THE CIRCLE CREATIVE TEAM

Raised as a product of humble Scandinavian heritage and English charm, Nina Sundstrom is a songwriter with strong roots and blossoming capabilities. With a background in Neuropsychological research, Nina brings a unique perspective to songwriting.

In 2020, Nina received The Roundhouse Songwriters Circle Strive Award, recognising the most promising unsigned songwriting talent, awarded by Jeff Cohen & Simon Greenaway (ASCAP UK). Since then, Nina has gone on to work with renowned collaborators including Danny O’Donoghue (The Script), Jamie Lawson, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Brooke Alexx, Hannah Grace, & Danimal (Warner NL).

Nina has recently been awarded the Develop Your Creative Practice Grant from Arts Council England to develop her songwriting practice in Nashville and to provide interactive music sessions for adults with learning disabilities, brain injury and mental health conditions. Nina was commissioned to create the music and lyrics for international Perfume campaigns Eau de Rochas (2022) and Girl Life (2023) alongside Parisian Production duo Supercarburant. Nina is very excited to be contributing to the circle, penning “Drown Without Water” alongside Rachel Walker-Mason which received the prestigious Stiles & Drewe Award for best song in a new musical in 2023.

Divinity Roxx is a Grammy-nominated American recording artist, composer, and musician. Her work includes elements of rhythm and blues, hip hop, funk, soul, and rock.

She is best known for touring and performing with Beyoncé Knowles (2006–2011) as her bassist and Musical Director for "The Beyoncé Experience"[2] and "I Am... World Tour".

Divinity has performed with Beyonce at The White House for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during a State Dinner for the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderon.[9] She also performed with Beyonce during her Glastonbury performance.[10][11] She has also performed on the Grammy's, The BET Awards, MTV Music Awards, Ellen, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, The Today Show and countless other television shows with Beyonce.

Hardship. Hustle. Hope. Music provides the soundtracks to our lives. Not for the faint of heart, Millie Blooms is a UK Music Artist, Songwriter & Producer who isn’t afraid to push herself and others out of their comfort zones; challenging sense, sonic and sentiment. Writing and producing music within a vast array of genes for both herself and other artists, Millie is well versed in creating a signature sound, of which hers is catching the attention of fans, artists and the wider industry; receiving support from the international music press, radio and Spotify playlisters, all showcasing her talents.

To date Millie has self-released a series of singles including; Faint of Heart, DNA, Bounce Ya Necks & Multiply, which led her to receive multiple BBC Introducing radio plays, over 250k+ Spotify streams and performance slots on ITV’s Backstage, celebrating 50 Years of Hip Hop and a place on the line-up at In It Together Festival 2023, alongside artists like Anne Marie, Kelis & Chase & Status.

As well as defining her own lane, Millie is an advocate of supporting other artists to bring their visions to life; assisting them with songwriting & production, graphic design, video production and music business mentoring. Recent successes for Millie include; Being a long-standing music mentor on the LGBTQAI+ music programme Resonant in South Wales, and tracks she co-wrote & produced for artists including Eleri, Paige Wolfe & Tilly Lockey; receiving BBC Introducing play, BBC Radio Wales Welsh A-List feature & BBC TV performances.

Music has always been a big passion of mine and songwriting particularly has always been one of my big interests. I studied music from a very young age both in and outside of school before I enrolled at The Brit School age 16 where my desire to take it up professionally properly started to develop.

Since leaving school in 2021 I’ve been developing as an artist, recording and releasing my own music as well as gigging and touring (most notably) with Jools Holland, including a life-changing performance at ‘The Royal Albert Hall’ in November 2023.

‘The Circle’ is a beautiful body of work which tackles issues such as queer identity, mental health and female representation within music, which are all bumps in the road I’ve had to face myself, and I think will be brilliant to see explored on stage.

Aaliyah Limon is an independent, interdisciplinary artist from Texas whose platforms heavily revolve around mental health, community, love and consciousness. Her goal is to heal the world through music and knowledge. In her paintings as well as music, she tries to capture the deep emotions of her traumas and translate them in a way that counteracts as well as heals her destructive nature.

Art is Her diary. Music is Her weapon.

As an intelligent, bisexual, woman of colour who suffers from multiple forms of PTSD, The Circle has many messages that deeply resonate with the struggles she's faced just by existing in this world.

Eleri Angharad is a Country/Pop artist (ELERI) songwriter, publicist and music promoter.

Eleri co-founded Siren songwriting, runs her own PR company Mondaay Media and also co-runs Rodeo Town, country music promoter in Wales.

Amassing almost 1 million streams for her work to date; Eleri has garnered international and commercial airplay with multiple A-List slots on BBC Radio Wales, frequent spots on BBC 6Music, Absolute Country Radio, Countryline Radio, and BBC Radio Cymru, has supported Macy Gray, Russell Kane, Jill Andrews and Kezia Gill, as well as performing at prestigious festivals Glastonbury and Country 2 Country.

Siren Songwriting is a female songwriting community designed to create a safe and collaborative space for women, set up by Eleri and singer/songwriter Naomi Rae,. Together they have run songwriting sessions, workshops and curated festival stages. Eleri currently writes with artists from all across the UK, USA and Europe via in-person sessions and Zoom.

Mondaay Media is a Music and Event Marketing & PR hub, with coverage achieved on NME.com, Absolute Country, Countryline TV, BBC Radio Wales, Wales Online and 100s of independent blogs, websites and playlists. As well as offering Marketing, PR and social media coaching to artists, colleges and government schemes such as PRS funded Forte Project and BBC Horizons.

Rodeo Town is a country music night set up by Eleri Angharad and Richard Samuel that aims to showcase the best Country talent that Wales has to offer and bring the finest country music artists to Wales.

South London-based songwriter Mary Leay is perhaps best known for her top 40 co-write for MK / Becky Hill, ‘Piece of Me’ - now reaching over 165 million streams on Spotify. She has co-written hits for artists including international superstar Cher (on her 25th studio album) and X Factor’s runners-up Union J alongside releasing her own music and gaining significant support from Spotify featuring on their ‘Songwriters Hub’ as a “one to watch” songwriter along with various editorial playlists.

With recent writing trips to Nashville, she continues to write with breaking artists working across pop, country and dance and occasionally featuring on the co-writes that mean something to her. Recent releases include ‘Where Will I Be’ with Lipless on Enhanced and All of Me with Carly Wilford on Love & Other.

Mary is also the co-founder of non-profit organisation ‘Mamas in Music’ established in 2019 creating tangible opportunities for mothers in the industry so they can thrive when historically as a demographic they have far too often been discriminated against and underrepresented.

Rising music star Jessica Lynn is being hailed by press around the world as a "rocket force." With a relentless international touring schedule of 14+ countries, a pair of Top 40/Top 50 singles on country radio, and three full-length concert television specials airing internationally, the New York singer-songwriter is quickly becoming a household name.

Sharing stages with some of the most iconic names in the business (Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Loretta Lynn, ZZ Top, Richard Marx, and others), her dynamic, high-energy performances showcasing her powerful voice and instrumental talents playing piano, guitar, harmonica, and drums have garnered rave reviews from critics worldwide while building a huge and loyal global fan base.

In addition to her success as an award-winning international performer, Jessica’s star has shined brightly not only on the musical stage but also on the world stage, helping to illuminate many humanitarian causes. As an advocate for our military, the arts, and animals, and as a mentor for young women and children worldwide, Jessica was invited to The United Nations this year for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day and also had the honor of singing her country’s National Anthem twice in New York’s famed Madison Square Garden as well as on national television for NASCAR. Jessica was also chosen out of hundreds of bands across the United States by The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to be an elite member of American Music Abroad, which has her travelling to countries across the globe as an ambassador for the USA, bringing American music and culture. Due to the success of Jessica's involvement with American Music Abroad as an artist, she was asked to create her own course titled "Tips & Tricks for The Independent Musician" for the government's YES Academy. She now teaches aspiring musicians of all ages globally how to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset to build their own successful and profitable careers in the arts.

With a total of 20 charting releases in 20 different countries within the last few years, Jessica has been featured by industry giants such as Billboard, CMT, and American Songwriter Magazine amongst others in addition to gracing the covers of numerous music magazines. She was also recently named a Top 25 Livestreamer of the Year by Pollstar and is now touring in support of her record "Lone Rider," which hit the top of the charts on release weekend. Securing the #1 spot in country music digitally in both the USA and UK, as well as Top 5 all genres, the album has since charted around the world in addition to reaching #41 on the Top Current Country Albums Chart by Billboard, securing Jessica’s spot as the only independent artist in the Top 45.

Introducing Saskhia Menendez FRSA, a distinguished figure in the music industry, celebrated for her innovative contributions as an Innovator at Keychange and a member of the Board of Directors at The F List Music. As a LiVE Diversity Expert Panel Member, Saskhia's multifaceted role encompasses being a multi-award-winning equality and diversity ambassador, researcher, public speaker, mentor, artist, and social change activist.

Saskhia is deeply committed to reshaping the music industry landscape, striving for improved representation, equity, and inclusion. Drawing on over a decade of experience in the music industry, she passionately educates and enlightens others about the issues and barriers faced by underrepresented groups. As a multi-racial trans woman who transitioned 12 years ago, Saskhia brings a unique perspective to her advocacy efforts.

In addition to her impactful work, Saskhia is a devoted parent of two children and is currently in the process of creating brand-new tracks set for release in 2024. Her commitment to academic excellence is evident as she prepares to undertake a PhD in gender equality in music, with a primary focus on trans and non-binary inclusion. She recently completed her MA in Music Marketing in 2021, building upon a musical education that began at the age of 8.

Saskhia's journey is marked by a tireless dedication to driving positive change in the music industry, both through her professional roles and her creative pursuits. Stay connected with Saskhia Menendez via her LinkedIn profile and gain further insights into her endeavours on Instagram.

Jessie is an award-nominated, up-and-coming artist and songwriter based between South Wales and London. She predominantly works within the commercial music industry as a writer and performer, with a guitar-driven folk-grunge/ rock sound on stage, and poetic lyricism with catchy melodies off stage.

Mental health and gender discrimination have been an ongoing focus among other things in her artistic and personal journey. Mental health has plagued her generation and so has naturally bled into the songs and stories she writes and incorporates into collaborations and artistic projects.

As a young female having worked in many areas of the world, she has already seen a great bias in gender roles within the music industry. She has worked with various organisations that provide women facing gender-based violence with a voice in places around the world- having been a part of projects that have highlighted the discrimination closer to home. In both contexts using song performance and public speaking to shed a light on this area.

Introducing Stacey Jackson— the multifaceted Canadian artist—singer, TV presenter, entrepreneur, and now author. Her journey into the music scene soared with an unexpected covers album, securing a spot in the top ten on the dance charts alongside industry heavyweights like Lady Gaga and the Scissor Sisters.

From global stages to collaborations with icons like Snoop Dogg, Stacey boasts dozens of top-ten records, including the original chart-topper "Flipside" from her Sky TV series "Stacey Jackson in the 80s."

With a mantra that "It's never too late to live your dreams," she continues to inspire. Stacey's debut novel, "How A Gangsta Rapper Made Me A Better Mom," is available for pre-order on Ebook, with the paperback released at the end of February 2024.

As the founder of the patented sports-top brand, Staefit, she champions various charities in the education and medical sector, while proudly serving as a voting member of the Recording Academy.

Margot White is an American musician, songwriter, vocalist and producer based between Paris and London. She received her degree in Classical Music Performance from Goldsmith's University. During her studies, White was the recipient of the Joe Brown Memorial Award, which she utilised for the patenting and production of her concept for a wellness-based synthesiser, titled Pegasus. White created Pegasus as a response to the increasing awareness around mental health in the music industry, and it is inspired by her own journey of healing trauma. She is currently developing its pitch for angel investors with the assistance of Abbey Road RED.

White has attended the Chris Difford (of Squeeze) Songwriting Camp in Somerset two years in row, and most recently attended the KPop Songwriting Camp hosted by Durbuy Music and Ocelot Publishing in Belgium. She currently writes melodies and top-lines for KPop and Pop, as well as for her own artist project, Margot White.

Her latest track 'One Moment' has received multiple sync placements on CBS, and has been accepted for the second issue of I Feel It Everywhere I Go, a multi-media gallery founded by Delilah Montagu and Florence Kosky to celebrate the female voice in art in support of Create Charity and Women's Aid.

Evie Thérèse is a singer and songwriter from the South West of England. An emotive writer with raw personal lyrics and a unique musical perspective, Evie counts Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Adele among her influences.

Evie is currently in her first year studying at Access Creative College Bristol and is studying songwriting with The Circle’s creator Rachel Walker Mason.

Jodie is a multi-platinum-selling songwriter, accomplished singer and actress. Born in Sydney, Australia she has achieved enormous International success in every sphere of the entertainment industry.

Lady Nade is an award-winning songstress blending Folk, Americana, Soul, Jazz, Blues, and Roots into a captivating tapestry. Her compositions resonate globally, exploring themes of love, friendship, loss, and hope. With accolades like AMAUK and UK Americana Awards and nominations, she's recognised for having one of the most distinctive voices. Notably, her latest release, 'Willing,' soared on official Folk and Americana charts. Lady Nade's enduring impact is evident through her engraved name and illustration now engraved into the Building of Bristol Beacon, UK alongside esteemed artists like Grace Jones, Nick Cave and Gregory Porter.

Lady Nade has graced stages worldwide, sharing them with luminaries like Tunde from The Lighthouse Family, PP. Arnold, The War and Treaty, The Waterboys. Amythyst Kiah, Kyshona and Grammy Award-Nominated Artists Yola and Allison Russell.

The youngest member of The Circle writing team, 6-year-old Layla is the daughter of Rachel Walker Mason, creator of The Circle.

Layla wrote her first tune at 18 months old and hasn’t stopped since. She had won multiple awards for her singing on the track Little One, written by her mother and Nina Sundstrom, another member of The Circle writing team. She has also contributed to pop and folk songs released by major stars and always comes out with creative lyric ideas and hooks.

Eve Horne is a singer, songwriter and producer. She has over 20years' experience in the Music Industry. She started her music career at the B.R.I.T school in the early 90’s. After being signed to Polydor UK she went on to join girl group JUICE, signed to EMI Medley In Denmark. JUICE had a #1 Christmas single "Let Love Be Love" which is the most-played Christmas song in Denmark. Having over 7 million streams on Spotify and over 1 million views on YouTube.

Eve is an Award-Winning Creative Mentor and Advisor. She is the Founder of PeakMusicUK and We Are The Unheard CIC which demands equality for women in the Music Industry. She is a qualified Sound Engineer and a Native Instruments Certified Specialist. Eve was named a SheSaid.So ALT list 2020 Honorée, is a board member for Moving The Needle, she was an innovator for the UK on Keychange 2022 program, she is a UK Music Diversity Taskforce rep for MPG, and an executive team member of Why Not Her.

Eve has also recently become an Ivor's Academy Senator and Board Director and was voted on as an Executive Director of the MPG. The MPG’s first-ever female of colour and POC. In September 2022, Eve launched The Unheard Academy, funded by The Arts Council and supported by leading music industry software and hardware company Ableton, Musicians Union, Help Musicians, Flare Audio, Veva Collect and Why Not Her.

She was also enlisted into the Music Week Women In Music Roll Of Honour 2022. Eve has recently been a mentor on the HUNNA program as part of the XP Conference in Saudi Arabia to support women from the Mena region. Eve’s organisation WATU, was also part of the team to deliver Mother’s Write. The UK’s first songwriting camp for mothers. Eve has been a judge for the MPG Awards, BRIT Awards and IVOR'S Awards. In 2024, Eve was part of the history-making Women In CTRL’s Seat At The Table Report.

Audra McLaughlin is a force to be reckoned with when she takes the stage. With her powerful, raspy, and explosive voice, Audra showcases a talent that has been nurtured since childhood. Originally from Glenolden, Pennsylvania, Audra made the leap to Nashville after her appearance on Team Blake in Season 6 of The Voice in 2014. During her audition, Audra received a remarkable four-chair turn and ultimately chose Blake Shelton as her mentor, despite Adam Levine's plea to work with her. This decision catapulted Audra to the finals and solidified her place as a standout country artist.

Since her time on The Voice, Audra's career has flourished. She continues to tour and write songs, making a name for herself in Nashville and beyond. Audra has also secured partnerships and performed for NASCAR, the NFL, and various charitable organizations. Whether she's performing at an intimate songwriter's round or captivating audiences across the country, Audra's passion for music shines through in every note.