Navigating the Music Industry as an Independent Artist with Cristale, Finn Foxell, and Jords

Ever wondered how to launch your own independent music career? Or how to juggle multiple creative roles and make a living from your passion? Join us for a live panel discussion with Notion, where we’ll explore the highs and lows of becoming a successful independent music artist with three rising independent artists (Cristale, Finn Foxell and Jords) who have built their careers from the ground up, and will share practical insights into navigating the music world as a freelancer or an entrepreneur. This is a special edition of Roundhouse Self Made Live powered by Notion, as part of Roundhouse Three Sixty Festival. 

What to Expect

• Industry Insights from Independent Artists: Hear from 3 independent music artists who are redefining the industry. They’ll share how they’ve made it in the independent scene and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
• Practical Tips for Freelancers and Aspiring Artists: Looking to launch your own music career or balance multiple creative projects? Learn how to navigate the business side of music and discover how to diversify your income streams while staying true to your artistic vision.
• Q&A Session: Got burning questions about the independent music industry? This is your chance to ask our panelists directly and get advice on how to kick-start your own creative journey.
• Networking Opportunities: After the panel, stick around for a DJ’d networking aftershow. Meet like-minded creatives, potential collaborators, or even future clients in a welcoming environment.

About Notion

Notion is a dynamic media group at the forefront of popular culture, dedicated to telling innovative stories and forging powerful brand partnerships across print, digital, video, and experiential formats. Based in London and Los Angeles, but powered by a global network of contributors, they celebrate the voices shaping music, creativity, and culture — championing inclusivity, collaboration, and an eclectic mix of tastes. With an ear to the ground and a finger on the pulse, Notion is dedicated to showcasing contemporary culture. They’re your gateway to the freshest voices in music, culture, and beyond — like you’ve never seen them before.

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About the panel

Cristale

Few 23-year-olds can claim to excel in songwriting, rapping, illustrating, acting and football. But Cristale is built differently. Fusing a passion for storytelling with her sharp, rapid-fire delivery, the South Londoner is a true homegrown talent. With acting credits in Top Boy and Queenie, viral hits and MOBO nominations under her belt, milestones in her career include a viral freestyle with Teezandos on Plugged In w/ Fumes The Engineer, a Nike Women’s World Cup Daily Duppy and her 2022 smash ‘Bong Bing’. For the first time, Cristale is now a totally independent artist and free to take full creative control of her musical output. As a musician who has never conformed to the strict boundaries of genre, fans of Cristale can expect to see her continue to expand her sound into any area she wishes as she takes full control of her artistry. She has kicked off this chapter with a series of collaborations with UK icon Toddla T that speak to different elements of her personality. Having already proven she can be versatile, gracing sounds from jungle to UK drill, hip-hop and beyond, Cristale is working on a mixtape that’ll extend her artistry even further.

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Finn Foxell

Music has always been in Finn’s DNA; his Father was a songwriter, and his Mum a performer he quickly became hooked on the idea of music, and the chronology of his journey began. Finn’s older brother introduced him to Grime, enabling an obsession with UK freestyles and cyphers, simultaneously educating him on a pioneering era broadcasted on Channel U, JDZ Media, SBTV and Grime Daily.

By his mid-teens, Finn built his family unit in Elevation Meditation, a collective of like-minded artists (P-Rallel, Lord Apex, Xav and Louis Culture) who have since become one of the most celebrated collectives in London representing the inner city generation to the fullest. At 25 years old, his discography has taken him far and wide, including multiple UK and EU tours and a debut performance at Glastonbury last year.

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JORDS

Jords is a Croydon based rapper and producer who has established himself as one of the most versatile and thought-provoking artists operating in the UK rap sphere. A seasoned wordsmith and virtuosic musician, Jords occupies a unique space in the scene; his music seamlessly blending various sounds and moods, encompassing rap, drill, grime, dancehall and afrobeats. His 2020 project Almost An Adult introduced the world to Jords’ singular ability to craft meaningful and exciting music, with the record being a reflection of his journey to manhood, delicately examining various assets of his life and upbringing. The project was accompanied by a short film which expanded upon the themes across the record and was filmed in Jords’ mother country of Jamaica, further highlighting the importance of heritage in his life and music. In 2023, Jords was bestowed the honour of becoming the first ever artist to release a UK rap album on legendary label Motown Records, unveiling his DIRT IN THE DIAMOND LP. The album featured a cast of notable collaborators including Wretch 32, Tay Iwar, Masego, Miles from Kinshasa, Kranium and more, further exhibiting Jords’ ability to authentically sit at the intersection of various scenes and sounds, comfortable amongst legends and upcomers alike. The album was also accompanied by a short film which incorporated music from the project to tell a story that explored community, faith, heritage and grief. The 27 minute film was selected for the TriBeCa Film Festival and nominated for 11 awards. Having recently gone independent, he is due to release his new mixtape in June.

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How to join

Book your place using the enrol button on this page. Tickets are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

About Self Made

Self Made is our programme of events, workshops and courses designed to support 18-30 freelancers and entrepreneurs in the creative industries.

Self Made Live puts young people in the room with creative industry professionals at the top of their game. Be inspired by their stories, gain valuable insights and have the chance to ask them your burning questions.

Previous guests include Mercedes Benson, Rudimental (Amir Amor), Zeze Millz, Le Gateau Chocolat, Jaykae, Sophia Thakur and Merky Books’ Lemara Lindsay-Prince.

Self Made is powered by Inflexion.

I’M NOT SURE I CAN AFFORD TO TAKE PART…

If you need help to pay for things like project fees, transport or childcare, we can help. Find out how you can get support. If you are using a bursary to pay for the project, please ensure you arrange this with the Advice Base with plenty of time before the start of the project.

I HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS. WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

We are committed to supporting D/deaf, disabled and neurodiverse young people, those with medical conditions, access requirements or any lived experience that may require adaptation, support or sensitivity. If there is anything you would like to let us (our youth workers, tutors or staff) know that will support your enjoyment and access, you can do so by emailing us at advicebase@roundhouse.org.uk, and we will contact you to discuss further how to best support your engagement.