Last month, The Leadmill hosted the third edition of Slambarz, a burgeoning live performance series highlighting the finest rappers and lyricists aged 14-25 from the region.
Dedicated to nurturing the creative spirit of young urban artists, Slambarz is more than just an event; it’s a hub for music and artistic development. Passionate about providing safe and creative spaces, it serves as a catalyst for emerging talents to pursue their musical passions while connecting with other creatives, communities, industry professionals and renowned venues on the scene.
“There’s not a lot in Sheffield that gives you this sort of opportunity,” says artist and music engineer TeeWhyWho?, who headlined the Slambarz Summer Splash earlier this year. “The shows are lit and the way Slambarz look after the artists is faultless.”
TeeWhyWho? performing at The Leadmill. Image: @HOFilms
“I agree,” adds Shanti Lorence, this year’s winner in the 18-25 category. “The night was unreal and it was a great atmosphere. There isn’t much here that can give you that experience.”
Shanti tells me that she’s been singing for 15 years now, sometimes busking on the Moor to showcase her talents, but it wasn’t until Slambarz that she first had the chance to perform her own music. Heavily influenced by R&B and Soul, her debut track, ‘Temptations’, clearly left its impression on the judging panel consisting of renowned MC Coco, DJ/producer TWSB, Eve Massaad from Waterbear Music College, and musician and Tracks representative Lucy Revis.
“I was a bit nervous before going on,” she admits. “But I just kept telling myself to breathe, and when I came off that stage afterwards, it was a crazy feeling. That performance was my first time doing an original song live, so it was a big moment for me.”
Shanti Lorence came top in the 18-25 category at the most recent Slambarz event. Image: @HOFilms
TeeWhyWho? is another example of the raw talent that Slambarz provides an outlet for. The 22-year-old artist has been making music for three years now, also teaching himself how to mix and master in the process. He has a studio based at Dryad Works in Neepsend and spends a lot of time collaborating with artists like Shanti on their music.
“I felt proud seeing Shanti do her song,” he says. “Once you come off that stage, the love you get off everyone is different level. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to it or not, the love is there. If you’re a young artist who’s struggling to get their music out there, Slambarz is the place you need to be. People in that building are going to follow your socials and they’re going to know you.”
One of the event’s main attractions lies not only in uniting developing artists under one roof but also in bringing together a diverse array of creatives, including content creators, videographers, producers, photographers, promoters and more. The potential for collaboration is rife, and each night helps to forge new relationships for artists to explore innovative new paths.
“Our ethos is to nurture,” says Slambarz founder Dom Heslop, who organised the first event as part of Off the Shelf festival in 2017. “We bring the people together, everyone performs their own original content and we just celebrate the artistry. That’s what it’s about.”
Follow Shanti and TeeWhyWho? on socials: @shantilorence // @teewhywho
Stay up to date with all things Slambarz: @slambarzlive
