1-to-1 Mentoring
1-to-1 guidance from experienced industry professionals
Our mentoring programme offers support and guidance to young people coming through Grounded Sounds’ projects. The programme is designed to take participants to the next step in their careers by giving access to a professional network as well as insight into the music industry.
So far, over 40 young people have now been through the mentoring programme.
Our experienced mentors work on a voluntary basis and provide 1-to-1 support for 18-24 year-olds who are interested in pursuing a career in the music industry. Here’s a quote from one of our mentees:
“My mentoring sessions have been such a great experience, Bee has reassured me that I have a natural talent and that I shouldn’t doubt my abilities, as well as helping me to expand my songwriting by writing lyrics and melody without my instrument - to help me write in different styles. Every month she has given me a new challenge especially with performing live. Bee is an amazing mentor, and has taught me a lot which I’m very thankful for.”
How it works
Mentors and mentees are paired based on expertise and the mentee’s goals for their future. They work work with each other over a minimum of 3 sessions with a focus goal and outcome to achieve.
Mentors are available to young people who have completed one of our 18+ programmes as a next step in their journey with us.
If you are interested in becoming a Grounded Sounds mentor, please do get in touch via the contact page
Meet some of our Mentors (past and present)
Fabio De Oliveira
In 2014 Fabio landed the job as drummer for George Ezra, touring extensively and performing on some of the world's biggest stages including Glastonbury Pyramid Stage, Madison Square Gardens, and The Brits. Fabio has also backed George Ezra on T.V shows such as Saturday Night Live, Ellen, and The Graham Norton Show.
Speech Debelle
Speech won a Mercury Prize for best British album in 2009. She curated an exhibition at South Bank for Koestler Trust. She’s been a semi-finalist on Celebrity Masterchef 2013 and presented a documentary on youth homelessness for BBC3.
Adam Hayes
Adam is a self taught professional freelance drummer, who also regularly performs on cajon, udu, and various other percussion instruments. Adam is currently touring and recording with a selection of UK (and beyond) acts.
Bee Bakare
Bee is a singer-songwriter, live music host & events organiser. As well as performing internationally, she is the founder of Soul Stripped Sessions supporting women in music. She has also featured on BBC one’s TV show “All Together Now” as a Singing Judge.
Sherika Sherard
Sherika is a full-time busker, and a well-known performer on the London music scene and has gone on to take international bookings. Seal invited Sherika to open for 2 of his shows and legendary Film director Spike Lee personally picked her song “We Don’t Need a Reason” to feature in his Netflix Series of “She’s Gotta Have it”.
Zoe Konez
Zoe Konez is a songwriter, producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist, also working as a musician in hospital wards. She has toured across Europe in recent years and hosts a regular acoustic showcase event called, Stop Look Listen with drummer and long term collaborator Will Connor.
Tom Cotton
Tom is the Art Director at Atlantic Records. Some of Tom and his teams successes include Anne-Marie, Mahalia, and Charlie Puth.
Valerio Lysander
Valerio moved from Rome in 2013 and since then he has built his music career in England and abroad, performing in prestigious venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, the Troubadour and Green Note in London. In 2016 he was among the 10 nominees for Best Male in the Best of British Unsigned Awards.
Breis
BREIS (breeze) has toured internationally and shared the stage with world class artists such Angie Stone and Big Daddy Kane. He is the author of Brilliant Rappers Educate Intelligent Students – the UK’s premiere interactive rap book and is the CEO of Student of Life Ltd, a Hip Hop Education company/Record label.
Nina Fine
Nina Fine is a singer-songwriter and co founder of Women In Jazz. Women In Jazz created a show on Soho Radio to champion and nurture female Jazz musicians across the UK and has partnered with Gilles Peterson’s radio station Worldwide FM, Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz FM, Kansas Smitty’s and Shoreditch House to produce live events, Radio and DJ workshops.
Lauren Deakin-Davies
Lauren’s work has received Sunday Times Culture Reviews and radio airplay on BBC 2 and 6 Music. Lauren now works as Gary Barlow’s production assistant.
Andrea Goldsworthy
Andrea has toured and performed with Ladytron, The Orb, and Kate Nash, performing in Paloma Faith’s band since 2008. Her many performances include Glastonbury, Coachella, iTunes London and Jools Holland as well as the Live Lounge on Radio One.