Trans musicians can find it hard to navigate the UK music industry, a space which – in spite of some valid forward movement – remains extremely heteronormative, and patriarchal.

That’s why events like are so important. An intimate songwriting camp, it’s a space space run for trans+ songwriters and producers.

Overseen by , Transpose 2026 took place a few weeks ago at a secret location in the capital. Running across three day, SongTeller worked with The Ivors Academy, Sound Royalties, SESAC, QUBE and The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) to host the camp.

The names are hugely impressive, too: Olly Alexander, of Porij, jasmine.4.t, Tom Rasmussen, Haviah Mighty, Nxdia, Sans Soucis, Catty, Andro, each took a turn as the artist, writing with songwriters and , and producers Beau Cassidy, Bloodl3tter, Ilā Kamalagaran (Trans Voices) and . 

A remarkable, cathartic, and hugely affirming three day period, Olly Alexander says of the camp:

“It’s not often you’re in a songwriting session and everybody’s queer. That’s really, really rare. There’s just so much brilliant trans talent around the world, but it’s not always easy to get all those people together collaborating in a space. This is literally what these camps are so good for”.

CLASH favourite jasmine.4.t – the first UK artist signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records – said of the experience:

“I had the awesome opportunity to work with the up-and-coming producer Bloodl3tter, and SATCH which was so much fun. I came into the studio with an idea and we just ran with it. We’ve made something that’s pretty dark and gruesome and also very romantic… If I could change one thing about the music industry, I would make it more friendly to people who aren’t men, and I would say no more all-men line-ups”.

Check out some amazing behind the scenes images from Transpose 2026 up top.

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