Music / Awards
Pioneering music tech initiative wins Radio 1 award
A Bristol-based organisation set up to revolutionise the music industry has been recognised by the Radio 1 Dance Awards.
Saffron was presented with the Cultural Champion award at the ceremony by DJ and radio presenter Martha.
The project was set up as a response to a marked imbalance in music tech, with women, non-binary and trans people occupying less than 5 per cent of the industry.
To redress this inequality they run production courses, music industry workshops and a members’ club for marginalised genders.
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Saffron was founded in Bristol and now also runs courses in Birmingham and London as well as online.
The annual Radio 1 Dance Awards reflects on the biggest moments in dance music over the past year, highlighting artists, records, mixes and venues that have made the biggest impact.
The Culture Champion award is given to: ‘Someone who has used dance music to create a positive societal impact.’
The award was collected by Saffron founder Lizzy Ellis who DJs as Proverb and has an occasional show on Noods radio.
She confirmed a forthcoming partnership with GRAMMY winner FKA Twigs, saying she couldn’t reveal more than “she’s going to be involved in some bits and bobs” other than that “she’s very much on board and has been very supportive, saying Saffron is addressing exactly the kind of things she has experienced over her career”.
The Saffron team – photo: Giulia Spadafora
The award was welcomed warmly by luminaries of Bristol’s music scene, with Holysseus Fly, Bethany Ley and photographer Giulia Spadafora among the well wishers online.
Saffron is at an exciting stage of its development, celebrating its 10th birthday last year and a new major project with nine Bristol artists recording at Real World studios currently underway. They were also shortlisted in the music category of the Bristol Legends awards, with the winners announced at the event on March 6.
Main image: Saffron
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