Ann Arbor’s London Beck spent the better half of 2019 gaining momentum within the local music scene, from booking shows at the iconic Blind Pig to entertaining the thought of starting their own music festival. Then, the pandemic hit. “I can definitely say that one of my primary purposes on this Earth is to make music and to share music with other people and to get them to connect… and it really hurt not being able to share that,” says Beck, who applied to the Amplify Fellowship program, thanks to some much-needed encouragement from a friend.

The Amplify Fellowship provides resources, including free studio time and production support, to Washtenaw County’s Black musicians, who are interested in giving back to their local community through volunteerism. Born in the wake of George Floyd’s death, the eight-month fellowship empowers Black creatives to express themselves authentically through their art while fostering collaboration.