New Music Stage .
Welcome to the New Music Stage. Aesthetica has joined forces with TALENTBANQ, Caffè Nero, and Imagesound to present a bold new competition for live music. This showcase brings together 10 breakthrough acts; it’s a music festival of the UK’s leading film festivals. This year’s line-up spans transcendent vocals, razor-sharp rap, retro-pop anthems, and art-pop experimentation – showcasing artists destined for bigger stages. Join us at York Theatre Royal on 8 November to hear what’s next in contemporary music. With your ticket, you’ll have all-day access to live performances, so you can dip in and out, explore new sounds, and enjoy music on a free-flow basis throughout the day.
Meet the Artists .
BLÁNID
BLÁNID is an Irish singer-songwriter whose music is defined by profound storytelling and rich, transcendent vocals. Supported by delicate acoustic guitar and swelling synths, her songs explore power, desire, violence and redemption. BLÁNID has appeared across national TV and radio, with appearances on RTÉ 1’s The Late Late Show & The Fingal Sessions, and airplay across BBC Radio 6, RTÉ Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1, who described her as having a “completely captivating voice.” With over a million streams amassed on Spotify, and a UK tour supporting folk icon Judy Collins, BLÁNID continues to shine. She has the power to transport you from grief to ecstasy – and everywhere in between.
Crazy James
Surgical flows, ear-grabbing melodies, hard-hitting pace changes. This is Crazy James, an independent UK rapper whose live sets move fast. His first albums, Vol.1 (2021) and Vol 2.3 (2023) set the tone, demonstrating his DIY work ethic and lyrical clarity. Since then, he’s released a string of singles with grit and bounce: They Don’t Want That, Killer Instincts, Till the Morning, Levels, and, in 2025, WHIP IT and B.T.H.D – the last a razor-edged homage to double-time pioneers that sounds firmly now. Crazy James has brought energetic sets to major venues including O2 Academy Islington. Expect tight pockets, clean bar work, call-and-response, and an artist who knows when to sprint and when to let a hook hang.
Daisy Gill
Daisy Gill is a singer-songwriter from Liverpool, whose signature blend of retro pop fuses infectious vintage sounds with contemporary influences. In 2023, her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence earned a rare four-chair turn on The Voice UK. Since then, she’s gathered over 10 million views on TikTok, featured on BBC Radio 6, and performed at Liverpool Pride, Glastonbury and The Royal Albert Hall. From the release of her debut EP It’s Not You, It’s Them, to singles like Telephone and Mess Around, she’s making waves with tracks that defy categorisation. Expect stripped-back ballads and emotional storytelling, as well as high-energy tracks and cinematic synth production. One to watch.
Dilettante
“A dazzlingly skewed pop-vision” – MOJO. Dilettante is the art-pop brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Francesca Pidgeon, based in the North of England. Their sound veers from fuzzy guitars and looped woodwind to soft vaudeville piano ballads, with a smattering of ramshackle percussion and disjointed sax lines. The collective has supported Caribou, Self Esteem and Philip Selway (Radiohead), as well as selling out their own headline shows across the UK. Their unorthodox approach has earned them festival appearances at SXSW, Kendal Calling, Live at Leeds and The Great Escape. For fans of St Vincent, Tune-Yards, Fiona Apple, Billie Holiday, Stephen Sondheim, Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors.
Ewan Sim
Ewan Sim is all about the vocals. Dubbed “one of the best voices in Manchester” by BBC Radio Manchester, he is a solo singer-songwriter making waves in the city and beyond. Fresh from showcasing at SXSW London and Manchester International Festival, Sim brings a raw sound, heartfelt lyrics and poignant storytelling. Sim fuses together elements of indie, pop, rock and soul to create something all his own. His approach has garnered headline sell-out shows, as well as radio plays from BBC Introducing and BBC Manchester, and features in Clash Magazine. Plus, Sim’s debut EP was selected as a Spotify Fresh Find, listed amongst 100 of the best songs from independent artists in UK and Ireland.
Isabel Maria
19-year-old singer-songwriter Isabel Maria is shattering expectations. A BBC Introducing One-to-Watch and North East Culture Award-winner, her music, which navigates mental health, human relationships and self-deprecation, has earned international praise from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Rolling Stone Español. Isabel Maria is based in Sunderland – a recently named an official Music City – and her career began with secret songs written on her grandad’s old Casio. Since then, she’s had hundreds of thousands of streams and shows across the nation. Isabel Maria’s music is a showcase of emotional vulnerability and biting wit. For fans of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams.
Jemma Johnson
Jemma Johnson is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who offers a unique take on alternative pop. Her music has a strong emotional resonance, injecting the sound of the here-and-now with a 1990s pop inflection – think Dido crossed with 21 Pilots. She has played at festivals including Tramlines, Y-Not, The Rising, Live at the Hall (BBC Introducing Stage) as well as MiCannes Festival. Previous releases have landed Spotify curated playlists as well as Radio 1, BBC Introducing and Radio X plays. With a growing fanbase and a string of releases under her belt, Johnson’s incredible songwriting and artistic vision demands attention in 2025. In the words of BBC Introducing’s Dean Jackson: “my mind is blown.”
Kengo
“It’s deeper than lyrics.” Kengo is songwriter and vocalist who channels honesty and lived experience into music that bridges emotion and spirit. These tracks are rich in lyrical depth and melodic sensitivity, speaking about connection, healing and resilience. Kengo draws on personal stories to tap into universal themes of faith, identity and unity. The result: everyday moments as you’ve never heard them before. “I strive to write lyrics that are not just heard, but truly felt. When I sing, I focus on emotional delivery that carries weight and sincerity, aiming to move listeners beyond the surface. I want my songs to be immersive, a safe space where audiences can find strength, hope and wholeness.”
Pleasure Centre
Pleasure Centre is an alt/art rock quintet from the North Yorkshire coast. The group of childhood friends, who are now living together in Leeds, explores cross-genre soundscapes both on-record and on-stage. They take influence from the alt rock movement of the 1980s and 1990s (think MBV, Slowdive, The Jesus and Mary Chain), as well as the catalogue of Radiohead and other modern contemporaries like Wolf Alice and BDRMM. The band crafts songs dedicated to shared memories of growing up, moving out and navigating the world together. Pleasure Centre’s material finds both delicate melodic moments and blissful walls of sound, branching out into ambient electronic corners and back again.
Tarian
Tarian (‘shield’ in Welsh) fuses UK hip hop, emotive pop and singer-songwriter traditions. He’s been described by BBC Radio Wales as producing “the exquisite sound of a vulnerable heart” – influenced as equally by James Blake as it is by Loyle Carner. A classically trained vocalist-turned-producer, he broke through with Half of Mine (in collaboration with Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn), which was featured on Spotify’s The Most Beautiful Songs In The World. It’s now been streamed over 2 million times. Tarian is backed by BBC Introducing and is part of the new wave of ‘Celtic Hip Hop’ emerging from Wales and Ireland – recognised for music that is both heartfelt and boundary-pushing.
Meet the Jury .
The Dunwells
Artist
Brothers Joe and David grew up in Leeds, and were influenced by their mother’s love of music and their father’s passion for classical guitar. They have since had considerable success playing Major festivals like SXSW, Lollapalooza, and Winnipeg Folk Festival, and sharing a stage with Ed Sheeran, Mumford and sons and Foy Vance.
Fauzia Habib
Artist
Fauzia Habib is a British-Somali DJ, producer, and vocalist known for her blend of footwork, jungle, and experimental electronic music. A regular on London’s NTS Radio, she has performed at venues like Berghain and Tate Modern. Fauzia’s innovative work has earned her recognition such as a 2022 DJ Mag Awards remix nomination.
Jack Savoretti
Artist
Jack Savoretti is a British singer-songwriter celebrated for his soulful voice, poetic songwriting, European influence, and blend of folk pop. He has released eight studio albums, including two UK Number Ones: Singing to Strangers (2019) and Europiana (2021). Savoretti has collaborated with artists like Kylie Minogue and Nile Rodgers.
James Gamble
CEO of TALENTBANQ
James Gamble is the Chief Executive Officer of TALENTBANQ, a leading London-based live music agency dedicated to discovering, promoting, and supporting independent artists. They focus on delivering income for emerging artists through exceptional live performance opportunities at venues across the capital and the UK.
Kat Day
Artist
Kat Day is one half of the British, Berlin-based audiovisual duo The KVB, known for their immersive blend of post-punk, shoegaze, and electronic music. Together, The KVB has released five acclaimed studio albums and numerous Eps. They’ve toured globally, supporting acts like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Editors, and The Soft Moon.
Pablo Ettinger
Caffè Nero Co-Founder
Pablo Ettinger has enjoyed a highly successful career and is best known as a founding partner of Caffè Nero. Today, he dedicates much of his time to supporting start-ups as both an investor and mentor. His passion for music has also shaped his entrepreneurial journey—he co-founded Talentbanq.com, and more recently founded MusicGurus.com.
Rachel Croft
Artist
Rachel Croft is an internationally acclaimed musician and artist. Her work has featured on Netflix, BBC Two, and premiered on global platforms including CMT (USA) and the BBC. Rachel’s distinctive sound has filled iconic venues such as The Bitter End (New York), The Bluebird Cafe (Nashville), and Camden Assembly (London).
Rachel Hill
Futuresound Group
Rachel Hill is the current project manager for Futuresound Group, a leading live music and events company based in Leeds, promoting the North’s vibrant music scene. Their portfolio includes festivals, such as Live at Leeds and Slam Dunk Festival They also run Dance to the Radio, an in-house label supporting innovative emerging artists.
Rob Clark
Head of Media at Imagesound
Rob Clark is Head of Media at Imagesound Group where he oversees the strategic direction and execution of media planning and audio‑visual content creation Based in Nottinghamshire, England, Rob plays a pivotal role in bridging the company’s creative vision with effective media delivery to clients such as Tesco, Next, and Caffè Nero.