month programme with a finale that saw her perform on the main stage at Liverpool’s Soundcity Festival. LYDIAH not only pulls from her own experiences in her songs, but also finds influence (pretty much daily) from life around her.
About the Nature Connectedness Research Group The Nature Connectedness Research Group aims to understand people’s sense of their relationship with the natural world. They create everyday interventions in order to improve this relationship for the wellbeing of humans and nature. By understanding and improving people’s connection to nature, the group aims to bring about associated benefits in wellbeing and pro-nature behaviours. The group’s research has been honoured in the UK’s 100 Best Breakthroughs list, compiled by Universities UK, for its pioneering work looking at people’s sense of their relationship with the natural world. www.derby.ac.uk/NCxRG | Twitter: @findingnature
About Tileyard London Tileyard London is the largest professional entertainment community in Europe, based in London’s Kings Cross. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the once desolate light industrial estate now houses 100 recording studios, 250 creative industry businesses and has enabled more than 1,200 jobs for creative professionals. Current residents of Tileyard London include Sigala, Noel Gallagher, Lily Allen, Sister Bliss, The Prodigy, Spitfire Audio, Platoon, Beats One Radio, Marathon Artists, Sound Advice, Focusrite and many more. Tileyard is now entering a new, exciting phase of expansion with the restoration of historic Rutland Mills site, in Wakefield, in preparation for a 2023 activation of ‘Tileyard North’. www.tileyard.co.uk | www.tileyardeducation.co.uk | www.tileyardnorth.co.uk Instagram: @tileyardlondon | Twitter: @TileyardLondon
About Sam Lee Sam Lee plays a unique role in the British music scene. A highly inventive and original singer, folk song interpreter, a passionate conservationist, committed song collector and a successful creator of live events. Alongside his organisation The Nest Collective and fellow collaborators, Sam has shaken up the live music scene breaking the boundaries between folk and contemporary music and the assumed place and way folksong is heard. He’s injected a renewed passion into this old material, helping to develop its ecosystem by not only inviting in a new listenership but also interrogating what the messages in these old songs hold for us today. With his forthcoming album, Old Wow, he’s summonsed up a truly compelling and emotional album that takes his work to yet another level. www.samleesong.co.uk | Instagram and Twitter: @samleesong
About Kristan J Caryl Kristan J Caryl is a freelance music journalist based in Yorkshire, writing for titles such as DJ Mag, Mixmag, RA and Ibiza-Voice, amongst others. He was a founder of the not-for-profit community online station KMAH Radio in Leeds.
About Professor Simon Lesley Simon Lesley is a Doctor of Music, Composer and Higher Education Lecturer with 19 years teaching experience. He is Course Director of Birmingham City University’s BA (Honours) Popular Music degree and External Examiner at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, London. About Timber Festival Timber Festival is an immersive and revitalising weekend festival in the National Forest celebrating our relationship with trees and woods through carefully curated musical performances, installations, debates and workshops. Timber will next take place 2-4 July 2021. www.timberfestival.org.uk | Twitter: @timber_festival | Instagram: @timberfestival
About Martyn Ware Born in 1956 in Sheffield, Martyn formed the Human League in 1978 and the multimillion selling act Heaven 17 and British Electric Foundation in 1980. As record producer and artist he has featured on recordings totalling over 50 million sales worldwide during a 40 year career to date. Heaven 17 and BEF continue to tour and thrive. Martyn founded Illustrious Co. Ltd. with Vince Clarke in 2000 to exploit the creative and commercial possibilities of their unique 3DAudioScape immersive sound technology in collaboration with fine artists, the performing arts and corporate clients around the world. He also lectures extensively and is Principal of Tileyard Education, and curates a large range of leading arts events. Martyn is also a Visiting Professor at Queen Mary College, University of London, a member of BAFTA, a board member of The Ivor’s Academy, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts. He is a Visiting Professor and DSc at University of London and is the first ambassador for In Place Of War.
About Selfridges Selfridges was founded by American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909 and is widely regarded as the first and best example of a modern department store. In 2003 the Weston family purchased the business and under their ownership Selfridges has become the epitome of a global destination for fashion, luxury and extraordinary retail experiences. Selfridges today continues Harry Gordon Selfridge’s legacy - a shopping experience that promises to constantly surprise, amaze and amuse its customers within its four stores in London, Birmingham and Manchester (Trafford Centre, and Exchange Square) and on an international website that delivers within the UK and to over 130 countries, trading in 11 currencies. Selfridges was named ‘Best Retailer’ at the Positive Luxury Awards 2020, a ‘Best 25 Big Company To Work For’ 2020 as awarded by The Sunday Times, and voted ‘Best Department Store in the World’ at the Global Department Store Summits 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018. www.selfridges.com | Instagram: @theofficialselfridges | Twitter: @Selfridges
About Yorkshire Sculpture Park Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is one of the finest places in Europe to experience modern and contemporary sculpture in the open air. It is situated in Wakefield, the city to have had the world’s first recognised nature reserve, as established by Charles Waterton at Walton Hall in 1821. We host work by some of the world’s most well-known artists from Yorkshire-born Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst to Phyllida Barlow, Huma Bhabha, Gavin Turk, Ai Weiwei and many other major international and emerging artists across 500 acres of 18th century- designed landscape and six galleries. YSP welcomes around 500,000 visitors every year to enjoy and experience art, the landscape and our heritage and each year 40,000 people have contact with our learning programmes. Founded in 1977, YSP is an independent charitable trust and registered museum. www.ysp.org.uk | Instagram: @YSPsculpture | Twitter: @YSPsculpture
Creative Case for Diversity Yorkshire Sculpture Park was founded in 1977 to enable fairer cultural access and opportunity and we are committed to being part of change towards a fairer world. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form and are proactive in our programme, policies and behaviours to address inequalities locally, nationally and internationally. We recognise that economic, social and cultural disadvantage is complex and intersectional and shape our activity accordingly. Diversity and equality are crucial to the arts because they release the true potential of our nation’s artistic talent – from every background. At YSP, we support Arts Council England’s mission – great art and culture for everyone. We share ACE’s commitment to promote and embed diversity in our workforce and cultural programme. This is called the ‘Creative Case for Diversity’.
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