RISING STARS

Ripper and Timz

South London project Raw Material aims to provide young people with music industry job opportunities development and training, so that they are properly equipped to enter into the market place from a range of positions, skills and abilities. 2007 saw its talented young participants go from strength to strength.

Young production duo Ripper and Timz, who graduated from Raw Material's Raw Academy Young producers' internship programme, presented their work at the world famous MIDEM festival in Cannes where they attracted the attention of US label Lavista and as a result spent three weeks in Atlanta Georgia this summer producing for the record label, all expenses paid!

Timz age 19 said, “Going from Raw Material to MIDEM was a major turning point in my career as we were exposed to the music industry and we were able to immerse ourselves in it professionally. From that we experienced being professional producers in America which tested our abilities in a different market - the highly competitive US one.” Raw Material's Creative Director Dean Zephperin has arranged for new projects to be carried out in the US in 2008.

The Raw Academy has benefited from Youth Music funding through support from Sound Connections, the London YMAZ, with additional funding from Lambeth Arts and PRS Foundation.

Watch Ripper & Timz at a Raw Material studio recording session

www.raw-material.org

_{*Photo copyright of Tim Brown, Raw Material}