Leeds Conservatoire students, and soon-to-be graduates, are set to perform and complete work placements at Deer Shed Festival for the second year in a row, as part of an ongoing partnership.
Taking place from 24 to 26 July, Deer Shed is a three day wonderland of music, comedy, arts, science, theatre and sport for all ages, set in beautiful North Yorkshire parkland. Headline acts for this year’s festival are Say She She and Sleaford Mods, plus Everything Everything whose drummer, Michael Spearman, studied Jazz at our institution.
Joining them on the line-up are artists from the conservatoire’s undergraduate Songwriting and Popular Music programmes.
Araya is a British-Thai singer-songwriter based in Leeds, known for her emotive vocals and genre-blurring sound. Drawing from a rich palette of influences, her music weaves together elements of 90s-inspired folk, trip hop, bossa nova, and downtempo, creating an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and entirely her own.
With lyrics that explore poetic and topical themes, Araya’s songwriting is intimate and introspective - inviting listeners into a world that is at once delicate and resonant carrying the emotional weight of her stories with lyrical vulnerability.
Influenced by artists such as Elliott Smith, Nick Drake, Laura Marling, The Sundays, Zero 7, Kitty Craft, and Cocteau Twins, Araya carves a space for herself that is quietly bold, resonating with intuitive listeners who seek depth, mood, and authenticity in sound. Follow @araya.music on Instagram.
Romy Taylor is an independent vocalist and songwriter whose music sits at the intersection of alt-pop and contemporary jazz. Her sound is characterised by expressive vocals, introspective songwriting, and a fluid, genre-blending approach. With roots in southern Spain, Romy’s heritage subtly informs her musical identity, influencing her melodic sensibilities and style both in the studio and on stage.
Romy has made appearances on BBC Introducing and Radio 5 Live, including appearances on Gordon Wedderburn’s OneJazz radio show, and recognised within Crash Records’ Next Big Thing series.
Her singles ‘Nectarine’ and ‘Momentum’ were acclaimed on Spotify’s Fresh Finds UK & IE playlist. Her upcoming EP ‘Human Nature’ is set to release on 26 June. Follow @romytaylorr on Instagram.
On Araya and Romy Taylor performing, Harriet McBain, Festival Manager at Deer Shed, said, "We’re excited to be giving a platform to these two distinctive and promising artists, and supporting them in the next steps of their creative journey.”
James Warrender, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Enterprise at Leeds Conservatoire, added, “We are pleased to return to Deer Shed Festival as part of our partnership. At Leeds Conservatoire we actively collaborate with industry-leading partners to enhance the learning experience and give our students and alumni opportunities to perform, make connections and boost their employability.”
