(Algo|Afro) Futures

Time to share some important news... After four editions of the programme, (Algo|Afro) Futures has come to an end

We started the programme in 2021 as a way to address the lack of diversity that myself (Antonio Roberts @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org) and co-founder Alex McLean had noticed within the UK live coding scene

Since then, the live coding scene has changed a lot. New tools have been built, more people are finding out about live coding through their own means, and bringing their own take on what can be done with live coding

I'm proud of the impact that this programme has had - we've been able to give 25 early-career Black artists the time, space, and support for them to learn live coding. It certainly hasn't solved the problem of diversity and racism within the live coding scene, nor was that ever the intention, but I also feel it's time to give space for this new generations of live coders to develop a programme that reflects who they are and how they work

Vivid Projects, the project partner and host organisation, is committed to supporting artists and creatives from under represented communities through a dedicated programme. They would love to hear from anyone who wanted to take the lead on starting a similar project. Get in touch!

#blackmastodon #blackfedi

And that's a wrap! Thanks to everyone who listened yesterday to the final (Algo|Afro) show on Brum Radio. Thanks also to Yasmeen Baig-Clifford of Vivid Projects for the conversation, it was really insightful to hear her thoughts on the impact of the mentoring programme. If you missed the show you can listen back here https://www.mixcloud.com/BrumRadio/algoafro-futures-with-yasmeen-baig-clifford-07102025/

Here's the playlist:

01. B L A C K I E - Everybody Knows (When We Get Together)
02. Everything Is Psychedelic - Bob Dylan Prolly Chill AF / OBEY MY BODY LIKE IT'S 2011
03. Jean Grae × Quelle Chris - Gold Purple Orange
04. Novelist x Mumdance - 1 Sec
05. |||||||||||||||||||| & Tyger Blue - Tatooine Hut Cry @tygerblue@mastodon.social
06. Nia Archives - Killjoy!
07. Jossy Mitsu - Catch Me If U Can
08. JWords - images
09. Kelela - Holier
10. hellocatfood - Pulse

Thanks to everyone who has listened over the last few months. I hope you've enjoyed listening to pioneering experimental musicians, and hearing from inspirational guests about their experience of live coding.

Thanks to Brum Radio for hosting the show and Vivid Projects for supporting it! #blackmastodon #blackfedi

Tune in to Brum Radio tomorrow, 7th October, for the final (Algo|Afro) Futures show! For this special show we're joined by Yasmeen Baig-Clifford who is founder and Director of Vivid Projects. She spoke with Antonio (@hellocatfood@post.lurk.org) about the impact of the (Algo|Afro) Futures mentoring programme from her perspective, and why there needs to be more support for underrepresented communities.

Yasmeen Baig-Clifford is the founder/Director of Vivid Projects, a collaborative organisation using media arts to encourage innovation and experimentation in artistic practice.

https://vividprojects.org.uk
https://www.instagram.com/vividprojectsuk

Tune in tomorrow at 22:00 for tracks from Jean Grae × Quelle Chris, Jossy Mitsu, Kelela, Everything Is Psychedelic, and more! https://brumradio.com

Thanks to everyone who listened yesterday! The latest Brum Radio show is now online to listen back to. Tune in to hear Antonio Roberts @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org in conversation with MYNA about how she went from making playlists at the rock society at university to Djing across the UK. https://www.mixcloud.com/BrumRadio/algoafro-futures-with-myna-23092025/

Here's the playlist:

01. Le Monde Daho - Loup
02. B L A C K I E - followed by the pigs
03. Mariam Rezaei - SHORTIE SHORTS
04. Banga - Papillon
05. Jlin - Hatshepsut
06. Loraine James - Glitch the System (Glitch Bitch 2)
07. MC Yallah & Debmaster - Lioness
08. BEARCAT - The Bells
09. Nkisi - A Path Appears
10. Fresh - Chop (Nouvelle École)
11. Speaker Music feat. Maia Sanaa - Amerikkka's Bay
12. Speaker Music - It is the Negro Who Represents the Revolutionary Struggles for a Classless Society

We'll be back on 7th October for the final (Algo|Afro) Futures show. See you then!

#blackmastodon #blackfedi

We're back on Brum Radio tomorrow, 23rd September, for the penultimate (Algo|Afro) Futures show! This week we're joined by MYNA who took part in (Algo|Afro) Futures in 2023. She spoke with Antonio (@hellocatfood@post.lurk.org) about how she went from making playlists at the rock society at university to Djing across the UK. She also gave insights into her future plans for producing music with live coding.

MYNA is a northern British-Nigerian dj and live code artist with a love for heavy percussive sounds. Drawing influence from Nigerian village dramas and storytelling, MYNA crafts soundscapes and dance-floor ready loops.

https://www.instagram.com/aminaminaa/

Tune in tomorrow at 22:00 for tracks from BEARCAT, Fresh, B L A C K I E, Loraine James and more! https://brumradio.com

Listen back to the latest Brum Radio show to hear Antonio Roberts @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org in conversation with Emily Mulenga about live coding, being inspired by 90s and early 00s pop, and releasing their first EP! https://www.mixcloud.com/BrumRadio/algoafro-futures-with-emily-mulenga-09092025/

Here's the playlist:

01. Colloboh - Higher Ground
02. Junglepussy - Arugula
03. KeiyaA - Forreal???
04. Linafornia - Dot Wav (feat. Devi Wonder)
05. Emily Mulenga - Call Out My Name
06. Emily Mulenga - Oliver
07. Emily Mulenga - The Cure
08. clipping. feat. Cocc Pistol Cree - Work Work
09. Debby Friday - Indulge Me
10. Death Grips - Double Helix
11. LustSickPuppy - KETCHUP MUSTARD
12. Cannelle - WATCH ME FLY
13. JOHNNASCUS - Gen Z
14. XXYYXX - Set It Off
15. Jamiu - Don't Miss

We'll be back on 23rd September with more tracks and another interview with a previous (Algo|Afro) Futures participant. See you then!

Tune in to Brum Radio tomorrow, 9th September, for the next installment of (Algo|Afro) Futures. This week we're joined by Emily Mulenga who took part in (Algo|Afro) Futures in 2021. They had a chat with Antonio about their experience live coding, being inspired by 90s and early 00s pop, and releasing their first EP. They also shared tracks from their recently released EP, I Saw This And Thought Of You.

Emily Mulenga is a multimedia artist whose practice spans video, digital and physical media and music. Using visuals and sound that draw upon video games, cartoons and the internet, her practice explores themes of capitalism, feminism, technology, love, millennial nostalgia and existential anxieties.

https://instagram.com/emilymulenga
https://www.emilymulenga.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pMmGYuCPSjoHBMRo4Dzy9

Tune in tomorrow at 22:00 for tracks from Colloboh, Cannelle, XXYYXX, Jamiu, KeiyaA, and more! https://brumradio.com

The latest Brum Radio show is now uploaded. Listen back to hear Antonio Roberts @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org in conversation with Samiir Saunders about live coding, their early influences and a new track from their upcoming EP! https://www.mixcloud.com/BrumRadio/algo-afro-futures-with-samir-saunders-25082025/ @brumradio!

Here's the playlist:

01. Open Mike Eagle - Relatable (peak OME)
02. Gold Panda x Infinite Livez - Cool Bro
03. K'naan - Fire in Freetown
04. Dua Saleh - smut
05. Samiir Saunders - Gayspeed
06. TYGAPAW ft. Mandy Harris Williams - Get Free Intro
07. Bonaventure feat. Debby Friday - Colony
08. JWords - motion sequence
09. Ouri - Down
10. Mia Koden - Movements
11. Yaw Evans - The Bits
12. LSDXOXO - BRAND NEW

We'll be back on 9th September with more tracks and another interview with a previous (Algo|Afro) Futures participant. #blackfedi #blackmastodon #radio #birmingham #brumradio #interview

(Algo|Afro) Futures is back on Brum Radio tomorrow, Tuesday 26th August, for an hour of noise and experimental music with host Antonio Roberts (@hellocatfood@post.lurk.org). This week we're joined by Samiir Saunders who took part in (Algo|Afro) Futures in 2021. They had a chat with Antonio about what drew them to live coding, their inspirations and also shared a few tracks including one from their upcoming EP.

Samiir Saunders is a multimedia poet and performance artist based in Birmingham. They make work about identity, technology, and liberation. They can be found online at:

https://instagram.com/smaiduskhan
https://samiirsaunders.com
https://samiirsaunders.bandcamp.com

Tune in tomorrow for tracks from Yaw Evans, TYGAPAW, LSDXOXO, Gold Panda x Infinite Livez, Bonaventure, and more! https://brumradio.com #blackmastodon #blackfedi #radio #brumradio #birmingham

Performance by Antonio Roberts @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org

Watch their whole performance here from 2:21:27 - 2:35:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY #algorave #livecoding #blackmastodon #blackfedi #tidalcycles

Performance by okcandice
 
Watch their whole performance here from 1:14:52 - 1:30:11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY #algorave #livecoding #blackmastodon #blackfedi #strudel

Performance by Bundy @hpunq@mastodon.social

Watch the whole performance here from 2:44:07 - 3:06:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY #algorave #livecoding #blackmastodon #blackfedi #strudel

Performance by Sheba Q

Watch the whole performance here from 1:45:40 - 2:07:56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY #algorave #livecoding #blackmastodon #blackfedi #strudel

Performance by Cyberseed

Watch the whole performance here from 28:14 - 36:24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY

#livecoding #algorave #strudel #hydra

Over the next week we'll be posting videos clips from the showcase on 1st August. First up here's David Quartey.

Full recording of all the performances can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY #livecoding #algorave

Such a phenomenal evening! A massive thank you to everyone who came to the (Algo|Afro) Futures showcase on 1st August or watched the live stream.

Congratulations to David Quartey, Sheba Q, okcandice, Bundy @hpunq@mastodon.social, Cyberseed, and Ray for achieving so much during the programme.

This fourth edition of the (Algo|Afro) Futures mentoring programme was led by @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org with support from @tygerblue@mastodon.social and hosted by Vivid Projects. Thanks to BRIG Cafe for hosting the evening of performances.

Many thanks also to Arts Council England for supporting the programme.

The live stream can be watched here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VKGqj2GmY and you can see a collection of awesome photos on our website https://algo-afro-futures.lurk.org/

All photos taken by Jake Phillips https://www.jakephillips.photography/

#livecoding #algorave #blackmastodon #blackfedi #strudel #hydra #algorave

Thanks to everyone who tuned in last night. If you missed it the latest (Algo|Afro) Futures Brum Radio show is now uploaded!

Listen back here https://www.mixcloud.com/BrumRadio/algoafro-futures-12082025/

Here's the playlist:

01. Blood of Aza - Ruin
02. Yao Bobby & Simon Grab - Boulefie
03. Bani Haykal - endorsing a pigeon
04. MC Yallah feat. Lord Spikeheart - No One Seems to Bother
05. 700 Bliss - Anthology
06. Jlin - Guantanamo
07. Lotic - The Warp & the Weft
08. Bantu - Points Of Inflexion
09. Robert Machiri - Durban Incursions
10. Afrorack - Last Modular
11. Toni Lester - The Noise In My Head
12. Slauson Malone 1 - I Hear a New World
13. Tyondai Braxton - Studio Mariacha
14. rRoxymore - Fragmented Dreams
15. Xyla - Misty

We'll be back on 26th August with a slightly different format to the show.

What an amazing night! A massive thank you to everyone who came to the (Algo|Afro) Futures live showcase at Vivid Projects last Friday or watched the live stream!

Congratulations to MYNA, Zach B-B, Jamal Lloyd Davis, KarmaRi, φ, Tomilola Olumide, Emma Osman, and Jim Osman for achieving so much during the programme.

This third edition of the (Algo|Afro) Futures mentoring programme was led by @hellocatfood@post.lurk.org with support from @tygerblue@mastodon.social and hosted by Vivid Projects.

The live stream can be watched here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUoZvkZ3J7Q

We'll be posting more photos and videos soon!

#livecoding #algorave