The Seed Award is a targeted package of support, including coaching sessions and a small bursary to enable artists to research and develop a particular project or take the next step in their creative journey.

In this Q&A, we speak to Seed Award 2025 winner Michiel Turner, a multidisciplinary artist whose music blends folk-rooted songwriting with raw, organic production and elements of experimental pop. Born in the Altyre Estates of Moray, Scotland, and shaped by the coastline and forests, his work is deeply influenced by memory, place, and emotion. His sound is rooted yet ever-evolving — layering voice, texture, and image into something both intimate and expansive.

Are there any particular themes, ideas or questions that you find yourself returning to in your work?

My creative work is often inspired by ecology, nostalgia and time. My process tends to be fragmented and informed by all facets of my life. As both a musician and visual artist, my previous work has been drawn towards both coastal landscapes and peatland.

Growing up in northeast Scotland by Findhorn beach, I feel a deep connection with coastline and I have worked on peat bogs in Oban for over two years now, removing invasive species and working towards restoration. One element that ties these spaces is water; however, ecology as a theme feels deeper than just this. It is the interconnectedness of the living experience.

What role does technology or experimentation play in your composition process?

Technology continues to become more integral to my practice as I develop. I have explored this a lot in my recording and production process, but am now integrating more technology into my live setup, using Ableton to trigger sounds, add autotune to specific songs and have further control over the soundscapes of my set.

What does collaboration mean to you, and how do you approach working with others?

Collaboration is so important to me in all stages of creativity. I am really lucky to live amongst a vibrant community of artists working in different genres who I learn from all the time.

Part of my work is running Anam Creative, which is a social enterprise focused on supporting paid opportunities for young people to collaborate. I have learnt so much from just facilitating and supporting group discussions through these projects.

In my upcoming creative projects, collaboration is becoming more and more central to the process. This is through songwriting sessions, co-producing sessions, recording and performance. The majority of the collaboration I do is exploratory and experimental, not always resulting in a quick output for audience but rather acting as a catalyst for new ideas and ways of working.