How to "come out of nowhere" on the Notts music scene

My first mini-gig of the year was at the launch of the 2016 Nottingham Young Creative Awards. This is a series of awards that are given to creative people from Nottingham between the ages of 13-24, for outstanding achievement within their creative field.

I won the YCA for Music in 2012 which had a truly big impact on me. At that time I was only just starting to gig on the Notts music scene and with the release of Parlour Tricks imminent, Outlaw advised me to enter for the award. Being unknown made me nervous about entering, but as the leaders in Nottingham creative enterprises were (and still are) on the panel; it was going to be a great way to get them to hear what I was doing.

I still feel the nerves when I think about the moment just before my name was called out. Along with prize money I won a recording session to make a live EP with Tom 'T'sMyth' Smith; then a Confetti student. We got on straight away and since I have worked with Tom every year on one project or another (he's currently mastering my new EP; out early this year!) Dean Jackson attended the awards and invited me to perform on his BBC Introducing show. After trying to connect with someone at DHP to play Splendour, head of DHP; George Akin, welcomed me for a meeting and within six months I had gone from being virtually unknown in my hometown, to performing at Splendour and being track of the week on BBC 1 Xtra.

My point is, the Notts YCA awards gave me a network. It helped me link with people who I otherwise would have struggled to contact. If you're a Notts creative, seriously; just enter (and even if YOU aren't; pass this on to someone you know who is!) - it can be a game changer! It's awesome to see these awards continue and to be invited back to launch their 7th year is a real honour!

Big love to Notts YCA's! What a wicked start to the year!

Rob x

If you are a young Notts creative; in music, art, film-making, fashion... Practically anything! Go here to apply!

The night religion didn't matter

Last night went OFF at Kensington Temple! The event aimed to fundraise for Naomi Childrens Fund, a charity that supports children and young people at risk both nationally and internationally.

This was the first time I had been to a non-denominational temple; a place where all faiths and religions are welcome. The ENERGY of the audience combined with the talent and diversity of the evening's acts set such an incredible vibe. The crowd was made up of members of the christian, islamic, buddhist, jewish and other faith systems; all together to support a mutual concern, the welfare of young people. 

It was incredibly heartwarming. The ENTIRE room joyfully sang with me through my set, gave the awesome Nina Ferro a standing ovation (rightfully so!) and danced their hearts out to Fabio D'andrea's spectacular rendition of Mary Mary's 'Shackles' with his Kensington Temple based Gospel choir.

At a time where attitude towards and between faith systems can often lean toward hostility, together we stood for being together. Even as someone who doesn't prescribe to a specific religion, I still felt so welcome; it was a thing of beauty. 

Shout out to everyone who came last night, who watched the Periscope stream and helped create such a special night.

BIG LOVE

Rob

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of Naomi Children's Fund, or wish to donate - click here

Why you can't be a solo artist (and should stop trying)

There is a spirit of competition in the music industry, the idea that the music we create is somehow supposed to be a weapon to beat other musicians with. On television, on radio, on sales, on labels; musicians are encouraged to beat each other instead of meet each other.

But the truth is no artist is an island. In pursuit of our work we have to remember all the promoters, collaboraters, managers, events co-ordinators, partners, family members and fellow writers; who facilitated, supported and inspired every move we tried to make "on our own".  

Collaboration has lead to some of the greatest moves of my life. I collaborated with Greg Lonsdale and Jack Curtis as the first ever signing to Outlawlabel, with Nina Smith on the launch my first EP, with Natalie Duncan on her homecoming Nottingham showcase and before all of them the incredible Christella Litras; an encounter which influenced and shaped every move that came after it.

My lastest collaboration has been with the magical, and humble, Alex 'Motormouf' Young. After a chance reunion on Alexanderplass in Berlin (Germany!)  this summer I asked Alex if he would give me a lesson on the loop pedal.

We met up (at Nina Smith's yard) and he gave me a free crash course and sent me on my way. I went on to loop away at home for six weeks, counting down to my first ever show with the loop pedal which was being hosted by (you guessed it) Motormouf. 

The day before the show I was terrified yet Alex's encouragement lead me to take a massive leap of faith and perform a short set at his Loopers 2 event last week which (despite a few glitches...!) was great and the audience, incredible. That leap, that performance, changed me. Encouraged me. 

At a time when musicians are being turned into lone wolves its nice to see the Nottingham music scene still knows how to run as a pack. 

It's that very sentiment and attitude that makes the Hockley Hustle festival possible; artists united in the spirit of music for a charitable cause and I couldn't think of a more oppertune place to debut some of my new, loop inclusive, tracks! 

Today, at 9.30pm on the Left Lion Broadway stage I'm taking the leap once more... 

You coming to collaborate?

Rob x

I'm also performing an acoustic set at Bodega at 3pm! Come see...!

Why it's GOOD to be a SELL OUT in the music industry

 "...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved" - Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species (1859)

Apple Music launched last week, confirming what most musicians have known for a while. The music industry is no longer really about record sales.

The digital audio marketplace has been paired with, what is essentially, Spotify on uppers to help reshape the wilted, jilted and stilted recorded music marketplace. Music has grown beyond the solid gift-wrappable product that it was to become a digital imaginarium which can be access all areas for anyone with an iPhone/Spotify shaped library card.

And its the best news we could have hoped for!

At one time all you really needed was a good album. (You didn't even have to be singing on it!) Just take a nice photo, interview well, lip-sync for SMTV and have bags, and bags of street credibility. Or blonde hair dye. 

If you could get some sexy people to be the face of a strong musical product; you had a goldmine on your hands. Sell records. Charting guaranteed a BIG payout. Touring was always needed and almost always happened AFTER the album dropped.

At a time when recorded music makes SO much less than it ever has being able to put an album together is not all there is to it.

Now its about selling out. 

If you can sell out a venue, you're a gold mine. Increasingly greater numbers of artists, signed and unsigned, are touring their material, gigging and building their fanbases without having ever set foot in a studio. More and more execs flock to artists who can fill a string of pubs, halls, arenas; who may never have recorded before because the LIVE performance stock is UP!

And is it really a surprise? Standing in the front row, back row, on the wings, in the rafters; with the boom of the amps and the buzz of the live moment will always, in my opinion, be irreplaceable. It's priceless, and those performers, DJ's and songwriters that can bring us all together are the ones that have a fighting chance. Their life is no longer just in your hands, but in the stands.

Darwin nailed it;

This is an evolution of species. 

Rob x

I'm performing in NOTTINGHAM again 25th July! Come and check it!