Ranking Order
Beneficiary: Luke Mercieca
Reference number: MCG37-25-6532
Project Title: The Cassettes – EP
Amount awarded: €3000
Cieca & The Cassettes are set to record and release a four-song EP, showcasing original music written and developed by the band members. Blending rock, pop, and funk influences, the EP will capture the group’s energetic style and creative spirit. With support from the Arts Council microgrant, the band will be able to cover essential production costs, ensuring the music is professionally recorded, produced, and shared with audiences. This project represents an important step in the band’s artistic journey, allowing them to expand their repertoire, reach new listeners, and further contribute to Malta’s growing contemporary music scene.
Beneficiary: Jesmond Pace
Reference number: MCG39-25-6534
Project Title: Deflection
Amount awarded: €3,000
Phil, a young man in his early twenties, has grown up in silence after losing his father at ten. His mother, consumed by running her bar, treats him more like an employee than a son. Immersed in social media, Phil absorbs only a torrent of negativity—wars, protests, hatred, and violence—leaving him disillusioned with a world that feels hopeless. One night, an unexpected turn on stage reveals his hidden wit but also his despair. Only Maggie, a colleague and close friend, sees beneath the sarcasm and suspects the pain he conceals. While Phil insists nothing is wrong, his private solitude tells another story: depression, isolation, and thoughts he dares not share. Maggie reaches out for help, even confronting his distant mother, but time feels fragile. Deflection is a stark
reflection on hidden struggles, the impact of unchecked negativity, and the urgency of love and compassion before it’s too late.
Beneficiary: Chris Farrugia
Reference number: MCG46-25-6552
Project Title: Megalithic
Amount awarded:€2,950
Megalithic is a four-track downtempo EP inspired by Malta’s Neolithic temples: Mnajdra, Ġgantija, Skorba, and Ħaġar Qim. These monumental sites, central to Malta’s heritage, reflect a sense of timelessness and cultural significance that aligns closely with Chris Goa’s artistic vision. Their architectural forms and historical weight provide a strong conceptual foundation for his hypnotic, slow-building blend of organic house and downtempo.
Beneficiary: Noel Curmi
Reference number: MCG55-25-6650
Project Title: Ħoss it-Truf
Amount awarded: €2,404
Ħoss it-Truf is a project centred on the creation of a new composition for clarinet and double bass, two instruments rarely paired together in chamber music. The piece unfolds in three distinct sections: it begins with two solo movements that highlight each instrument’s versatility and unique timbre, before merging in a third movement where the clarinet and double bass engage in an expressive duet. While a small number of international works exist for this combination, my research revealed that no music by Maltese composers has yet been written for clarinet and double bass. This absence in the national repertoire provides the driving force behind the project, creating the opportunity to contribute something original to Malta’s contemporary music scene. The project will culminate in a world premiere concert in Malta, oering audiences a distinctive cultural event that celebrates artistic exchange, creativity, and the spirit of dialogue reflected in its title.
Beneficiary: Sean Cauchi Meachen
Reference number: MCG61-25-6675
Project Title: She Played My Mind
Amount awarded: €3,000
“She Played My Mind” is a captivating song that delves into the experience of becoming intensely infatuated with someone’s charm, dismissing all the warning signs along the way. The lyrics depict a story of surrendering to their allure, only to realize that you’ve been just one of many victims of the same manipulative tricks. Despite the initial vulnerability, the song ultimately conveys a powerful resolution to break free from the cycle and refuse to fall for it once more, embodying a journey from susceptibility to selfawareness and strength. Performed by The Busker, this track is scheduled for release next year, presenting a new and innovative sonic perspective. Building on this, “She Played My Mind” combines compelling lyrics with fresh musical elements to explore the complexities of infatuation, manipulation, and self-empowerment, making it both relatable and thought-provoking as it challenges listeners to recognize and break free from cycles of deception.
Ranking Order
Beneficiary: David Meilak
Reference number: MCG05-25-6450
Project Title: Materialising an Idea
Amount awarded: €3,000
Materialising an Idea explores the journey of a song that has yet to find its final sound. The song, Un/Loveable, tells the story of someone who feels unworthy of love but, by the end, discovers its grace. This theme mirrors the writing process itself, as the song
has gone through months of development yet has not found the “love” it deserves. The raw concept, lyrics, and melodies require the right arrangement, and this project seeks to uncover that missing piece — to give the song the love it is entitled to. Given its
duality, the project also includes a visual representation of the song’s themes, illustrating the emotions, textures, and moments that inspired its creation. The images serve as a parallel narrative, bridging the gap between sound and vision, and highlighting how music can be both seen and heard.
Beneficiary: Bahjat Ahmed Etorjman
Reference number: MCG09-25-6457
Project Title: Bahjat: New A-POP Music Collaborations
Amount awarded: €3,000
This project will result in four new professionally produced songs by Bahjat, created in collaboration with internationally acclaimed producers Hampus Westermark, whose credits include Sam Tompkins and Duncan Laurence, and Howard Keith Debono, one of Malta’s most successful music producers, who has worked with some of Malta’s top recording artists. Bahjat, a Maltese-based, Libyan-born artist, has coined the term APOP to describe his music, which blends contemporary global pop with Arabic heritage, reflecting his dual identity while exploring themes of identity, belonging, and resilience. With over 150 million global listens, he has established a strong international presence, generating significant buzz around his potential as a global pop artist. By covering
Beneficiary: Irene Fay Spiteri
Reference number: MCG14-25-6463
Project Title: Rhythm & Light
Amount awarded: €3,000
This project proposes a concert featuring two singers who will present a programme that combines original compositions with contemporary songs. One of the singers will perform works he has written himself, oering audiences an authentic and personal
artistic contribution. The concert will engage with contemporary themes such as love, resilience, identity, and belonging, ensuring that the performance resonates with current social and cultural concerns. The collaboration between the two singers will create a dynamic interplay of styles and harmonies, enriching the concert experience and highlighting the importance of artistic partnership. The project aims to provide audiences not only with high-quality musical entertainment but also with opportunities for reflection and dialogue through music. By foregrounding original song writing alongside established contemporary repertoire, Echoes of Today seeks to strengthen appreciation for new creative work while situating it in a broader cultural and artistic context.
Beneficiary: Stefan Carbonaro
Reference number: MCG15-25-6465
Project Title: 4th Solo Exhibition Stefan Carbonaro
Amount awarded: €3,000
BodyParts : Fragments & Forms: A Journey Through Anatomy and Healing is a multisensory art exhibition by Stefan Carbonaro that explores the human body as a site of vulnerability and resilience.
BODYPARTS will consist of abstract anatomical fragments such as ribs and vertebrae, transforming them from fractured shards into cohesive forms. The exhibition takes visitors on an experiential journey, moving from dark, angular compositions symbolising trauma toward luminous, textured paintings evoking regeneration and wholeness. Beyond visual engagement, the installation incorporates soundscapes of heartbeat and breath, tactile surfaces, and subtle scents to create an immersive environment. By blending painting, texture, and sensory elements, the project reflects on universal themes of pain, healing, and transformation, offering audiences an evocative and reflective encounter with art beyond the canvas.
Beneficiary: Etienne Spiteri
Reference number: MCG20-25-6474
Project Title: Melodija Maltija
Amount awarded: €3,000
This project comprises of a professionally recorded album featuring original symphonic band works I have composed over the years. These pieces reflect themes rooted in Maltese life interpreted through a contemporary musical lens. The repertoire will be performed by Maltese musicians under my direction, and recorded by a Maltese sound engineer, offering a platform for local talent and fostering artistic collaboration. By capturing these compositions in high-quality recordings, the project aims to preserve and promote Maltese musical creativity for future generations. Once completed, the album will be distributed free to local and foreign radio stations, ensuring accessibility to a wide audience both locally and abroad. This initiative not only supports the visibility of Maltese composers and performers but also enriches the national cultural archive with original works that speak to our shared identity.
Beneficiary: Mabrouka El Kayati
Reference number: MCG27-25-6492
Project Title: Seasons – Extended Play (EP)
Amount awarded: €3,000
Seasons”, is an extended play (EP), which includes a collection of four original songs that follow the stages of a relationship. Each track captures a unique emotional chapter, moving from the joy of new beginnings to the struggles of reality, the doubts that bring
distance, and the resolution that comes with choice and acceptance.
Tracklist
– Adore You introduces the Honeymoon Phase, filled with infatuation, passion, and sweetness.
– Tell Me What a Girl’s Gotta Do reflects the Reality Phase, where cracks appear through misunderstandings and flaws.
– Almost Strangers explores the Disillusionment Phase, marked by distance and emotional lows.
– Uninvited closes with the Resolution Phase, where one decides to grow stronger together or to let go.
Drawn from my own experiences and shared stories, Seasons offers an intimate yet universal exploration of love.
Beneficiary: Lida Sherafatmand
Reference number: MCG31-25-6505
Project Title: Exhibition at Flower Art Museum in Holland
Amount awarded: €3,000
I am currently at an artist residency at the Flower Art Museum in Holland, during which I am preparing works for an exhibition to be held by early 2027. The works including a few translations from the Dutch Golden Age flower still lifes into contemporary pieces through the lens of florescencism which an artistic movement that I started in 2020 during the pandemic.
Beneficiary: Kodin Camilleri
Reference number: MCG32-25-6507
Project Title: AMPED OUT Debut EP
Amount awarded: €2,860
Amped Out will release the first EP made up of 3 original songs. 7 songs have already been written by Amped Out and 3 of these songs will be chosen to be recorded in a professional recording studio. These songs will be produced and mixed professionally to launch our music career oicially .The debut EP, comprising of 3 full length original songs, will be uploaded on all digital music platforms. The EP will be sent to influential music promoters local and international , radios and other industry entities who could help progress our career further. 1 of the songs will be chosen as the first single where we will also utilise some of the budget to produce the music video as well as market it. Judging on our several live performances across Malta we can confidently project that this will solidify the start of a fruitful career for Amped Out.
Beneficiary: Sean Anthony Scicluna
Reference number: MCG41-25-6536
Project Title: Echoes of the Passion
Amount awarded: €3,000
This project involves the composition of up to twelve new Good Friday funeral marches, rooted in Malta’s cultural and religious traditions. The works will be professionally recorded and distributed both on CDs and on digital pendrives. While pendrives will be ordered free of charge to ensure accessibility, CDs will be sold at a modest price, with proceeds donated to charity in support of vulnerable people. In this way, the project goes beyond music creation, directly contributing to social solidarity. By combining artistic output with cultural accessibility and community care, the project
reflects the principles of the Arts Council Malta’s Right to Culture strategy. It ensures that high-quality cultural expressions are not limited by financial barriers, while also encouraging participation, preservation, and renewal of Maltese heritage. Ultimately, the initiative bridges creativity, tradition, and social responsibility, making culture both a shared experience and a tool for positive change.
Beneficiary: Luca Macelli
Reference number: MCG44-25-6542
Project Title: Macelli
Amount awarded: €3,000
The project aims to strengthen my artistic practice by developing my music production skills, primarily focused on intermediate and advanced level techniques. Throughout this process, I will enhance my creative capabilities and present my work in the form of a three track EP comprising original electronic music tracks. These tracks will eventually be shared with wider audiences, contributing to Malta’s vibrant and growing arts space. In developing these skills, they will allow me to build on already existing achievements as a DJ in the local scene – through enabling me to advance in such a way that would make this a sustainable career rather than purely a passion.
Beneficiary: Anthony Ellul
Reference number: MCG45-25-6551
Project Title: Reviving traditional Maltese folk music with special emphasis on Zejtun
Amount awarded: €3,000
The traditional Maltese folk music has been enjoyed by many in the past and this project seeks to continue this legacy through the production of 6 new songs written by folk composer Charles Seychell with a special emphasis on the locality of Zejtun including songs in the Zejtun dialect. Such songs reflect a lot on the traditional Maltese way of life and its people. Music will be composed to accompany the lyrics and then recorded to finally produce a cd of the songs. Charles himself will sing his own songs. The songs will then be played during various events and local radio stations and disseminated to Maltese radio stations abroad.
Ranking Order
Beneficiary: Jean Paul Borg
Reference number: MCG03-25-6448
Project Title: I like your Style (Can we be friends?)
Amount awarded: €3,000
“I Like Your Style (Can We Be Friends?)” is a song written in dialogue format between a human and an AI, re-imagining a futuristic conversation where technology seeks friendship and collaboration. The composition blends modern sounds with experimental, futuristic elements, capturing the tension and curiosity of this evolving relationship. At its core, the piece explores pressing questions: How is AI shaping the future of humanity, particularly within the arts? Should we view AI as a threat to authenticity and raw expression, or as a collaborator that can expand artistic possibilities beyond what was once imaginable? By presenting this dialogue through music, the song reflects on the shifting boundaries between creativity, technology, and human identity. Written and performed by The Busker, “I Like Your Style” will be featured in next year’s releases, offering both a provocative theme and a fresh sonic landscape.
Beneficiary: Brenda Debattista
Reference number: MCG07-25-6455
Project Title: BEE EP
Amount awarded: €3,000
Bee, a Malta-based indie pop artist, is set to create her second EP, a 4-track project that builds on her established sound of raw lyrics and subtle production. The EP is a lyrical exploration of human connection, love, and the tender anxieties that accompany them. Recording will take place at Railway Studios with producer Peter Borg. Bee will collaborate with session musicians including Martin Caruana (drummer) and Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur (keys), to further expand the creative vision. This project will allow Bee to further develop her sound and contribute a new body of work to the local music scene.
Beneficiary: Emily Yasmine Debono
Reference number: MCG17-25-6471
Project Title: Emily Yasmine Debut EP
Amount awarded: €2,930
My debut EP will consist of 4 original songs. Some ideas of the songs have already been written whilst some others will be explored during the recording process. The recording will happen in a professional environment whereby I will record, produce and have the 4 songs mixed. This will launch my singer-songwriter career officially whereby I will publish my EP on all digital music platforms. All 4 songs will be sent to influential music promoters local and international , radios and other industry entities who could help progress my career further. 1 of the songs will be chosen as the first single where I will also utilise some of the budget to produce the music video as well as market it. Judging on my 6 previous releases I envisage a minimum of 20,000 views on youtube which will also direct traffic to the EP streaming platforms and my socials.
