Artists RAKEL and MacKenzie Leighton Selected for a Music Exchange Residency between Nantes and Reykjavík. The aim of the exchange residency is to bridge the two cities and their music communities, fostering sustainable collaboration through the power of music and creativity.

The residency offers the musicians an opportunity to create music in fully-equipped studio and rehearsal spaces in both cities. Furthermore, it provides a unique window for the artists to connect with the local music scenes, engaging with fellow creatives and industry professionals alike.

The exchange is a collaborative project between Reykjavík Music City, Nantes, Iceland Music, hafnar.haus, STEF, the Trempo arts collective in Nantes, the French Embassy in Iceland, Alliance Française de Reykjavik, and ARDIAN.

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MacKenzie Leighton has been based and active in Nantes since 2017. Her music blends pop-infused folk, and over the past decade, she has established herself as an essential voice within the city's music scene. Leighton has collaborated with numerous musicians and producers, performing widely across France, Belgium, and the United States.

The Reykjavík selection committee, composed of representatives from Reykjavík Music City, hafnar.haus, Iceland Music, STEF, and the French Embassy, unanimously agreed that Leighton would be a valuable addition to the city’s music landscape. Her storytelling and musicality are both resonant and profound, leaving the committee confident that she will seamlessly connect and collaborate with the creative community at hafnar.haus and Iceland Airwaves.

We look with anticipation to welcoming her to Reykjavík this October!

More on Leighton and a link to her music:

https://mackenzieleighton.com/ 

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Trempo selected RAKEL as Reykjavík’s representative in Nantes. The musician weaves together voice, memory, and atmosphere as the core elements of her creation. Her music layers vocals, field recordings, and delicate soundscapes into pieces that feel simultaneously intimate and expansive.

Her debut album, a place to be (2025, OPIA Community), marked a milestone in her career. The record was highly acclaimed by critics and earned multiple award nominations. Earlier this year, RAKEL received the Icelandic Music Award for Performer of the Year, with a place to be nominated for Album of the Year and its track, "always," nominated for Song of the Year.

RAKEL was selected for the residency by Trempo from a large pool of applicants. We offer her our warmest congratulations on this opportunity—the future is bright, and we look forward to following her journey in the years to come.

More on RAKEL and a link to her music:

https://linktr.ee/rakelisrakel