Busy Much?

Dear blog reader, it has been over a month since my last confession. Please forgive me!

So, what's been keeping me busy? Well here goes...
Clients. Clients. Clients! Which is all good.

Bashiyra opens for US Neo Soul Singer-Songwriter Conya Doss tomorrow night at London's Jazz Cafe and again on Saturday. I've invited music journalists, editors and music industry executives to watch her perform (no pressure...!) I've also been arranging interviews for her where she's been talking about her forthcoming album being produced by the legendary Herb Middleton. (Oops, watch your step as I just name dropped there.) Really looking forward to her new material dropping.

MusicConnex kicks off next Tuesday and there are so many exclusives happening there, I don't even know where to start. It is such a unique event. Speakers like Mike Rosenthal, Digital and Online Manager of OK Go, Grammy Award Winner for 'Empire State of Mind'- Al Shux, exclusive seminars from Facebook, MTV & Youtube, talks by Labrinth, Random Impulse, Execs from KISS FM, BBC 1Xtra...the list goes on!

We've just completed phase two of 'Start Today' and will be conducting a huge Marketing and PR push to nationwide educational facilities. Look out for his car and tweet him @Strt2Day1 when you spot him. Trust me, you can't miss that car!!
Micah are busy. Big things in the pipeline. Watch this [.............] for updates.

Fabio has also been busy. Travelling and performing. He recently won the Fanshake competition and will be performing at MusicConnex in front of industry executives.

Kliyah is working on new material. Check her out here 'Pint Sized Poet!' and LIKE her here Kliyah.
...and Solar Lifestlye Magazine has surpassed 1 MILLION hits and 300 LIKES on the new Facebook page!

So, like I said, busy much? Hopefully I'll see some of you at the Jazz Cafe this weekend or at MusicConnex - April 19th -21st at the award winning arts facility Kings Place!

Peace out x

What's in a name?

As a child I was often called 'stubborn' and 'strong willed', which, I confess, I hated! But as I grew up I discovered the word tenacious meaning 'determined, persistent, steadfast and unswerving'. And trust me in this line of work you have to be tenacious and have some measure of self belief - not too much as people will find you cocky and arrogant and that's not at all pleasant!

Anyway, as most of you know (especially those who've visited the website recently http://purplereignpr.co.uk), I'm working with  MusicConnex. They are organising London's Premier DIY Music & New Media Conference taking place April 19th-21st. This 3 day conference is designed to facilitate and promote social networking, informative discussion and inspiration amongst emerging and established music acts and new media and to manage & monetise your music career.

The speaker list is in sane! Execs from Youtube, Spotify, MTV, Beatport, Facebook Ubisoft and so many more. So what has being tenacious got to do with this I hear you say?
Well after constant phone calls to the local, regional, national and international press, this week the 'nut' started to crack and press coverage started to come in internationally from California, Atlanta, New York, and locally from the Camden and Kings Cross papers, regional papers and of course the music industry trade publications. Yes - 'Poison Ivy' and I did the happy dance around the office!

Last Monday we rubbed shoulders with some music industry heavyweights at the launch event for MusicConnex, held at Star of Kings, N1. My team did me proud with the filming, interviews and voxpops which are all in the final stages of post production and due to go viral soon. Watch this space for some exclusive footage!

In the meantime check out the photos from the party!

E Jay Mathews - TMC Entertainment with JM CEO MusicConnex

Eska & Faron McKenzie Co Founder and Partner MusicConnex

JM & Faron welcome their guests.

The beautiful and talented Eska who performed an exclusive set on the night.

Client and Artist Fabio Tedde

The Purple Reign PR Team - Tom, Shade and Tom (just to confuse everyone!)

Eska performing.

A Joyful Giver: Haiti one year on

Facts & Figures:

One year after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, killing at least 250,000 and leaving about 1.5 million homeless, about half of the refugees still live in tents, with no immediate relief in sight.

Quake-affected Haitians have been living in "provisional" camps set up by international aid organisations working in Haiti since the quake on Jan. 12, 2010.
There are many ongoing projects to relieve the plight of the country's refugees, who lost everything to a natural disaster within 20 seconds -- the duration of the earthquake.

Many buildings were illegally constructed.

20 secs to raise a city to the ground.

No improvements:

Camp life...

Life in refugee camps as you can imagine is hard, and by all accounts coming out of the country  there is little hope that things will change anytime soon. Haitians sharing their personal stories say there has been little improvement in the year since last January’s earthquake, some of them have accepted the possibility that their lives may never improve. Others continue to hope and pray that it will.

Hope:

From looking at the numerous images online a spirit of hope reigns in the air and the resilience of the people are evident as outside the tent camps, there are visual messages of hope. Spray-painted on to buildings around Port-au-Prince is the message ‘Haiti pap peri’ – Haiti will not perish.

Hope

Support: 

Support in many ways continues. Countless people in the UK have donated money (including myself) to various organisations, others have gone as far as to donate clothes, shoes and canned foods in the hope of helping in some way. One UK project working on making a difference is One by One for Haiti. The project objective is to continue to raise awareness and much need financial funds for the survivors of Haiti through the creative endeavours of a selection of UK based singers, spoken word artists and songwriters.

Creativity & Giving:

One such singer songwriter and now producer is my client Bashiyra who in November last year recorded her lead vocal contribution to the charity single entitled ‘UK Artist Collective Present: One by One for Haiti’ due out at the end of this month, as well as contributing an original song-writing and vocal composition called 'Every Day People' which will be included in the forthcoming album project.  

Bashiyra said: "My involvement in the project One by One For Haiti was ignited by a genuine vision to continue to further raise awareness of the country's plight as well as to offer my support to the earthquake survivors in the continued mammoth task ahead of them one year on in the recovery of their identities and thus their lives after such a catastrophic natural disaster. This project concept allowed me the creative access and opportunity to give back and to participate via my song-writing skills and vocal inclusion on the project single and album. I am honoured to be included in such a worthwhile cause and I hope that all the financial proceeds raised from the single and album release go some way into aiding Haiti and its survivors to get back on 'their feet' and to get on with their lives in the best way possible."

To check out the promotional video click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTPP7R6BOnc

All proceeds raised from the single and album will go to United Haitians UK (UHUK) and Christian Aid.

Like a Phoenix:

Read the cover story (pg 6-7) in the current issue of Christian Aid News: Haiti Will Build Back Better http://digitalcan.christianaid.org.uk/

Hot off the press - A musical education!

I'm looking forward to reading this - 'Really Sayin’ Something' – Memoirs of a Soul Survivor by Clive Richardson.

 

Now a presenter on soul station Solar Radio (on the internet and on Sky) and Label Manager of specialist re-issue label Shout! Records, Clive’s book  describes his recollections including being an early member of the Tamla Motown Appreciation Society, run by the late Dave Godin, organising a fan club for US soul singer Don Covay, editing and publishing soul fanzine Shout magazine for several years, contributing to Black Echoes newspaper for ten years, his involvement with pirate radio in the 1980s, attending R&B and soul concerts in the 60s and 70s, visiting New Orleans for several years during the 80s, being part of the launch roster of presenters on Kiss 100FM in 1990, and building a collection of records during his 50 years as a soul fan.

The book presents a chance to visit ‘behind the scenes’ in the world of soul music, from the perspective of a fan in the early years, and of ‘part of the industry’ more recently.

Available from Bank House Books £15.00 

Why?

Why why why why?

Ever found yourself in a situation and you ask yourself why? You know, one of those instances where you're like huh? WTH?? Where did that come from? There seems to be more questions than answers....

OK, here's the deal. Something that seemed so great and such a sweet deal at the start has a minefield of issues attached to it. Major ones! So in the interest of sanity, maintaining an ounce of professionalism, dignity and most of all my integrity, I decided to withdraw my involvement.

Draw your own conclusions. Call me what you like. But beware of the company you keep - cause I am!

When it's right...

When something... whatever that 'something' may be, when it's right, when it's meant to be it's  EASY!

Knowing how and when to say No...

So...things are REALLY picking up for my company, great! But how much is too much? Should I be compelled to say YES to every job/project/new client that comes up? After all we are in a 'recession', so turning down work would be seen as a punishable act...

To quote the famous line from the 1989 Kevin Costner film 'Field of Dreams'

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/ "If you build it, he will come'... well boy I built it and 'they sure are coming'. Coming left, right and centre. Part of me feels like yay business is doing so well. So many people are interested in the company and becoming a client and wanting me to work with them on projects. Another part of me feels like I'm being hosed down with cold water and I'm trying to catch my breath and the other part just wants five minutes to actually take in the fact that all of this IS actually happening and enjoy it and realise my own dream in my reality! (and breathe....)

Today I had a skype meeting with someone (think skype will give me 10% for mentioning them in my blog?? :op) and after the 'current project' was discussed the person went on to tell me about all their business ventures. Then came the question..."Would 'this new project' be something you'd be interested in working on? It's an international campaign which 'someone like you' could do with your eyes closed..."

My response - clear and simple was No!

Why you might ask? Well I said no because as much as it is important to grow the company client roster - quantity, I think the quality of service is more important and by saying yes to everything at the end of the day means I'll be spreading myself too thin and no-one really gets what they need. So I said thanks, but No thanks!