Music Space bursaries 2025–25, recipients announced
After a short break we are back with the Music Space bursary programme and very pleased to announce the two new recipients for 2025–26: Adéráyọ̀ and Gem Kinley.
Adéráyọ̀ and Gem were selected by nomination – many thanks to the wonderful nominators including Listen Gallery, anam creative, Han, Radio Buena Via, Widening Access to the Creative Industries at RCS, UP2STNDRD, Gravity Pleasure and Sound Lab. Thanks to Simone Seales and Ailie Ormston who joined us for the selection process and big thanks also to those who applied for the bursary, it was great to learn about new work and we hope to collaborate with the nominees in some capacity in the future.
Over the next nine months Adéráyọ̀ and Gem will receive financial support, monthly mentoring sessions with chosen artists and musicians focusing on creative and professional development, access to equipment including a years membership with Music Broth and Glasgow Library of Synthesized Sound (GLOSS), a residency opportunity supported by the CCA’s Creative Lab programme with technical support, and regular catch ups with the Music Space team to help shape the programme and reflect on progress.
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Adéráyọ̀ (they/she) is a Nigerian-born, Glasgow-based multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans music, movement, moving image, and live performance. Her work explores queerness, migration, the mind, memory, and emotional healing, often combining sound, movement, and visual storytelling to create immersive interdisciplinary experiences.
Adéráyọ̀ uses her voice not only for lyricism but also as an instrument in itself, incorporating whispers, fragments, and resonances. She is equally inspired by dance and intuitive movement, using improvisation and ritual-like repetition to embody states of grief, vulnerability, or release.During the bursary, Adéráyọ̀ is interested in experimenting with layered vocals, polyphonic loops and ambient soundscapes. She is keen to test material in a studio space, establish collaborations with other musicians, sound designers and movement practitioners, and begin shaping her first EP as both a musical and performative project.
Gem Kinley (she/her) is a recent graduate of BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice from the RCS as part of the Transitions Programme, which looks to bring down barriers that may prevent people from accessing the arts. Her practice blends music, performance and writing, she uses her voice to disrupt and release – walking the line between clashing and connection.
Gem is a vocalist and plays guitar and bass. She is inspired by styles like metal and hardcore, as well as indie, R&B and soul. She also performs poetry and monologues, with a passion for Scots language.
During the bursary Gem is interested in developing her technical skills in music production, equipment and performance, including how to create beats, manipulation and distortion of sound. Gem also plans to focus on singing and spoken word, exploring manipulated vocal sounds associated with emotions. She would like to collaborate with other vocalists and musicians and is looking forward to making the most of the membership with Music Broth and GLOSS.
Image credit: Laurie Elliott
