South African alternative musician Rãms has released his new EP The R?ms Live Experience with the help of The Creation Grant, an initiative that supports artists by offering them free studio time to record music with established audio engineers. 

The three-track album is available(link is external) on all major streaming platforms, and is a follow-up to his debut EP He Say She Say in 2020.

The Creation Grant is the brainchild of Bandustry and Flame Studios. It relies on brands that fund each artist’s project in exchange for promotion.

The grant also provides participating musicians with the opportunity to earn money from their music and gain visibility on the music scene, such as playlisting their tracks on radio. The songs are recorded at Flame Studios over two days, and at least one of the three tracks celebrates South Africa’s diverse heritage. Artists will retain 100% of their royalties. 

“In short, The Creation Grant will motivate musicians to keep working and give them the chance to make money from their craft again,” Bandustry founder Melissa Fontini told Music In Africa.

The organisers of the grant are inviting interested brands and companies to join the project to support musicians in exchange for promoting their brand. Investors will get to offer the creative direction for the sound they wish to support.

Flames Studios is based on Constitution Hill and designed to amplify the voices of South Africa's new generation of musicians, artists and storytellers.

For more information about joining the initiative, interested brands can email Fontini at bandustry@gmail.com(link sends e-mail).