London, England – Future Talent is thrilled to announce the release of Hold Me Down, the debut single from their forthcoming album, RISE: Past, Present and Future Talent. The track, composed by 17-year-old singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimmy Judge from Bedford, is performed by his band, The Greensands, alongside young musicians from Future Talent and the Encore Summer School.
April 4, 2025
Hold Me Down, an anthemic rock ballad with strong Radiohead influences, will be available on all major streaming platforms starting April 4, 2025, with the full album set for release on April 11, 2025.
Reflecting on his experience, Jimmy, a student at Bedford College, said: “During lockdown, I got bored, so I picked up a guitar and started a band with my drummer Jake. My mum found Future Talent online, and it seemed like a great step forward - meeting other musicians and getting opportunities to play with orchestras and different young artists. Recording at the Yehudi Menuhin School was magical - watching the string section bring my song to life was something really special.”
Looking ahead to performing his track live at the iconic Roundhouse, Camden on April 22 as part of the charity’s 20th-anniversary concert, Jimmy added: “I’ve never played in a place so big - I’ve never performed to more than 150 people, so it’s pretty cool. This will be ten times that amount!”
RISE: Past, Present and Future Talent – The Album
The album, RISE: Past, Present and Future Talent, is a multi-genre collection produced by James Hawkins and curated by Nitin Sawhney CBE, an Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award-winner and visionary force in music. Featuring original compositions by Future Talent’s young musicians, it also includes collaborations with esteemed artists such as the Hallé Orchestra, VOCES8, and the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain.
Nitin Sawhney, who has composed music to bridge the young musicians’ pieces into a cohesive narrative, reflected on the project: “I get so much from seeing young people who are this talented. If a painting is already working, you frame it - you don’t try and scribble all over it. It’s the same with fresh young minds. My role is to facilitate their creativity, to ask: ‘What is it you want to say?’”
Sawhney’s musical vision for RISE incorporates the voice of an AI robot to link the album’s tracks: “The AI voice is humorous, but there’s a sense that it has lost something... and perhaps we should have valued humans more.”
RISE: 20th Anniversary Concert at the Roundhouse
To commemorate 20 years of Future Talent’s work supporting gifted young musicians from low-income backgrounds, the album will be performed live at a special concert on April 22, 2025, at The Roundhouse, London. The event, RISE: Past, Present and Future Talent, will feature performances by Future Talent musicians and alumni, alongside special guests including renowned Kora player Seckou Keita and the Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble VOCES8. Hosted by TV and radio personality Alexander Armstrong, the concert promises to be a unique celebration of musical talent and collaboration.
Future Talent CEO Clare Cook commented: “Future Talent exists to open doors for young musicians from low-income backgrounds, giving them the platform and confidence to shine. RISE is a celebration of their resilience, creativity, and extraordinary talent.”
Tickets for RISE: Past, Present and Future Talent are available here: Roundhouse Ticket Link
Ends.
Media Contact
For more information about Future Talent and the RISE project, please contact Natasha Covill – natasha@futuretalent.org / 020 8037 0272
For more information about promotion, contact ellie@allaboutpromo.com
About Future Talent
Future Talent is a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting young musicians from low-income backgrounds. Founded 20 years ago by Katharine, HRH Duchess of Kent, and Nicholas Robinson, the organisation provides financial support, guidance, and performance opportunities to help young musicians realize their full potential.
Links
-“Hold Me Down” music video - https://youtu.be/d34xUJMYCXY
-Jimmy’s “Road to the Roundhouse” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn1bf-zJPfw&t=1s
