Meet Badliana: The genre‑blending Bristol artist redefining the city’s grassroots sound
Badliana is a Bristol-based artist known for her dark sound that merges grime, rap, and alternative R&B with haunting vocals. Supported by BBC Radio 1, BBC 1XTRA, and BBC Introducing, she is currently part of Big Team's Next Level program.
Ahead of this Sunday's International Women's Day edition of Seedling Sessions, we’re getting to know some of the artists at the heart of Bristol’s evolving grassroots music scene.
With women and non-binary talent still disproportionately underrepresented across festival line-ups, senior industry roles and technical fields, platforms like Seedling Sessions remain vital spaces for visibility and advocacy.
Ahead of the show, we caught up with Badliana, talk about her creative journeys, the people who inspire them, and what performing at this International Women’s Day edition means to them.
Hi, we're so excited to have you, let's start off by telling us a bit about yourself. How would you describe your sound in a sentence or less?
Badlina: I would describe my sound as emotionally charged, slightly ethereal with a darker undertone.
Seedling Sessions has a legacy of spotlighting emerging talent. What does performing at this International Women’s Day edition of the event mean to you personally as an artist?
B: It feels really special to be a part of such a great day alongside other amazing artists and I'm really looking forward to it.
This year’s event shines a light on women working both on stage and behind the scenes. Who are the women or NB mentors, local or otherwise, who’ve helped you grow on your artistic journey?
B: I'd like to give a shout-out to my good friend Charlie France, a friend of mine and a director who I've worked with over the years, who's been a massive support of mine and encouraged me a lot in my artistic journey. I'd also like to give a shout-out to Gabby, my mentor and teacher, who's been a massive support over the years, too. And of course, Saffron Records, they played a massive part in my launch into Badliana and without them I wouldn't have been able to release my debut EP. So I'm very grateful for them. Thank you very much.
The UK music industry still faces significant gender inequalities, from festival line-ups to roles in production and engineering. What changes do you feel are most urgently needed, and what can be done to help push that change forward?
B: I've seen how mentorship and support from people in the industry can make a huge difference. Programs that amplify the voices often overlooked can create real change for the next generation of musicians.
For audiences discovering you for the first time, what message or feeling do you hope they leave with after your performance?
B: I hope people leave my show feeling empowered, cute and fun.
Seedling Sessions was created to nurture new voices. What advice would you give to young women and gender-diverse creatives starting out today, especially those navigating barriers in the grassroots music scene?
B: Some advice that I would give to other artists would be keep going, keep learning and keep growing. Embrace the challenges and stay open to new experiences and always be your biggest cheerleader.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
B: I would like to say come to the Trinity Centre on the 8th of March for a sexy, badass show. Woo!
Come and catch Badliana, RED and Moxie Dolls this Sunday at Seedling Sessions: Celebrating Women in Music.
