Young musicians are in for three big free hugs
Jul 30 2008 by Daniel Thomson , The Journal
GENERATOR North East, the region's music development agency, is looking for the next big thing. Daniel Thomson takes a look at three schemes designed to unearth the best new talent.
IN days gone by, the notion of following your dreams of music stardom while staying in your native North East would have been laughed out of the recording studio.
If you wanted a career in the music business, a move to London was – usually your only option.
Thankfully this enforced migration for chart-topping success is a thing of the past ... Sunderland stay-at-homes The Futureheads and Newcastle-born (and still based) Maximo Park are two tuneful cases in point.
A host of thriving venues doubtless has something to do with it. The Sage Gateshead, Newcastle City Hall, the Carling Academy, Northumbria University, The Cluny ... the list of places to see and hear the best of what’s on offer goes on and on.
Add this to the success of regular events such as the Evolution Festival and the North-East is rocking, as they say in the trade.
But back to our homegrown talent.
A big reason for the new music success stories has to be the all-encompassing supportive hug (figuratively speaking) on offer from Generator North East – the region’s popular music development agency.
Generator, established in 1991, continually beavers away with the aim of improving networking, training and facilities for musicians and grass roots music workers.
This summer, they are more than fulfilling their remit, helping to provide three free schemes with the region’s creative talent in mind.
The first is Soundscope, a bespoke mentoring scheme for young urban music artists.
Generator has five places available on the scheme and is looking for aspiring songwriters, rappers, and lyricists, aged 16 to 24, who they will pair with first-rate producers from the region.
The youngsters and their mentors will together explore their creative abilities and develop their style.
Producers already confirmed for Soundscope include Wayne C MacDonald, Smoove, Dom P. and Mark Lowry who boast production credits for Shapeshifters and Beverley Knight, among others.
Wayne, lead mentor for the scheme, says: “Soundscope poses an unbelievable opportunity.
“Think about it – outside of this scheme, we don’t come cheap – the lucky individual gets 12 weeks of our sole, undivided attention, for free.
“We will also produce a track for them, which will then get airplay on Metro Radio – this is a fantastic scheme, the only shame is that there are only five spaces available, so get in quick.”
Applicants will also receive invaluable career advice.
To apply for a Soundscope place, write a letter of application to Generator telling them, in no more than 300 words, why you should be part of the scheme. For full application details go to www.soundscope.co.uk
Cold Blend is another 12-week mentoring course – for 12 16-24-year-old DJs and producers.
The course unlocks production secrets and techniques designed to make their productions stand out.
Cold Blend accepts beginners and people who already possess DJ/production skills, but want to push things further.
The scheme is supported through the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which targets young people outside employment or education and funds programmes that help them take the first steps back into work or skills based training.
Mark Lowry, a DJ at Newcastle’s Shindig for more than seven years, is a tutor on the course.
He says: “Applicants will develop many skills, a good understanding of both the production and DJ environments and how they go hand in hand in a modern dance industry. Promotional and interpersonal skills also are a big part of the course..”
The next Cold Blend course starts tomorrow. Anyone interested should contact Jo at Generator on (0191) 245-0099 or jo@generator.org.uk before they go.
Finally, Generator has also been involved in Sound and Vision 2008, in partnership with Northern Film and Media.
Under this scheme, 10 filmmakers and six musicians will chosen to work together to produce six short films, each with an original sound track.
Later in the year, a winning pair will be chosen and will receive £3,000 to create a longer piece of work.
To apply, musicians need to produce a one-minute piece of original music, which will be uploaded to Northern Film and Media’s website if selected. Filmmakers will then come up with a short film idea to go with one of the tracks.
For an application pack and full guidelines go to www.northernmedia.org. The deadline for applications is August 14.
Generator North East chief executive Jim Mawdsley says: “I would like to say how pleased we are to be launching Sound and Vision for the second year in conjunction with Northern Film and Media.
“It’s a groundbreaking project, providing the opportunity and the resources for the region’s musicians and filmmakers to come together and create truly individual pieces of work – we look forward to seeing what creative collaborations take place this year.”
All the finished films will be available to watch at Northern Film & Media’s award-winning website, www.northeastmovies.co.uk, where last year’s films have so far been seen by more than 30,000 people from around the world.
*For more information about any of these schemes or to find out more about Generator North East go to www.generator.org.uk
