Carolina Gemmell received a grant for the development of the debut album of her band WAZO BEAN. WAZO BEAN is a five-piece experimental soul collective from Amsterdam, blending intimate, soulful songs with raw, groove-driven energy and a playful, animalistic spirit. Inspired by artists such as Hiatus Kaiyote, Hermeto Pascoal and Clever Austin, WAZO BEAN invites audiences into a vivid world. The band — Carolina Gemmell (vocals, acoustic guitar), Pablo Gonzalez (cello), Aniol Torrents (double bass), Yam Anisimov (electric guitar), Guy Abada (drums) and Gabrielle Migraine (visuals) — is currently working on their debut album ways of being, merging their acoustic groove sound with electronic production and a small wind and string orchestra.Carolina is a Spanish-Scottish singer-songwriter and jazz vocalist based in Amsterdam. With roots in soul and R&B and a playful, storytelling approach to her voice, she has become a strong presence in the jazz and soul scene, performing at venues such as BIMHUIS and TivoliVredenburg. In 2025 she won second prize at the Keep an Eye Jazz Competition with her musical partner Evan van der Feen, and performs with ensembles including NJJO and Tzara the Machine. Since 2023 she has focused mainly on her experimental soul quintet WAZO BEAN, which quickly gained recognition in Amsterdam’s jazz community and has already collaborated with producer halfpastseven and comedian Diederik Zuurmond.