Small Pond announce 'Emerging' initiative release

21 August 2025 - Press release

Small Pond is excited to announce that their “Emerging” project is back for 2025. The initiative is giving 20 talented young acts (aged 16-25) in Brighton, Crawley, and surrounding areas, the opportunity to rehearse, record and release their music via Small Pond’s studio, label and marketing setup. The scheme, which has been awarded funding from Arts Council England, focuses on giving promising artists the opportunity to experience all stages in the production and promotion of a record. The process will culminate in the pressing and distribution of a compilation album on 12-inch vinyl, and digital platforms, set for release on 14th November 2025.

The first track to be revealed from the forthcoming comp is Hollowpoint’s ‘wait til morning’.A heady mix of emo, hardcore and shoegaze, Hollowpoint formed in Brighton in 2023. ‘wait til morning’ leads the charge for the compilation with an epic wall of sound and emotive lyrics “about realising that someone isn’t quite as special as you made them out to be, it’s sad.” See below for a full list of bands who will have tracks appearing on the compilation.

The launch event for the release at The Green Door Store in Brighton on 15th November will see the bands involved picking up their copies of the LP, which will be followed by a free entrance rowdy show with a few of the participants set to grace the stage. Details below.

Now in its fifth edition, the Emerging Artists compilation has helped a ton of bands get some experience, free rehearsals, pre-production and recording time, and have their music be put on a wax disc for a proper release campaign. It’s provided a stepping stone for some key Brighton artists in the past, including el moono, CLT DRP and Lambrini Girls.

‘Emerging Volume V’ artists:

Fred Bennett