RISE UP. THE CLASS OF ‘25
This year, City Splash welcomed six incredible talents from across the globe to our Rise Up programme. Taking place across both London and the Caribbean, the scheme is designed to platform and support the next generation of City Splash headliners!
Our 2025 cohort featured artists who push the boundaries of Caribbean music:
Jaz Elise – Multi-talented artist from Kingston, Jamaica
Nesta – Alternative reggae artist from New York with Jamaican roots
Ras-I – Roots reggae musician from Kingston, Jamaica
Raebel – Afro Dancehall artiste from Nigeria
elevatetoday – Reggae artist born in Jamaica, raised in Manchester
Savannah Dumetz – Soulful singer-songwriter from South London, of Jamaican heritage
City Splash offered them an exclusive creative residency designed to widen their reach, deepen their understanding of the industry, and stretch their skills.
First up, we hosted a press workshop, aimed at developing our artists' PR and media skills. From online presence to the importance of building your community, our artists were given a media masterclass by the press team behind City Splash. Exposure for this talented group was given by Ras Kwame on Capital XTRA, and Seani B and Radio 1 Xtra, promoting their sound and their story across the airwaves.
We also gave our Rise Up artists a space to explore their sound at our songwriting camp with leading producers and session musicians. Held at the iconic Strongroom Studios in the heart of Shoreditch, this camp was a place for these incredible artists to flex their creativity and collaborate. The results were beautiful, but you’ll have to wait to hear them…
Rise Up also collaborated with the international media and arts conference SXSW, placing our spectacular cohort in front of hundreds of industry professionals at an exclusive City Splash Takeover. This allowed them to network and connect with those who stay in the know, platforming their creativity to an audience of global tastemakers.
But it didn’t stop there, viral sensation DJ AG hosted a special livestream featuring performances from all six of our artists, showcasing their music to the online community.
On May Bank Holiday Monday, our six artists each took to the stage at City Splash 2025. In the heart of Brixton, they performed their tracks to a 30,000-strong crowd. Sharing a bill with the likes of Spice and Tarrus Riley, our artists were part of the world’s largest one-day celebration of Caribbean and African culture.
The importance of platforming Caribbean musical excellence has never been greater, and Rise Up 2025 proved that the abundance of talent is only getting bigger. We can’t wait to do it again next year.