Who Are The Girls? They are Nova Twins! – #2020vision lighting up dark days – and newly announced among fifteen new Ambassadors of the FAC. Appealing to every music loving human demographic (and undoubtedly extra terrestials in our multi verse), Nova Twins latest achievement is extremely exciting.

The FAC is the UK artist trade body. Many high profile names are already involved.

New ambassadors from a diverse range of backgrounds are helping to grow the organisation’s community and amplify it’s message of fair representation for artists.

FAC is delighted to also receive support from two of Britain’s finest musicians and songwriters Johnny Marr and Paloma Faith.

New Artist Ambassadors include Skin, lead singer of multi-million selling British rock band Skunk Anansie. Born of Jamaican heritage and raised in Brixton the singer has created a path for women in a genre traditionally dominated by white men.

The FAC represents artists from around the globe, announcing Canadian DJ, producer and former Radio 1 broadcaster B.Traits as well as one of the founding fathers of House Music; Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers from Chicago. 

Joiningas international ambassadors are Sophia Saze, born in Georgia and based in New York, South African producer Esa and Moscow-born and Denmark-raised artist Anastasia Kristensen. True 21st Century delegation, alongside Paloma Faith, a multi talent tasking inspiration.

Included are London trio Pengshui, tear down any walls between grime and punk at festivals like Glastonbury, Anna Meredith, described as ‘one of the most innovative voices in British music’ by Pitchfork, and Jake Burns, frontman and founder of Belfast’s seminal Stiff Little Fingers.

Simone Marie Butler, DJ, session bass player and bassist with Primal Scream, Welsh producer and multi-instrumentalist The Anchoress (who is also woven into TheZineUK documentary) and Tawiah, who‘s debut album secured support tours with Michael Kiwanuka, are among this latest host of talented Ambassadors.

They are alongside some of the most exciting acts from Manchester, including Afrodeutsche, a British born Ghanaian / Russian / German artist, composer, producer and Children of Zeus, a soul project from Konny Kon & Tyler Daley.

All the above are within and beyond the music industry .

Nova Twins exemplify this. They played our first Expo (40 stalls, a bar and a stage) in a disused Deptford Warehouse) then headlined our ArtBeat Amersham Arms shindig (with Mark Beaumont of NME on the decks) which spawned the ArtBeatFest expo pre-Brexit.

Watch their tale develop.

The world becomes increasingly crazier. Music is a mental salvation (which, in our case includes scenes of Calva Louise’s Jess moshing at the Nova Twins stage invasions!). 

2020 – FAC is increasingly important and generously helpful to artists at all levels.

On Britain’s last day in Europe, January 31st, I met with David Martin, General Manager of FAC, who took time from his hectic schedule to check out clips of Nova Twins, MOSES, Bugeye, The Novus and more. I’m so excited about the newer wave and any support/interest.

It’s not just lip service, The FAC is supportive of our grass roots movement, (Balcony Festival etc).

“I’m delighted to welcome these incredible artists to the FAC family. Right now, perhaps more than ever, people are recognising the value of music. Sadly we are also seeing the devastating impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the industry and the precarious position that many artists are in. This cannot be right for those who are at the very core of making our industry a global success. Therefore we’re delighted that the Artist Ambassadors are coming together and lending their voice to help us support the artist community with the representation and visibility that it needs.” (David Martin, The FAC)

Visibility for what’s happening in rock under the radar, despite Austerity, Dystopia and now Covid-19 is a surreal movie as life. We fight the hostile environment with our #FertileEnvironment of uniqulture. The snapshot above from Sahera Walker’s event.

Another thread of our interdependence, Sahera has laid foundations with Werkhaus on Brick Lane since last Summer. Hope that we can all be in venues again soon.

The rise of fresh forces united is real. Seeing positivity represented is a thrill.

Nova Twins are creators, fashion icons who design sound scapes and enliven make up. Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s in heaven blessing these 21st century punx for kicking Rock Music’s arse with their musical supernature which channels diversity, social inclusion. Sci-fi pedal fuelled bass (Georgia South) and guitar (Amy Love) with rapped non-conformity from sweet hearted cyber stars of the newer wave. Gigs are an absolute RIOT! Of course. My last glimpse was at Neighbourhood Festival in October (‘Who Are The Girls’ album tour 2020 is safety first postponed)

Decolonised, non conformist, DIY chic feminist punks of colour empower the people’s senses. Nova Twins have had to create the identity that didn’t exist for them to reflect. The perfect tour support for Skunk Anansie last year. Like Skin, they are already a national treasure.

The super Nova sound has packed international festivals, sold out tour dates, gained mainstream media (MSM) attention and been the face of Dr. Martens Autumn Winter 2019. 

Nova Twins have worked with Jim Abbiss (Adele, Arctic Monkeys).  Their platform is a pro-active, interactive, fan fuelled tale. Like mad scientists of entertainment invention, even the sky is not the limit. They’ve promoted their peers, including being part of putting Art Beat Central, Lewisham on the creative map (London Borough Of Culture 2021).

Guess what? I know I speak on behalf of many in TheZineUK community when I say we are totally excited that Nova Twins have joined an illustrious alumni at the Featured Artists Coalition.

Amy and George are the Concept and Creative Directors, Costume Designers and Hair/Make-Up artists on their latest video. This is our future.

The FAC’s Board of Directors represents includes the likes of Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, Imogen Heap, Katie Melua, Sandie Shaw and Blur’s David Rowntree as the organisation’s Artist in Residence. 

https://www.thefac.org | Facebook/Instagram: /featuredartistscoalition | Tweet @featuredartists 

Words: Caffy St Luce