Newham artists target a Christmas number one for an East London album.

With iconic groups like Iron Maiden, U2, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Genesis having been discovered in East London’s numerous music venues and pubs over the years, could another local artist make it as the next big thing?

Artist and urban studies expert Alberto Duman is hoping to prove so with a unique and innovative music album which aims to be the next Christmas number one as well as the people’s soundtrack for the year.

Along with music production and architecture staff, plus students at the University of East London, Alberto plans to make a 20-track album this year.

He said: “Who knows, we might make it as the Christmas number one.

“Music can be an incredible bridge – and a great way to bring people together.”

The album will have contributions from East London commercial music producers and Newham bands who are hoping to make it big.

It will also feature community centres who will be making music to help offer rehabilitation to youths.

The album is intended to be used as a soundtrack for Newham Council’s ‘London’s Regeneration Supernova’ – a three-minute silent video used to showcase the borough to potential investors at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

Alberto said: “The silence of the video really got me thinking about the music of the area and what a soundtrack that reflected local communities would be like.

“It got me wondering how I could do something to involve local people in the video about Newham’s future.”

The album will include at least two tracks produced by UEL students to help Alberto tap into the local music scene and talent.

But it has all been made possible by a grant to UEL from the Leverhulme Trust, part of a “Music for Masterplanning” project.