In partnership with DHL FAST-TRACK
DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions, created in partnership with both Universal Music Group and Abbey Road Studios, is aimed at shining the spotlight on incredible artists from around the world and fast-tracking their rise to global success.
The return of DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions for 2024 saw three incredible emerging artists join DHL FAST-TRACK at the legendary Abbey Road Studios for the ultimate recording experience.
With its cutting-edge technology and unrivalled heritage, the north-London creative hub is the crĆØme de la crĆØme of recording studios. Thatās why all-time greats such as Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean and Radiohead all chose to record there. Oh, and a band called The Beatles named an album after the place, but you might not have heard of them.
This year’s emerging artists ā amapiano crooner Kenya Murakz, pop folkie Erica Knox and country pop singer Cate Canning ā won the chance to spend a whole week in the studioās hallowed halls. Each artist not only got to record a track of their choice with gold-selling record producer Hannah V, but to also be mentored by GRAMMY nominated DJs Meduza.
Hereās what went down at the most famous recording studio in the world…

Grammy nominated house dons Meduza offered priceless mentorship
Theyāre the most-streamed act ever in Italy and received a Grammy nod for Best Dance Recording in 2020, thanks to their house banger āPiece of Your Heartā (which has racked up nearly a billion streams on Spotify). So they know a thing or two about building a fanbase, you know?
They brought this expertise to DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions, as they offered each talented artist one-on-one mentorship at the start of the week. āIt was honestly so cool and interesting to chat with the artists,ā member Luca de Gregorio told NME afterwards. āThey are really amazing emerging artists, and we shared a lot of stuff about their experience. Iām honestly so excited to see the result of the week. Theyāre writing new stuff and I see theyāre sharing real cool ideas. I hope [we gave them] good advice about their journey into music!ā

Gold-selling producer Hannah V brought the Midas touch
Producer, composer, pianist: Hannah V does it all. Sheās worked with the likes of Stormzy and performed in stadiums and arenas with Eminem and Rihanna. Put it this way: you want this woman in your corner. The multi-talented musician was on hand at Abbey Road to guide the musicians and help bring their unique creative visions to life. āWeāve got three amazing new artists coming through and I cannot wait to get creating with them,ā she told NME.
The musicians themselves were in awe of Hannahās talents; Cate said she found it refreshing to work with a female producer in such a male-dominated field. And while these artists are all preternaturally talented in their own rights, the results of the week spoke for themselves. You rarely achieve musical greatness without a sympathetic and intuitive producer, and Hannah is both of these and much more.

Kenya Murakz silenced the room
After a week of recording new tracks, the DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions artists put on very special performances in the cosy environs of Abbey Roadās Studio 3. Itās hosted everyone from Liam Gallagher to Little Simz and Pink Floyd. Only at Abbey Road could one little room hold so much history.
Not that Manchester amapiano and afrobeats singer-songwriter Kenya Murakz seemed fazed by this legacy as he treated us to his sunny new song āRisk On Meā. He was accompanied by a single guitarist for the romantic track, and yet the result was truly expansive.
āThis week has shown me what it takes to be a recording artist,ā he told NME after the performance. āIām gonna take that with me, hopefully, to my future career. Itās been an absolutely amazing experience and one that I wonāt forget.ā

Erica Knox played a mega-smash-in-waiting
The Canadian musician, who came all the way from Toronto just to take part in DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions, told NME of her sound: āIām currently releasing pop music and trying to fusion it with some folk ā weāll see how that turns out! But those are my two realms that I live in, and throwing synth-pop in there is always a good ideaā¦ā
For her performance in Studio 3, Erica focused on the pop and folk side of her oeuvre, playing a spine-tingling, as-yet-unreleased acoustic track called āKeroseneā. Stripped-back yet packed with emotion, with an ingenious intro that sets up the songās catchy chorus, itās surely a TikTok smash-in-waiting.
āIāve played a lot of shows,ā Erica told NME, ābut Iām always looking to expand internationally. Iāve never played a show in the UK or Europe, so thatās definitely where Iām looking to go towards next.ā Ultimately, she just wants to make sure her music is heard: āIām open for everything!ā

Cate Canning impressed us very much
Canada had DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions in a chokehold this year. Cateās from Vancouver, but has lived in London āfor agesā, she says. At the start of the week, she beamed: āI am stoked to be hereā¦ I canāt wait to work with Hannah; I canāt wait to meet Meduza. Itās gonna be fun!ā Asked what sheād like to garner from this experience, she replied: āIām writing my debut album right now ā so I think itād be fun for me to get experience in this sort of studio ā and [Iād like to] meet new fans.ā
By the end of the week, sheād certainly won over everyone involved in the sessions with an acoustic version of her song āRocket Scienceā, which thrilled her existing fanbase when she later shared it online. No wonder Cate bagged a support slot with fellow country pop star Shania Twain at BST Hyde Park this year. Yeehaw!
Whatās next for these talented winners?
In one week at Abbey Road Studios, the musicians exchanged ideas, shared stunning performances and recorded tracks in an environment that most artists would kill for. Itās up to them what they do with the incredible songs, so letās hope they reach streaming services soon. In the meantime, make sure you get onboard with this yearās DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions winners. That way, you can tell your mates you were there before they blew up.
The post DHL FAST-TRACK Sessions: these new artists won a once-in-a-lifetime chance to record at Abbey Road Studios appeared first on NME.