Ingenious’ first Music VCT has completed only its second investment to date, backing the second album of Mercury Prize nominee Martina Topley-Bird. This should be released early next year.

Nominated for the prestigious music industry prize in 2003 for her debut release Quixotic, Topley-Bird is now working on her new album with DJ and producer DangerMouse, who recently enjoyed phenomenal success himself as one half of the chart-topping Gnarls Barkley.

The deal is also expected to mark the beginning of a sustained relationship between Ingenious and Topley-Bird’s record label Independiente, which also represents the likes of indie favourites Embrace, Travis and Gomez. ‘We are very happy to be working on Martina’s new album with Ingenious, and are also looking forward to supporting other of our artists’ careers by way of the Ingenious Music VCT in the future,’ Independiente founder Andy Macdonald explains.