A Halstead events company is teaming up with music stars while helping the next generation of artists get noticed.
Mango Panda, run by directors Sean Howe and Chris Harvey with co-founder Joshua English, has worked with stars including Becky Hill, MNEK, Big Narstie and members of So Solid Crew.
But behind the celebrity links is a bigger mission: supporting new talent, creating opportunities and bringing artists together.
Chris said: “The idea behind Mango Panda community is exactly that - a community. The point is to bring up-and-coming talent through the ranks.
“The celebrity stuff is amazing and it’s what’s going to interest people, but it’s more about trying to help the music scene and push more unknown people out there.”
Mango Panda launched Drop Top Sessions in December 2025 to give artists a fresh platform to showcase their talent.
Artists perform live sets on camera inside a car fitted with decks, microphones and speakers as it drives around, helping them reach new audiences.
Chris said the sessions had opened doors to new artists, while Mango Panda’s Instagram now attracts around 500,000 views a month.
MNEK's team also reached out to Mango Panda, giving the platform attention from a major industry name.
After appearing on the platform about six weeks ago, Mango Panda was contacted by MNEK's close friend and fellow music star, Becky Hill.
Her session was then filmed, with the video due out in the coming weeks.
Chris said the project reached a turning point when he asked British rapper Harvey to jump onboard.
Harvey, Dan De Man and Bushkin then took part, helping the platform reach a wider audience.
Around 150 artists, from newcomers to established names, are waiting to take part, he added.
Mango Panda also runs events mixing established and up-and-coming performers, usually booking one or two bigger names.
But Mango Panda’s ambitions go beyond shows and online content.
About 120 artists belong to a WhatsApp community where they share ideas, collaborate, discuss events and support each other.
Chris said social media had created opportunities but made it harder for artists to stand out among so many competing voices.
He believes an alternative showcase and a network of artists facing the same challenges can make a real difference.
“Me and Sean like to give back,” he said. “I’ve been filming music videos and working within the industry for years, and it’s a tough game. Anything we can do to help, we will.”
He said it was rewarding to see artists support one another, organise events and collaborate through the community.
Meeting performers he grew up listening to has been surreal, but Chris said the people behind their public profiles also made a lasting impression.
He praised the charity work and business support many artists provide behind the scenes, saying the company felt lucky to have become friends with people it once admired from afar.
Reflecting on the company’s Essex roots, Chris said: “From something born in Halstead, to now be scaling into something much bigger between us, it is wicked.”
Mango Panda hopes to expand its events, develop Drop Top Sessions and grow its artist network as demand rises and more projects are discussed.
For Chris, the celebrity collaborations are only half the story.
The real ambition is to give the next generation of musicians the exposure, connections and support to make their mark.
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