Tips to finding a job in the music/ creative industry MNGR albums of the year Interview with Sun Arcana
MAGAZINE
ISSUE ONE - JANUARY 2018
FEAT ISHY DEE
THANK YOU A Thank-you Letter 2017 was a big year for The MNGR, we want to say a big thank you to everyone who made this printed edition happen and contributed to a great academic year for us. With regard to their superb design, and the time and skill invested in the printed magazine: Sam Parker & Gara Uriarte – Graphic Designers. With thanks for the photographs taken of our featured artist ‘Ishy Dee’ and the time, concept and thought put into the shoot: David Jeffery-Hughes – Front Cover Photographer. Also, a big thank you to Ishy Dee for being our feature in our first printed magazine and Hugo Lagnado for interviewing him and being a talented and committed writer for the magazine. For continuous support throughout the launching of The MNGR and the printed magazine: Daniel Hagan – Head of Music Management BA. All of the artists/musicians featured in the print and the writers from The MNGR magazine. University of West London and UWLSU, for their endless support. Our editor, Helena Bodman and our Digital Marketing and Social Media Manager, Annika Singh, for their continuous work for the printed magazine. The whole MNGR Team, Editorial, Digital and Social Media, Events and Financial. Here’s to 2018, and The MNGR. Regards, Hannah Jane Williams, President of The MNGR.
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CONTENTS The Team Pages 4 & 5
Albums of the Year Pages 6 & 7
LCM Artists Page 8
Cultural Tunes Page 9
Labels: Live and Let Die Pages 10 & 11
Interview: Ishy Dee Pages 12 – 15
Interview: Sun Arcana Pages 16 & 17
Breakup Breakdown: The Beatles Pages 18 & 19
Our Top Tips: Finding a Job Pages 20 & 21
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THE MNGR
TEAM Louis Andersen-Risager Vice President
Hannah Jane Williams President
Helena Bodman Head of Editorial
Devon Potter Vice Editorial
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Annika Singh SoMe & Digital Marketing Manager
Holly Loweth Head of Events
Tom Walker Vice Events
Laurence Schoen Events Assistant
Gabbi Robinson Finance Manager
Joe Castle HR Manager Page 5
ALBUMS OF Ctrl By SZA
Three years after her last EP, this debut album became a breakthrough hit for SZA. The album is more lyrically dense than her previous work. It provides the chilled vibes we’re used to from SZA while also bringing lyrics to be quoted all over social media and sung at top volume at her inevitably sold out shows. Helena Bodman
Guardians of The Galaxy: Awesome Mixtape Vol. 2 Soundtrack albums are often music’s overlooked assets. One soundtrack that has rightly been given wide recognition is the Guardian of the Galaxy Awesome Mixtape vol.2 from the corresponding motion picture. Music supervisor Dave Jordan excellently utilizes classic’s such as Fleetwood Mac’s iconic tune “The Chain”. The album lives up to its title as it exposes all generations to awesome oldies that deserve the recognition bestowed to them through the soundtrack. Devon Potter
Listening to this album is like a 44.96 minute-long sad, sonic hug. It’s one raw and honest piece of art, which will make you slowly float through a dreamscape. Put on the bittersweet LP, light up a cigarette and stare out your window. I bet you’ll have tears running down your cheeks by the end of side A. Annika Singh
Cigarettes After Sex By Cigarettes After Sex
Common Sense By JHus “Common Sense” is JHUS’ debut Studio Album. The entire album is produced by Jae5, who deserves just as much credit. With his eclectic beats and J Hus’ versatile flow “Common Sense” never gets boring and finds the perfect way to combine Hip-hop, Grime, Reggae and Afrobeats with ease. Favourite track: Spirit Joe Castle
Miley managed to yet again change image/look to create a country pop album. The single ‘Malibu’ started the album, with Miley re-declaring her love for Liam Hemsworth. ‘Rainbow Land’ featuring Dolly Parton brings Miley back to her roots, She’s Not Him’ for the LGBTQ community and ‘Inspired’ a beautiful acoustic country tune has been my sing along of the year. Hannah Williams
Younger Now By Miley Cyrus Page 6
THE YE AR The Architect By Paloma Faith With not much released since her album in 2014, The Architect did not disappoint me. Although Faith normally conforms to lyrics about love, this album addresses more social issues which I admire. It difficult to not fall in love with her voice and music anyway and this album is no different. Favourite track: I’ll be gentle (feat. John Legend) Gabbi Robinson
Beautiful Trauma By P!nk Named after the title of her most successful single to date, “Beautiful Trauma”, P!nk takes the listener through journeys we all recognise and can relate to diversely whilst also making us laugh, cry and fall in love all over again. Story telling really is her expertise.This album all together is raw and truly powerful, showing where she stands without hiding any of the flaws around her. Holly Loweth
When ‘DAMN.’, dropped, Kendrick showed why he is considered to be one of the best rappers right now. Throughout ‘DAMN.’, Kendrick acts like a chameleon, changing his style and flow with every song. Almost a year after the release of ‘DAMN.’, I still find myself discovering new sides to the songs. The tale of King Kendrick manoeuvring through his own existence, with everything that comes with it, keeps making you want to come back. Louis Andersen-Risager
Damn By Kendrick Lamar The Peace and the Panic By Neck Deep Having followed Neck Deep since their first EP, I believe this is the best material they have produced. Not only because of the music, but, more importantly, its lyrical content and relevance to the current state of the world. It features some heavier sounding tracks, in the form of ‘Don’t Wait’, as well as more commercial sounding music heard in ‘In Bloom’ and ‘Critical Mistake’, providing an all-round great listen. Tom Walker Oscar and the Wolf released his second album ‘’Infinity’’ in September 2017. I like this album because it has stayed true to the sound and themes of the first album. His music always succeeds in absorbing the listeners and taking them into a completely different world, maybe dimension. I feel like the songs have definitely not been created for mainstream radio but are always worth listening to even for those not familiar with his music. Laurence Schoen
Infinity By Oscar and the Wolf Page 7
LCM ARTISTS Blending soft Jazz with percussive Afrobeat textures, JAEL emerges with an individual style from within the UWL talent pool. Grooving with a vibing instrumental backdrop, her song “Fire Dey” showcases her focused voice and evocative lyrics. JAEL and her producer By Boadi create a welcoming sonic world to not only dance in but also one to relax with. It’s easy to find solace and peace of mind in JAEL’s music as you clear your head and breath in the sounds. However be warned, there is no escaping the inevitable smile that will be stretched across your face and the desire to groove along.
JAEL
CIPHERS CIPHERS are a collaborative duo who met in university halls. They take inspiration from artists such as The Weeknd and Blackbear to create a synth based sound with trap influences. Their electronic sound pairs with pop-punk style vocals over easily relatable lyrics to create strong pop songs. Their debut release ‘Don’t Speak’ and the unreleased ‘Back From The Dead’ are sure to go down well at any live show, following the release of their EP later this year.
EDGARS GRAZULIS
You may have heard Latvian native Edgars Grazulis’ successful Blast Radio show #BuzzMeUp last year, but your focus now should be on his solo career. You can now hear Edgars’ vocals and guitar skills on the newly released ‘Affection’ available on iTunes and Spotify. He provides another example of the wide range of talent LCM and UWL have to offer. Page 8
CULTURAL TUNES
CulturalTunes is an independent record label and art collective based in London, England, established by the duo Andre Ocampo and Julian Dahab. The label is inspired by the roaring scene of UK electronic music from gritty mellow trip hop beats to deep House and DnB. CulturalTunes is home to eccentric soundscapes and visuals that constantly push the boundaries beyond imagination.
events, from live performances, Dj sets to art exhibitions. Our west London based studios are home to state of the art facilities from modern day instruments and recording means to authentic traditional worldwide instrumentation, in which creation in its endless forms takes place.
We thrive to be a platform for the flourishing artists with styles that does not fit into commercial existing labels. In this manner we aim to identify artists that can make a unique meaningful impact as well as a powerful connection with their audience. Within the nature of our multicultural background arises one of our main objectives which is to erase the borders and unite the crowds not only through our sounds but also through our boundless visual expressions in our
Contact: IG: @Culturaltunes FB page: Culturaltune Email: Culturaltunes@gmail.com
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LABELS LIVE AND LET DIE
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Music is about performance
Getting paid for your work is a positive, but as industries develop (or arguably dissolve) it gets harder to pinpoint where a lucrative income stream is flowing. One that is sustainable for a good amount of time. In this ever changing world we live in, should we let archaic practices of album sales, single sales and compilation album sales dictate how artists profit from their labour?
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demos” or “unreleased nuggets of gold”. The reality is that the work written, produced, recorded and hidden or stored away is simply what the artist deemed unfit for release. But to the labels, they are a cash cow that keeps on giving. But there has been an awakening, have you felt it? The power is slowly being taken back. Labels are left scurrying for scraps as artists begin to take control. More and more artists opt to release their music for free. This is essentially killing label as this is where their profit is made, sales!
Record labels are in trouble as more and more artist refuse to sign as they build their careers independently. Chance the Rapper won himself a Grammy early 2017. He is in no way the first act to gain success from making their own way in the music industry, but the award was certainly a milestone and painted a picture of a contractless world for aspiring artists.
Rory McCarthy, better known as his stage name Infinite Bisous, has toured and recorded with Mac Demarco and Connan Mockasin. Having begun to put out his own solo work, he refuses to work with labels. Not just because of the money lost to splits and shares, but because of creativity “The good thing about digital music then, one of the only real benefits is you can do it on your own terms, you can do it without any money, and you can do it as quickly as you like.” He has even co-founded a sharing platform called ‘Tasty Morsels’ where artists upload their work to the world where it can be shared and downloaded, for free “I think it’s kind of a joke to charge for a file.”
Spotify is 60% owned by record labels, the big three in fact: WMG, Sony BMG and UMG It’s no secret that artist who have their music streamed on the service earn pretty much zilch. Most of the profit slips tidily into the pockets of the record labels clinging onto the names and acts they have remaining. One could argue that the recent influx in physical sales such as vinyl is simply a trend calculated by the labels to release reissue after reissue in order to keep their revenue up. Pointless deluxe editions of albums are suddenly everywhere, featuring “unheard
As more and more acts follow suit, the push will eventually either cripple labels for good
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or create a cause for change where artist are paid fairly for their digital and physical sales. Music is about performance. The process of recording a song came down to one simple motive. To capture a performance. Well, I don’t know if you have noticed, but the performing game has never been better. Artists are constantly trying to one up their last tours with more visuals, pyro, lights, sound, stage craft, ensembles, arrangements and flair. Sure this has resulted in increased ticket prices, but what better way to support a band or solo act then to go celebrate their music with them. Gone are the days of owning someone’s work, it’s time to usher in a new era of sharing.
Written by Hugo Lagnado Page 11
INTERVIEW WITH
ISHY DEE ˮ
I am human at the end of the day, I go through emotions I have to write about
MNGR: How would you describe your music? IshyDee: My music is something that you would listen to when you’re in a certain mood, when you’re feeling something. I have a song for every mood. Most of my songs are love songs, they’re about when you’re in a certain situation, whether you love them or you hate them. MNGR: Is that from personal experience or is it a conscious decision to write with that mood? ID: I don’t wake up and think ‘I’m gonna write a song about this today’. Sometimes I’ll be on the road and I’ll catch on to something, like a line or something like that and then I come up with a melody, record it in my voice notes and come back home, lay some chords to it and start building a track around it. Some of the songs obviously come from experience. I am
human at the end of the day, I go through emotions I have to write about. MNGR: What drives you to make music? ID: I can’t go a day without doing anything musical. If I spend a day without doing anything, I’ll feel like I just wasted the day. For a whole month, I didn’t have a laptop, which meant I couldn’t make any music, I couldn’t do anything! All I had was my phone. I’d go on YouTube to watch videos, I was so depressed! That’s when I realised that all I do every day is music. No matter what. There’s not anything that drives me, It’s just second nature to me. It just happened. MNGR: How does your past influence your writing styles and when do you use it to create? ID: The first instrument that made an impact on how I write is the keyboard. I was self-taught. I’d go home every day after school and play around with keys and
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chords. That’s how I learnt to play drums as well. I’ve never had drum lessons or owned a drum kit but I’ve always played around with the drum kit on the keyboard. That’s also how I got into producing. Also, being from Africa and having that influence in me, twisting that into it and then coming to this country and being exposed to different types of things.. MNGR: You’ve got a good melting pot of creativity going? ID: Yeah! MNGR: What’s your perspective on failure and mistakes? ID: I love that! I love failure and mistakes because that’s the greatest teacher of all. That’s the only way you can learn anything. Anyone can tell you the best things in the whole world, they can motivate you. But if you fail, if you go through something where you’re really excited and then you
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fail, of course it’s going to hit you hard but next you’re going to know! ‘I can’t do this, I’ve got to do that.’ Making that conscious decision is basically a lesson. You’ve learnt a lesson within yourself and that’s how you grow.
the same intention, to have fun and to make it together. We’re all in a space and time where we’re all trying to make it, we’re all trying to do something with our lives. If we all have that same mentality ‘positive vibes only’ then we just go into it and do it, what can go wrong? If anything does go wrong it will be a collective but at the same time it’s all about enjoying the process. If you’re not enjoying where you are, that means you’re not going to be happy with the end product. You’ve got to just take each day as it comes.
MNGR: Do you believe in motivation then? ID: I do believe in motivation, you can get motivated but most of it should come from you. Someone should sprinkle a little motivation and it should spark something! You make the decision to be like “Okay, Cool! I’m Gonna!’ No one is going to knock down your door ‘GET UP! You need to do this, you need to do that’ unless you’ve got that whole team behind you. At my stage where I’m doing everything myself, writing producing, mixing, mastering, I’ve got to be the one to be like ‘Get out of bed. Let’s go!’
MNGR: Favourite album of 2017? ID: ooooooh. *opens spotify* I listened to a lot of music last year. Obviously, Kendrick, DAMN. A UK artist called Fekky who is a grime artist. He made an album called El Clasico. I’ve always liked Fekky because he’s the type of rapper that is very energetic. If you see him live, he’d be running from every corner of the stage. That’s what I like. When I see a live performance, I want to feel like this is an experience I can’t get anywhere else. Another artist I always listen to, no matter what, is an artist called Eric Bellinger. He’s an American R’n’B singer. He made an album called Eric B for President: Term 2. My music is a mix of R’n’B and Hip-Hop and AfroBeats. I listen to all these different albums and from that I take my influence and make my own music.
MNGR: What’s your creating process? ID: I’ve realised maybe I might have one. If I’m starting to create a whole song I would have to start with the lyrics. It’s quicker that way. Once I have the lyrics and the structure, I know how the song is going to go. Then, once I start making the music, it’s quick. If I start with the music, I spend weeks trying to find something to spring on, but once it happens, it just builds up. MNGR: How has UWL played a role in your career? ID: Coming to UWL, I was very excited. I studied music at college and wanted to go somewhere I didn’t know anyone. Somewhere I could meet new people, make new contacts. I’m very grateful to UWL for everything that’s happened. I’ve met people like you who are able to help me on my journey and help me be more creative.
MNGR: What are you looking forward to most from 2018? ID: 2018 has been great so far! When I got the email that you wanted to do this with me I started running up and down! It’s exciting. I’ve got an EP that I’m starting to write, that I’m going to release around April/May time. No date yet but I’m very excited. Last year was my year of building myself up. Now, the music is right, the people have come to me, I’ve got the visuals, everything, I just need to get it in people’s faces. This year is the coming out year!
MNGR: When you go to collaborate, what are you looking for from the other person? ID: I’m just looking for vibes. I’m looking for
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INTERVIEW WITH
SUN ARCANA The MNGR got to talk to the boys from Sun Arcana, a band featuring two UWL graduates. What does your band name mean? It is referring to a Tarot Card meaning that our frontman Tom thought of (although he believes in none of the Tarot malarkey lol). It is to do with secrets and mysteries, which he took a liking to as it is relatively relatable and just because he is just one edgy guy. Who are your biggest influences? Between us there is a neverending list, but some of our main influences and favourites are; Muse, Paramore, BMTH, Nothing But Thieves, Marmozets, Biffy Clyro, Arcane Roots, Royal Blood, Don Broco and Lower Than Atlantis. Do you have a label? We are privileged to be with the record company Easy Life Records alongside lots of other amazing bands and artists. Which of your members attended UWL, & what did they study? Our lead guitarist Harry Acreman and our bassist Jules Wildblood met at and attended the University of West London studying Popular Music Performance and Recording,
graduating in the summer of 2017. Also, frontman Tom Harper-Ward attended UWL for 1 year in 2014 where he and Jules met. How has the time at UWL benefitted your band? Tough question but, it without doubt helped us fall into the path of creating this band together. For Harry and Jules, graduating with a degree in music helped them to focus on what they wanted to get from the university experience and use it well to guide them in their musical future. As well as that, it taught them plenty from different areas of the music industry, the opportunity to better themselves as musicians and lots of all round experience and practice in a professional environment. What’s your recording process, how are your studio days? It differs. Sometimes we’re fantastically productive and sometimes it’s slow and steady but, you all know how that goes. When we’re ready to record, and focus in the studio we work together well and all crack on to create the best possible outcome for the band. Recording our latest tracks, we had the privilege of working with producer Chris Coulter at the amazing Decimal Studios which has been incredible.
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How did you form the band? After Tom left University and moved back to Essex he called on local drummer and guitarist Ryan Daniels and Harry Acreman. Harry’s home coincidentally being around the corner from Tom’s after hearing about each other at uni. The three of them then went on to rope in Jules a short while later after befriending him at University. What has been your favourite gig to date? Another tough question, probably when we got to support Skindred early last year. Playing two sold out shows during their UK tour in Brighton and Derby was an amazing experience none of us will ever forget. What would be your advice to a musician at UWL? Keep going, always turn up and never give in. But mostly, just enjoy yourself man, and life’s responsibilities and all those horrible daunting things that come in the end will sort themselves out on their own when you surround yourself with those and that which keeps you smiling.
Written by Hannah Williams
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BREAKUP BREAKDOWN:
THE BEATLES EXAMINED Just as numerous bands form everyday, they also split and break-apart at similar frequencies. Sometimes it’s the case of querulous disagreements, other times it might be due to members growing in separate directions and no longer agreeing when it comes to the music or their values anymore. One of history’s undisputed biggest breakup would have to be, however, the end of The Beatles on April 10th, 1970. Though privately, it is said that John Lennon notified members Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr that he would be departing in 1969, it was only when McCartney announced to the world that he would be releasing a solo album that the world was alerted to the break up. Many occurrences between the members and facts that have been shared with the public have aided in the development of many theories that have been speculated since the groups termination.
Theories leading to the break up: Yoko Ono Lover and later wife to John Lennon, no one has taken more slack for the dissolution of the Beatles than the woman herself, Yoko Ono. Having persistently pursued Lennon since 1966 (then married to Cynthia Powell), the aspiring artist and Beatle later became an official couple, and Ono has since been dubbed “the love of John’s life”. The main grievance that people have expressed when it comes to Yoko is that she interfered and disrupted the Beatles mojo while it was at its most fragile. Between the band, it had always been simply the four members with the occasional producer around. “When John got with Yoko, she wasn’t in the control room or the side. She was in the middle of the four of us”, Paul was once quoted saying a 2016 Rolling Stones article. Competition Indisputably one of their strongest albums composition wise, The Beatles, more commonly known as the White Album, caused great strife amongst all members. Though containing some of the bands
most noteworthy material, it was also the album that caused the most competition between the band, with no member wanting to be outshone by the other. At some points, the album was recorded in three separate studios, with each member harshly critiquing the other and undermining each other’s progress. Ringo Starr even quit the band for a period of two weeks due to the unrest and stress of the recording process. Not only was the unrest between Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr, but the process eventually lead to the dissolution of any Beatles collaboration with long-time studio engineer Geoff Emerick. To say the least, the band that started as teenagers had grown up into four different artists with different ideas. Drugs The Beatles, like so many rock bands of the time, were no strangers to the illicit substances prominent of the time. LSD rumoured to be amongst the favourites of the band, it all affected the members lives in different Page 18
manners. Both John Lennon’s wife and Paul McCartney’s partner, Cynthia Powell and Jane Asher held a strong aversion to the substances their partners took, leading to huge rifts between them that contributed to the demise of each of these relationships. Though they all considered themselves adventurous with drugs, John Lennon took it one step further when he began using heroin. Irreconcilable differences After all was said and done and the combination of all these occurrences, their common history and time spent together was not strong enough to hold the foursome intact. Though undoubtedly The Beatles shared many great adventures together, from performing in Hamburg for peanuts, to touring the world as international sensations, and being in the limelight as one of the biggest bands of all time, fame and success takes its toll on everyone in a separate way, and The Beatles were no different in this manner.
To this day, there are only two surviving members of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was infamously assassinated December 8, 1980, and George Harrison tragically succumbed to lung cancer on November 12th, 2001, just a week after what would be the last reunion of McCartney, Starr and Harrison before his death. Ringo and Paul have expressed no plans for future collaborative tours, signaling a very permanent end for the band. Though no longer touring or making music as a four, they will forever leave a legacy with the albums and recording left behind for all generations to appreciate. Thus, will we ever know the true and definite reason behind the split? We’ve already been given much insight into all the occurrences leading up to the event, but specifically what was said and done? This will most likely remain unbeknownst to us, leaving a dignified mystery that is owed to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
Written by Devon Potter Page 19
OUR TOP TIPS: FINDING A JOB IN MUSIC/ CREATIVE INDUSTRIES Picture this, you get to university, you finally know the industry you are interested in… yet people keep asking you ‘THE QUESTION’. ‘So, what’s your plan?’ Fret no more creatives, as the MNGR has found you some helpful links to find you jobs in the future; and they are not indeed.co.uk!
Graduate Recruitment Bureau With 20 years of experience, the GRB has select entry level jobs for graduates, that are suitable for the genres you selected. Employees also use your CV to help generate an idea of the types of graduate schemes suited.
Complete Music Update (CMU JOBS) Available online, CMU Jobs offers links to current jobs being advertised by large companies such as Live Nation, IDOL, AIF and more. The Unsigned Guide: Largest music directory for networking Available to sign up to at a cost, the unsigned guide offers a directory which has been running for 10 years, of promoters, lawyers, booking agents and more! Perfect for networking, and for finding individuals to better your career as a creative.
Arts Jobs – Ran by Arts Council The Arts Council have produced a website which displays internships, apprenticeships, part time and full-time work. Broader than the music industry, this site offers lots of opportunities for high paid jobs in the creative industries.
Guardian/Music Week Jobs With specific searches, Guardian and music week jobs are essential search engines for finding jobs in the creative industries.
Employability @ UWL Available at: employability.uwl. ac.uk, the employability service is available up to a year after graduation. Also receive emails direct with job opportunities within the industries you select, through the Arts and media recruitment agency section. Page 20
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