Suzanne Gurusinghe: Early Career Promoter Fund
Concise Description: Two Drifting parties in East London showcasing emerging bass/electronic talent alongside established DJs, building sustainable grassroots electronic music community.
Bio: Surusinghe is a London-based DJ, producer and promoter working across club, bass and experimental electronic music. As an artist, she has released music internationally and toured extensively across the UK, EU, Australia, Asia and the USA, performing in grassroots venues as well as established club and festival spaces. This touring experience has given her a deep understanding of how local club ecosystems operate and the essential role small venues and independent promoters play in sustaining electronic music culture.
Alongside her artist practice, Surusinghe founded Drifting in 2024 in response to changes she observed within nightlife, including the closure of small club spaces and a growing reliance on headline-driven programming. Drifting was created as a grassroots club series that prioritises attentive listening, discovery and community, encouraging audiences to engage with music beyond commercial headliners.Through Drifting, she curates genre-fluid lineups spanning bass, club, techno and experimental sounds, with a focus on underrepresented and forward-thinking artists. She manages all aspects of the project, including curation, artist booking, venue relationships, budgeting, promotion and event production. Drifting’s first London event took place at Ormside Projects in 2024 and is now happening in Melbourne as well, establishing a committed audience rooted in community and shared musical values. The funding will support the delivery of a series of Drifting club events. It will contribute to artist fees, venue hire, production and promotion, enabling the continuation of non-headline-led programming within small club spaces. The activity aims to strengthen local electronic music communities, support artists at different stages of their careers, and build sustainable, inclusive models for grassroots club promotion.
Drifting socials: