The music industry is not an even playing field. The substantial resources required to fully support albums by highly individuated emerging musicians creates a significant barrier for entry, resulting in a  negative feedback loop of marginalization and stylistic homogenization. For musicians whose art requires extensive experimentation in the studio with a diverse array of collaborators, ths barrier becomes even more formidable. Yet without the opportunity to articulate their unadulterated musical visions alongside their more traditional and well-funded peers, these unique musical visions never come to pass - a personal artistic tragedy and huge net loss for the industry as a whole. Even in this era of social justice, opportunity is most often tailored to voices that conform to known and easily fundable processes. Artists must be able to fully articulate the "ends" prior to the journey (aka, grantspeak), a timeline antithetical to a true path of intuitive and collaborative discovery.

Current Residency Artists

Aditya Prakash
Theo Baer

Past Residency Artists

Ganavya

Participating Musicians

Erika Dohi
Paul Wiancko
Akshay Anantapadmanabhan
Shahzad Ismaily
Aaron Roche 
Holland Andrews

Jay Julio

Grey McMurray

In response to this negative self-perpetuating cycle, figureight has launched the Open Residency program. Initiated in partnership with New Amsterdam Records and Forgotten Futures, two notable New York-based music non-profits, the Open Residency was soft launched in 2021 under the leadership of creative director Shahzad Ismaily (founder/owner of figureight), production director William Brittelle (co-founder/co-artistic director of New Amsterdam), and label manager James Vella (founder/director Phantom Limb). The figureight Open Residency offers open-ended studio time and producing/engineering resources to 1-2 emerging artists at a time - including access to Forgotten Futures stunning and priceless array of vintage electronic equipment. As part of the residency process, artists are paired with handpicked musicians from the figureight community to form a dynamic and supportive collaborative team.

Artists are chosen by nomination, with focus given to artists who use the recording studio as a direct extension of their creative process. The Open Residency is purposefully narrow in focus in order to do what is required to give artists the space, time, and supportive expertise to realize their vision.  Priority is given to early career artists working on their debut albums or more established artists attempting a mid-career stylistic pivot. The resultant albums will be promoted and fully distributed in partnership with New Amsterdam, forming a foundation for artistic and emotional sustainability based not on adherence to norms but on vividly expressed individuality.