Making Tracks was born of two different projects in the UK and USA. The first, from which Making Tracks takes its name, was founded in 2010 by ethnomusicologist Katerina Pavlakis as a UK touring circuit for musicians and bands from around the globe, and ceased operations in 2018. The second is the US music exchange programme, OneBeat, which began as an annual US-based residency and tour program for early-career musicians from the US and around the world.

In 2019, musician Merlyn Driver had a chance encounter with the Kenyan musician, Rapasa Otieno, who introduced him to OneBeat. Determined to set up a comparable project in Europe, but with an environmental focus, Merlyn invited the OneBeat team to facilitate our inaugural residency. Over four residencies and tours, Making Tracks has since developed its own distinctive approach to environmental engagement, career development, and intercultural collaboration.

Making Tracks Alumni

2019 / Rapasa Otieno (Kenya), Katariin Raska (Estonia), Barbora Silhanova (Czech Republic/Finland), Arsen Petrosyan (Armenia), Luna Silva (France/UK), Kaviraj Singh (UK), Louise Bichan (UK), Melisa Yildirim (Turkey).

2020 / Kate Griffin (UK), Matchume Zango (Mozambique), Aida Zhakhanbek (Kazakhstan), Lemon Guo (China), Gurdain Rayatt (UK), Tendai Mavengeni (Zimbabwe), Laonikos Chalkokondylis (Greece), Daniel Gouly (UK).

2021 / Iona Fyfe (UK), Robert Bisha (Albania/Italy), Simon Leleux (Belgium), Ahmet Ozan Baysal (Turkey), Thamires Tannous (Brazil/Austria), Azin Zahedi (Germany/Iran), Liz Hanks (UK), Pheobe riley Law (UK).

2022 / Iona Lane (UK), Malin Lewis (UK), Ranjana Ghatak (UK), Shahab Azinmehr (Iran/Belgium), Alaa Zouiten (Morocco/Germany), Cherif Soumano (Mali/France), Lucie Hendry (UK/Denmark), Anna Ekborg (Sweden).

2024 / Anna McLuckie (UK), Ayman Hlal (Syria/Germany), Shohret Nur (UK/Xinjiang), Nina Harries (UK), Kasiva Mutua (Kenya), Christian Mohr Levisen (Denmark), Ossi Raippalinna (Finland).