In conversation: MĀDŁY on 10 years of Seedling Sessions
Ten years after the first Seedling Sessions, founder MĀDŁY is marking the anniversary with a Black History Month special at Trinity.
This Sunday, 11 October, seven musicians take to the stage alongside visual artists showcasing and selling their work, as Seedling Sessions joins forces with Black Creatives.
Ahead of the night, we caught up with MĀDŁY about ten years of creating space for emerging artists, what excites her about Bristol’s music scene right now and what she hopes Seedling Sessions can make possible next.
Q: Seedling Sessions is turning 10 this year. Can you tell us a bit about this year’s event and what you’ve got planned?
Seedling Sessions is turning 10 to the day on Sunday, 11th October, and for the occasion I wanted a slightly different format than usual. Instead of having 3 acts from different genres of music, we are showcasing 7 Bristol musicians with different music journeys.
Q: You’re working with Black Creatives for this Black History Month edition. How did that collaboration come about?
I've been wanting to collaborate with Black Creatives for some time, and thought what better occasion to do so than during Black History Month. The Black creative community is very diverse and full of up-and-coming artists, which totally matches with the essence of the event. Being a black creative myself, it makes even more sense to use my platform to highlight fellow musicians.
We are delighted to be joined by artists mixing painting, photography, prints and litterature
Q: There’s a real mix this year, with music, visual art, food and community all part of the programme. What brought those different elements together?
Since it is BHM, we decided to not only focus on music, but put the spotlight on other art forms. Rider Shafique, one of the founders of Bristol's Black Creatives, has put out a call for artists wanting to have a stall to exhibit and sell their art. We are delighted to be joined by artists mixing painting, photography, prints and litterature; Celebrating Black Culture featuring artists including Yum Yum Art, Jodi Hunt and Rider Shafique.
Q: Some of the artists on the line-up, including KWAZI and TIA, are getting a lot of attention through projects like Steeze Factory. What’s exciting you about Bristol’s music scene at the moment?
Bristol's music scene is so eclectic and diverse, it's mind-blowing. I love how a lot of artists are not sticking to only one genre of music and explore a wide palette. I admire how independent the scene still is and how supportive the Bristol community is.
Just like the artists it has promoted over the years, the night developed and got bigger.
Q: Seedling Sessions has been going for 10 years now. What do you think its role is in Bristol’s music and creative scene?
I would like to think that Seedling Sessions is a grassroots showcase that has helped some independent artists and has seen the start of great acts like Holysseusfly or Snazzback. Just like the artists it has promoted over the years, the night developed and got bigger. Since 2024, it has moved to Trinity, which is an iconic independent venue in Bristol. Celebrating 10 years in a grassroots venue, celebrating 50 years only feels right. Trinity being legendary in Bristol, offering an opportunity for up-and-coming artists to play there is a bonus.
Q: And looking ahead, what would you like Seedling Sessions to keep building or making possible?
I would like Seedling Sessions to become a renowned space for emerging talents to get on the radar of bigger promoters, using the space as a stepping stone for their careers. Offering off-stage roles opportunities is also an important part of the programme, as musicians are not the only ones facing challenges breaking into the industry.
See Seedling Sessions Celebrating Black History
Seedling Sessions celebrates its 10th anniversary at Trinity on Sunday 11 October, with seven musicians performing alongside work from Black visual artists available to explore and buy on the night.
