Young songwriters, musicians, rappers, producers and bedroom beatmakers are being invited to create a piece of music inspired by life on the Isle of Wight as part of a new Songs of Place opportunity.
What does the Isle of Wight sound like through the eyes and ears of its young people?
Songs of Place: Young Music Makers is looking for original tracks from musicians aged under 25 who live, learn or make music on the Island – and your music could become part of the Island’s soundtrack.
Whether you’re a songwriter, rapper, producer, instrumentalist or bedroom beatmaker, this is your chance to turn your experiences of Island life into music.
Tell us your Island story
Your track could be inspired by growing up on the Isle of Wight, a favourite place or memory, Island identity and community, friendships and family, the opportunities and challenges of living here, or the future you imagine for the Island.
Perhaps it’s about the place you call home. Maybe it captures the landscape, the people, the sound of summer, the feeling of being a young person here – or something that nobody else has thought of.
There are no limits on musical style or genre. Pop, indie, hip hop, rap, electronic, folk, rock, jazz, acoustic, classical, lo-fi, grime or experimental – if it tells your story, we want to hear it.
“We’re looking for originality and genuine voices,” says the Songs of Place team. “Your music can be uplifting, reflective, energetic, emotional or thought-provoking. Most importantly, it should be yours.”
Your music, your rights
The opportunity is designed to give young musicians a platform while allowing them to keep ownership of the music they create.
You don’t need to have released music before or have a professional recording history. Songs can be created individually or collaboratively – the project is simply looking for great ideas and original music.
Where could your music be heard?
Selected tracks will become part of a Songs of Place Spotify album, with tracks also eligible for broadcast on Vectis Radio.
The selected artists will be announced at the Songs of Place Big Top Event in Sandown on Sunday 11 October 2026, where there will be an opportunity for the tracks to be played back as part of the event.
And you don’t need to perform live – the team wants to hear the music you’ve created.
Who can apply?
The opportunity is open to anyone aged under 25 who lives, learns or makes music on the Isle of Wight.
You’ll need to submit:
An original track, approximately 3–4 minutes long
An MP3 or WAV recording
A song title
A short description of around 100 words explaining what inspired your track
Tracks should be recorded to a good standard suitable for streaming and radio and must be suitable for radio broadcast, with clean, non-explicit lyrics.
Key dates
September 2026 – Opportunity launches
Four weeks after launch – Submission deadline
11 October 2026 – Selected artists announced at the Songs of Place Big Top Event, Sandown
November 2026 – Songs of Place Spotify album released
Submissions will be listened to by a panel of music professionals and representatives from the Songs of Place project. They’ll be looking for creativity and originality, a strong connection to the brief, musical quality and potential, authentic storytelling, and suitability for radio and the Songs of Place album.
Be part of the Island’s soundtrack
Songs of Place celebrates the stories, sounds and creativity of the Isle of Wight through music, bringing together schools, communities, professional artists and young people to create a musical portrait of the Island told by the people who know it best.
The project forms part of CAN YOU HEAR US?, an Island-wide cultural celebration taking place in autumn 2026, led by Creative Island.
Your song could become part of the Island’s soundtrack.
Ready to get involved?
Read the full Songs of Place: Young Music Makers Track Opportunity and submit your track via the online application form.
