Katy B Returns to Her Roots... As Peckham Studios' First Ambassador!!
PRESS RELEASE
London, 28th AUGUST 2025
The NME Award-winning, and multiple MOBO and Mercury awards nominated, UK dance anthems vocalist & songwriter Katy B - has been announced as the first ever ambassador of Peckham Studios - the community-driven music and recording studios supporting young people from South-East London - that played a pivotal part in launching Katy's music career almost 15 years ago.
Run by the charity Groundwork London for the past two decades, Peckham Studios is a professionally equipped creative space, dedicating to recording, mixing, producing and playing of music. It is a safe place for music creatives to develop their talents, with young South Londoners able to enrol on music projects and programmes completely free-of-charge. The studios are also available for private hire, and this income is reinvested in the facilities and provision of free to access music projects for young people from the local community.
Born and bred in Peckham, Katy first discovered the local studios (thanks to a tip from her eagle-eyed mum!) shortly after finishing her music education at the renowned BRIT School. Still a relative novice as an artist, Katy and her band relished the opportunity to complete her previously unfinished demo tracks; it was these recordings that ultimately caught the ear (and eye) of her first manager, leading to her first foundational footsteps in the professional music industry.
"I'm over the moon the studios are still here...
They played such a huge part in my journey, and I've been wanting to give back to this Peckham community for a long time, and being a Peckham Studios Ambassador is to me a perfect way to do that."
- KATY B
From those early days of recording vocals and live drums in Peckham, Katy B has had 3 top five chart hits, including her debut solo single, "Katy On A Mission" and toured across the globe. In 2025, Katy has performed at Camden's prestigious Roundhouse, sung guest vocals for MJ Cole at 'We Out Here' festival, as well as playing two sets at this year's Glastonbury festival. She remains a leading voice (and songwriter) in UK dance music, and is now stepping into a new role, by supporting the next generation of musical talent hailing from South East London.
The official announcement of her Ambassadorial role came during a recent listening party at Peckham Studios, where she met with sixteen 15-year-olds who had just completed The Hitmakers Music Workshops - an eight-week programme focused on developing their individual and collaborative talents in songwriting, recording and live performance. The event was a celebration of the young artists' hard work, and the nurturing of their raw talents, culminating in the debut performances of the songs they crafted across their 2 months on the music development course; Katy was visibly impressed by their songs and performances, and spent time engaging with the young artists, offering both encouragement and inspiration, as well as answering the many questions they asked her.
As Peckham Studios' very first Ambassador, Katy plans to share industry insights, mentor the young talent entering the studio doors, and raise awareness of Peckham's creative musical gem, as well as help more local, young creatives believe in, and realise their potential within the wide world of music.
But as Katy B returns to her roots to help the next wave of artists, Peckham Studios itself faces its own challenges... Funding available to maintain the studios' services has significantly reduced in recent years, putting its future at serious risk - and this is at a time when young people need the outlet of the creative arts in general more than ever.
Groundwork London continues to actively and continually fundraise to keep the studios open and running free music development programmes for young people - ensuring its continued position as a beacon of creativity, hope and opportunity in the heart of Peckham.
“Places like this don’t just make music", said Shabaz Ferozdin, Groundwork London's Youth Assistant Director. “They create confidence, community, and futures. We urgently need financial support to keep the doors open for the next generation.”
Watch Katy B interview about her role as ambassador
Notes to editor
ABOUT PECKHAM STUDIOS
Established in 2004 as youth-focused multi-media hub, Peckham Studios has evolved under Groundwork London from a broad-based creative arts project into a programme engaging young people via music production workshops, music industry mentorship, live performances at community events/festivals and releasing their original compositions in digital/streaming and physical formats.
Peckham Studios not only engages young people via music creation and mentorship, but alongside the young artists' innate talents, uses music education and expression in a safe space, to improve the life prospects of the local young people it serves - over 650 children and young people have participated in Peckham Studios projects, with 120 of them entering further training and c.20 entering professional employment in the music industry.
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