MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dr Diljeet Bhachu (end left), led the Union's panel discussion at this year's Launchpad conference. Photo: ©The MU.
At this year’s Launchpad Conference in Leeds, the Union's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Dr Diljeet Bhachu, led a candid panel discussion for the MU on identity, representation, and the realities of navigating the UK music industry as Global Majority and marginalised artists.
The panel brought together inspiring Leeds-based and Northern musicians Hang Linton, TinyUmbrellas, Lucas Assagba and Satnam Galsian for an open conversation on visibility and change.
Stereotypes and assumptions
From the outset, the panellists reflected on the assumptions they encounter in creative spaces. Hang described the frustration of being boxed in by stereotypes: “It’s very important to me, but it’s frustrating when people assume I’m a rapper… it’s not the only aspect of myself.”
Folk artist Satnam offered a parallel experience, sharing that she is still regularly asked whether she performs Bollywood music: “Just because I’m a South Asian woman doesn’t mean I do Bollywood. I don’t even listen to Bollywood.”
Identity
For many on the panel, these assumptions intersect with the pressure to assimilate. TinyUmbrellas spoke openly about realising how much of their identity they had muted growing up: “I didn’t even realise how whitewashed I’d become until later. I had never seen anyone who looked like me in popular music.”
This internalised scarcity — feeling as though there can only be “one of us” — was discussed as a recurring challenge. Dr Diljeet noted how musicians from minority backgrounds are taught early on to “push it down” in order to avoid awkwardness.
Resisting industry expectations
Despite these challenges, the panel emphasised the strength that comes from resisting industry narratives and carving out independent creative identities.
Lucas reflected on the slow shift away from London-centric thinking: “There’s this idea that you have to go to London. But there are opportunities up here. The more we acknowledge that, the more we can change it.”
Hang echoed this, describing Leeds as “a breath of fresh air” where diverse grassroots spaces allow artists to flourish without feeling out of place.
Beyond tokenism
Discussions around opportunity also touched directly on tokenism. When asked whether development schemes genuinely amplify marginalised artists or simply fill quotas, Lucas was frank: “Sometimes when I’m only getting attention from spaces for Black or queer people, I think, hang on, I’m just as good as everybody else.”
The consensus was that representation only matters when it leads to meaningful, ongoing inclusion rather than symbolic gestures.
Building supportive creative ecosystems
The conversation carried forward a shared commitment to building new ecosystems grounded in collaboration and care.
Hang spoke with incredible precision on this: “We can all be curators. The word means to take care. We need to take care of each other and our ecosystems.”
By the end of the discussion, it was clear that while barriers remain, artists across the North are reshaping the musical landscape on their own terms.
Through honesty, community and creative autonomy, musicians are creating the conditions for a more equitable and imaginative future.
The MU’s presence at Launchpad highlighted the Union’s ongoing commitment to championing underrepresented voices.
More about Launchpad
Launchpad is a non-profit organisation which provides advice, funding and opportunities for Yorkshire artists and music projects.
Support, guidance and access to resources is available through their various support strands as well as their regular workshops, panels and conferences.