The AMS April playlist is here!
We almost forgot about this one...
Don't worry, we're back on track! Our AMS Glasgow monthly playlist series returns, and this time, we've teamed up with a BA (Hons) alumni for a specially curated April edition of our Spotify instalment.
Craig – the head honcho of rock and metal promo crew, Goddamned Promotions – helped us curate our latest beefy playlist. It's a hard hitter, featuring the likes of The Massacre Cave, Black Peaks, Godeater, VEXED, and Dead By Monday.
Need some shredz? Shreds here. ????
Tuck in
8 great films about music to stream in isolation
Words: Isobel Trott
What strange times we find ourselves in. At least we’re learning a lot… Including about how boring isolation can get sometimes, how much TV it’s actually possible to binge at once, and just how much fun snacking really is. To help beat the boredom, we’ve pulled together a list of 8 great films about music for you to stream in isolation. Music can be an amazing escape, but sometimes you just need to chill out and settle into a great, comforting, insightful, heart-warming, or just downright entertaining flick…
By no means a definitive list – these 8 films are viewing suggestions; some nuggets and ideas to watch to help make these socially-distant days a little more bearable. And all have music at the heart and soul. From a masterful Amy Winehouse documentary to Eminem’s Oscar-winning biopic… from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Western Stars’ to Country music-meets-Glasgow in ‘Wild Rose’ – we’ve got you covered.
School of Rock, Richard Linklater
“In the words of AC/DC: We roll tonight… to the guitar bite… and for those about to rock… I salute you.”
Since we’re a music and rock school, let’s start with the obvious shall we?! It goes without saying, this 00’s comedy is an absolute must-see; you’re dad’s favourite movie, right? You’ve got to admit on this one, he might be right. “Chellooo, you’ve got a bass!”…. “Now raise your goblet of rock”…. “You’re tacky and I hate you”… You know the quotes; probably know the songs off by heart too, right? Why not dive back into this Jack Black classic as part of your isolation viewing.
For those who don’t know, Black stars as wannabe-try-hard rocker Dewy Finn who isn’t quite making music work for him financially (know the feeling, right?). Out of work, dumped by his band, and trying to pay rent, Dewy takes the place of his flatmate as a substitute teacher at a local prep school… Only to turn his unsuspecting pupils into a larger than life rock group – with himself as the show-stopping frontman.
If you haven’t seen it – you should, and if you’ve already seen it – you should definitely watch it again.
Where to find it: Rent on Amazon, Google Play or YouTube
Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story, Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese’s 2019 documentary focuses on the legendary Bob Dylan and his 1975 small-time ramble of a concert tour called Rolling Stone Revue. The tour went exclusively to small venues (Dylan fancied a break from the limelight) and brought along a rather motley crew; Allen Ginsberg, Sam Shepard, Ronee Blakley, and other bohemian figures joined the tour. “It wasn’t a success”, one interviewee comments, “not if you measure success in terms of profit”. Dylan had, quite revolutionarily, arranged the tour to be filmed at the time, that film never got made. Until now….
Scorsese uses this archived footage to paint a fascinating, never-before-seen picture of Dylan in concert, arguably, at his “most gnarly”. This digitally restored, and impeccably edited film is more than just a concert film – it’s a retrospective portrait of the cult figure, and a unique visceral slice of 70’s backstage life; of a dying beatnik generation… of poets, artists, rockers and dreamers…. According to Variety, it is an “audaciously alive 2-hour-and-22-minute Scorsese feast of a 1970s verité sprawl” – and we highly suggest you get stuck in.
Where to find it: Netflix
Wild Rose, Tom Harper
Country Music heads to Glasgow in this heart-warming story about Rose-Lynn Harlan – a budding country artist with a troubled past, two kids to look after, and the conviction that she’s destined for stardom in the states.
Fresh out of prison in Glasgow, Rose is talented, and aiming high – with the aspiration and sheer cheek to try and make it as a country singer in the United States. But fiesty ambition faces fierce opposition in the form of Rose’s mother played by (a convincingly Scottish) Julie Walters, who reminds Rose of the biting sting of reality and forces her to take responsibility with a cleaning job in her small town-hometown. However with some unlikely support, sheer talent and just a little bit of luck, the pull of a wild country scene (and real success) across the pond soon comes calling. An original soundtrack matches this heart-warming, raw story about finding hope in the most unlikely of places. A heart-warmer and spirit-lifter for these strange days in lockdown, that’s for sure!
Where to find it: Amazon Prime, Google Play (rental)
Fancy studying with us in Glasgow? Find out more.
Whiplash, Damien Chazelle
“There are no two words more harmful in the English language than ‘good job‘”.
One for the percussionist’s out there. This film drums up the tension pretty excruciatingly. Whiplash, from director and one-time aspiring-drummer Damien Chazelle (La, La, Land), is a tense, painful at times, formidable, and yet inspiring and plentiful uplifting (in the end) film that you should really, really watch.
Andrew (played by Miles Teller) is trying to make it as a jazz drummer – nay jazz legend – at an elite music school. His new instructor/conductor, and absolute battle-axe, Terance Fletcher (played by the formidable J.K. Simmons) reluctantly spots some potential, and begins to test Andrew in a way that pushes the very bounds of sanity and reason. Blood, sweat and tears is poured into Andrew’s drum coaching – Fletcher’s harsh training is designed to test Andrew, to see if he has what it takes to become one of the greats – a Charlie Parker (as is so often mentioned), a Buddy Rich or Jo Jones – not simply a “good” or “nice” drummer. It’s a fascinatingly detailed look into the precision of this kind of music – making us question the practices of what it takes to get the ‘legendary’ status.
Where to find it: Rent on Amazon, Google Play or YouTube
Western Stars, Thom Zimny and Bruce Springsteen
“I’ve spent 35 years trying to learn how to let go of the destructive parts of my character“
The Boss’ latest album Western Stars gets the big screen treatment in this epic visual album. Springsteen’s orchestral new record is filmed live in Bruce’s old barn on his ranch in New Jersey. The entire album, including great tracks like The Wayfarer, Sleepy Joe’s Cafe, and the emotional Hello Sunshine, are performed in full, with the stunning and enchanting visual backdrop of a vast American western landscape, and an old ramshackle barn; while Springsteen himself is “undoubtedly magnetic, his voice a honeyed growl” as narrator and star of the show.
Interspersed with Bruce’s rumbling narration about his ‘Glory Days’, the demons of his past and meditations on aging – these “nuggets of cowboy wisdom” add a hypotonic, poignant and poetic dimension to the Boss’ expansive, endearing, and every-growing body of work. This might just be the perfect film to put on in the background on a lazy, chilled evening, and get lost in the romantic pull of a western fairytale.
Where to find it: Rent on Amazon, Google Play or YouTube
Amy, Asif Kapadia
Recently, we interviewed 4 female students for International Women’s Day, and a few of them noted the late, great Amy Winehouse as a key inspiration. Therefore we must, must MUST, suggest this film. Although it’s slightly less light socially-distanced viewing, this gritty documentary is a powerful, impactful, and important gaze into the life and death of the singer, putting her raw talent above sensationalism.
The 2015 documentary film dives into the life of Amy Winehouse, who sadly died at just 27 years of age in 2011. As a study of a very public life and death, Amy is a hard watch at times – but the film shines new light onto what’s commonly depicted as a dark, and troubled tale in the mainstream media. It arrived in 2015 to some controversy; naturally the film opens old wounds about her treatment by her management, the pubic gaze, other public figures, telling a sad story and ultimately questioning our relationship and reliance on tabloids, the press and the idea of ‘celebrity’. Without narration, Amy’s lyrics are left (quite rightly) here to tell her story. It’s “sober, unsensational, and overwhelming sad” according to Mark Kermode – but it’s an important watch, so if you haven’t already seen, we suggest allocating a quiet hour for this sombre masterpiece, and you can appreciate the talent of this extraordinary artist, all over again.
8 Mile, Curtis Hanson
Eminem stars as ‘Rabbit’ in this passionate, semi-biographical flick – with Eminem winning the 2003 Oscar for the film’s soundtrack song ‘Lose Yourself’. 8 Mile is a rags to riches tale of a symbolical-Eminem – a talented white rapper living in Detroit, in a primarily black community. Rabbit is “white trash”, living in a trailer park in the outskirts of the city with his erratic mother, and little sister; yet he professes a lyrical prowess that gains him acceptance in the black community, and ultimately a way out of his trapped life.
This classic, hip-hop flick is an interesting portrait, in part, of the complex racial politics within hip-hop and tells the subtle tale well of how an impoverished, white kid from Detroit became one of the most successful, and respected rappers in the world. Hard-hitting, gritty, and gloriously empowering. If you’re looking for something a little different in lockdown, this could be it.
Where to find it: Rent on Amazon, Google Play or YouTube
Check out our free online hip hop and rap short course.
Almost Famous, Cameron Crowe
“One day, you’ll be cool”.
You don’t need to be on stage to make it in music. This story, of a budding young music journalist, based loosely on director Cameron Crowe’s experiences as a young music enthusiast, shows just how cool it can be behind the scenes. A feast of late 60s/70s rock and roll nostalgia, this is the story of William, a 15-year-old kid who flukes his way into going on the road with up-and-coming rock band Stillwater, and writing about it for Rolling Stone Magazine.
Starring Billy Crudup as Stillwater’s scruffy frontman, Frances Mcdormand as William’s protective mother, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs, a rock journalist who takes William under his wing. It’s a greatly sentimental and feel-good, with some great tracks on the soundtrack – Elton John’s Tiny Dancer, as sung by a busload of longhaired rockers, The Beach Boys’ Feel Flows and The Allmans’ rock/blues hit One Way Out.
Where to find it: Rent on Amazon, Google Play or YouTube
Want more content? Check out our International Women’s Day blog and read our Coronavirus and Musicians advice blog here.
Trivium shoutout AMS Glasgow for their Covid response
Shoutout from Trivium’s Matthew Heafy
At AMS Glasgow we took it as red that we would continue to deliver our music qualifications despite the current shutdown. As a provider in the sector we worked to get our entire delivery moved over to an online model as quickly as we could, to ensure that education could continue for our students, and work for our staff as smoothly as possible. We thankfully managed a swift transition within 4 days, and although things are still a little strange, we’re happy to be able to continue teaching and playing, in a more digital form.
Still, it came as a bit of a surprise to discover that guitarist, vocalist and founding member of metal band Trivium, Matt Heafy thought our efforts were worthy of a video shoutout! On further research we found out that some of our students had actually arranged the shoutout, and that made it all the sweeter.
“Thank you for keeping education going” the frontman said in the video. We’re absolutely chuffed by the praise, and at our students for reaching out to the band. Matty also chats about some of the great spots to eat and drink around Glasgow – making us miss the outside, but thankful we’ve got such a great city to look forward to enjoying again soon.
Thanks so much to our students for their efforts to keep things going whilst we’re all at home, and thanks to Matt Heafy for the kind words.
You can check out the full video in the player below.
Our Gateshead Open Evening is moving online!
Our Gateshead Open Evening is moving online! Book today and join us on 3rd June for a comprehensive look at our courses in music and sound.
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Join our friendly team via Zoom, as they guide you through our courses for prospective entry in September 2020 for our Gateshead centre.
Fancy studying music in the vibrant north east? This is an opportunity for you to hear more about our courses on offer in September 2020 and chat about general student life here at the Academy of Music & Sound Gateshead. The evening will take place via Zoom, and will last for about an hour - create an account at www.zoom.us
All those we have met and that have enquired about our courses will be automatically invited, and also we will post the Zoom meeting link up here nearer the time - so check back!
To network, check out the Facebook event here, and visit our dedicated Gateshead centre page for more info on studying at AMS in the North East.
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We really hope you’ll come along and find out all about our courses on offer for a September 2020 start:
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⭕️ RSL level 3 Extended Diploma Music Practitioners Course:
~ FULLY funded Rock School accredited music course for 16 – 19 year olds
~ An internationally recognised qualification with regular updates to mirror the developments within the music industry
~ Written and developed by industry specialists, with education professionals
~ Fully accredited by OfQual and DfES
~ Is equivalent to 3 A-Levels and can yield up to 168 UCAS points
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⭕️ Foundation Degree Music & Sound:
~ Fully validated 2 year undergraduate music programme, equivalent to the first 2 years of a BA
~ Eligible for student loan to pay tuition fee
~ Eligible for student maintenance loan & grant to support living costs
~ Developed to mirror the modern music industry
~ Designed to help students become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multimedia
~ Open to guitar players, bassists, drummers, vocalists, song writers, composers, producers
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⭕️ BA Top Up Year - Music and Sound
~Fully validated top up year (the final year of BA Hons degree):
~ Eligible for student loan to pay tuition fee
~ Eligible for student maintenance loan & grant to support living costs
~ Developed to mirror the modern music industry
~ Designed to help students become independent, multi-skilled music practitioners, fluent with various forms of multimedia
~Open to guitar players, bassists, drummers, vocalists, song writers, composers, producers
~ Open to those without prior qualifications to apply using their industry experience to Fast-Track
Please confirm your attendance by getting hold of our Gateshead centre using the Book Now link below or call 0191 4787879
See you there! AMS x
Introducing music masterclass
We’ve teamed up with new platform musicmasterclass.com to offer students free online tutorials
Here’s what they’re all about…
musicmasterclass.com is the new tutorial website from Kevin Harding – Founder of the Academy of Music and Sound. Set to launch on Friday 10th April 2020 with a series of free online classes with Kris Barras, Tom Baxter & Phil Henry. We’ve joined forced in order to offer our students some extra online learning material during this period of self-isolation!
musicmasterclass offers a unique opportunity to learn new skills and enhance your musical expertise in just a few clicks. For the first few weeks, Music Masterclasses will showcase free expert sessions with artists who have an expert niche of musical expertise in areas such as Blues Guitar, Blues Harmonica, Songwriting and Slide Guitar.
“The plan is to add new artists regularly that will not only enthral viewers with their superb skills, but educate anyone with a passion for improving their instrument/songwriting techniques and to learn about the real world of working in the music industry.” Says founder Kevin Harding.
The new project is a collaboration between the Academy of Music and Sound and Studio54 in Exeter (where many of the classes have been filmed), with the first few classes to be made free, and directly available to students during this moment of isolation and social distancing. Going forward, AMS students will get a discount code for half price access to classes, while paid subscriptions will be available for anyone in the future.
Students can watch the first online masterclass with Kris Barras via the Academy of Music and Sound website now. Plus get to know Kris, host of the first few sessions we’ll be sharing with our students, in the clip below.
Stay tuned!
We will be releasing lessons from Music Masterclass each Wednesday exclusively for users of this website: so look out each week.
Let us know what you think through our socials!
Other classes available now on musicmasterclass.com include:
- Tom Baxter teaches Songwriting
- Phill Henry teaches Slide Guitar
- Phill Henry teaches Blues Harmonica
- Kris Barras teaches Guitar
Sign up for updates here.
Our Scotland online short courses are now live!
Our Sound Production and our Hip Hop and Rap Songwriting and Beat Making Workshops (with the legend that is Steg G) are now all online!
We recently announced that all our upcoming short courses (originally set to take place in Scotland in the coming months) had been validated to be delivered online. It's with great excitement we can reveal that the first few of these courses have been finalised for delivery online arrived, and are available to apply for now!
They are taught courses – you will learn through streamed group classes and 1-1 individual lessons with our experienced tutors - all music industry and education professionals.
And the best part - they are completely free for anyone living in Scotland.
If you have any questions please get in touch. You can get in touch with AMS Edinburgh or Glasgow on their pages on our website, or find us on Facebook here.
Apply now on our dedicated page.
Help and advice for musicians and students during Coronavirus / Covid-19
Coronavirus has begun to impact the music industry in a number of ways.
Our centres in Exeter, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton, Gateshead and are now closed until further notice. Including our head office in Exeter - staff and tutors are working from home and contactable via email.
Please do don't hesitate to contact us directly if you have any queries.
On Monday the Government announced that it would no longer be supporting mass gatherings, with changes expected to last for a few months at least. This follows Ireland, Scotland, and many other countries over the world. It means the live events, music and leisure sector is at a huge risk, those who freelance and those who are part of the gig economy will also largely be effected. IT is also unclear what the future of UK festivals will be like after this summer.
This is a very sad time for everyone in the live event space, hospitality, and arts more broadly. This virus has had unimaginable effects for event organisers, artists, suppliers and all those who work in this fantastic industry. The likes of such a cataclysmic event are so rare and our thoughts go out to everyone affected this very weird moment in time.
Every year we run a stage at Bearded Theory Festival in Derbyshire and run a competition where we ask acts to apply to play. The festival was set to take place on the late May Bank Holiday as it alwayss – the status of many UK festivals remains uncertain. They released a statement a few weeks ago stating stating that they will likely postpone the event for September, and just last week they confirmed a postponed date for 10th-13th September. You can read the full statement here.
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Help and Advice.
In the meantime, we've compiled a list of some helpful advice for working musicians and artists who might be effected by the recent crisis caused by Coronavirus (Covid-19). It includes important advice from The Musician's Union – who have launched a Hardship Fund, Help Musicians UK, who are running a helpline, PRS for Music, who have launched an Emergency Relief Fund, and Creative Scotland, who have promised 3 new funds. Plus there is an ongoing list from The Skinny on events in Scotland that have been cancelled.
If you're a musician , DJ , artist , creative of any kind who relies on travelling and live performance for income the @WeAreTheMU have also set up an email for the latest updates and advice on the corona outbreak .
Sign up for covid-19 updates here.
How are you spending your self-isolation? Making music? What are you listening to to get you through it? Pop us a message and we'll share...
https://twitter.com/theskinnymag/status/1238438158750056449
https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMU/status/1238434558728646661
https://twitter.com/HelpMusiciansUK/status/1238117907374247937
https://twitter.com/PRSforMusic/status/1242769781427748865
https://twitter.com/CreativeScots/status/1243611800568049664
https://twitter.com/ScotWim/status/1238389805114953729
Other Useful Resources.
#SaveOurScene.
Electronic music platform Resident Advisor have launched a campaign called #SaveOurScene, calling on ticket buyers to avoiding claiming for refunds where possible and where you can afford, in order to support a dance music scene that has suffered incredibly from the covid-19 crisis.
It comes after a number of festivals have been cancelled indefinitely, artists are loosing booking fees and gigs, and events are postponed for the foreseeable future, meaning there is no money to support the scene and sector itself. They ask, if you have a ticket to any upcoming event that may be postponed or cancelled, to resist asking for a refund. You can read the full campaign on the RA website.
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The Scottish Music Centre have also produced a very helpful guide for for Musicians, Music Businesses and Freelancers in the Scottish music scene during the pandemic. Take a look here.
There's a petition running asking for government for economic assistance to the events industry during the pandemic. If you work in events, or might be affect, it could be worth singing: HERE
Plus, you can get the latest on music industry figures, stats and financial situation on the Music Business Worldwide's regular newsletter. Read their letter from 13th March 2020 here.
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We'll be back soon with more.
AMS x
Musicians' Union launches 'Coronavirus Hardship Fund'
The 1 Million Pound fund is for MU members with genuine and pressing hardship.
The Musician's Union has launched the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund in order to help support those musicians who may be struggling in these times.
Musicians have lost more than £14m in earnings so far
90% have been affected
Job opportunities are down 69% on this time last year
"In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit our profession as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have taken the decision to set up a £1M hardship fund that members with genuine and pressing hardship can apply to." Says the MU.
The fund is open to any current member of the Union who has:
- Been in continuous membership of the MU for the last twelve months or more
- Is currently paying the full MU membership subscription rate
- Is a UK resident
- Is suffering genuine hardship from loss of work due to the Coronavirus pandemic
- Has not already successfully received a payment from the MU Coronavirus Hardship Fund
On their website the MU also state that, "it must be emphasised that this is a hardship fund and not a fee replacement fund. The fund will not stretch very far if members who have lost bookings but are not in dire need of financial help all apply."
Grants will be initially limited to £200 to start with, and you will be able to find out if your application has been successful within 3 working days of applying.
Read more about the grand on the Musician's Union website and find out if you are eligible here.
https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMU/status/1242001171641966593
Visit our Coronavirus help page.
Learning Under Lockdown
Coronavirus moves life online
Covid-19 moves life online
– here’s how we can help
Coronavirus has begun to shake the UK – and indeed the world – in a way that was unimaginable even just one month ago. As we self-isolate, quarantine and social distance in the interest of our public health and collective well-being life has shifted online more and more.
Musicians too have been drastically effected by the global pandemic; event cancellations, gig postponements – the very backbone of the musician’s income taken from underneath them in the most unprecedented way.
Thankfully humans are adaptable creatures. Already, artists and creatives are capitalising on their capacity to mobilise online – online streaming of performances and DJ sets, tutors and artists offering classes online, and platforms like Bandcamp wavering fees to support unsigned acts. Our digital world seems more important now, than it ever has been before. Not just as a means to stay connected when people need it most, but as a way to earn and maintain and income stream, as well as learn new things as stay as motivated, entertained and switched on as we can.
We’ve also been trying to adapt.
We understand a lot of artists might be out of work at the moment, or failing that, slightly more bored than usual, working (or isolating) at home for the foreseeable future.
We’re happy to be able to offer a few small things to musician’s during these trying times…
Free Songwriting & Creative Lyric Approaches short course
Firstly AMS Online's FREE online songwriting short course (creative lyric approaches) is available to enrol onto now. You can expand your skills for free, and try and make the most of that time social distancing.
The syllabus for this course is set out over four weeks, with each week focusing on different areas of lyric writing. Each week provides helpful, practical, creative conversations and activities in order to help you grow as a songwriter and musical communicator. The course is suitable for beginners through to experienced songwriters; anyone who wishes to invigorate or reinvigorate their lyrical output.
Free online short courses from AMS
Our Edinburgh and Glasgow centres recently announced a new series of free short courses, which were originally programmed to take place at both centres over the coming few months. Now sadly, due to the situation dates for the physical workshops will look to be moved, while provision for the courses to be made available online has now been approved and will be available soon! This means ANYONE will be able to take part and they’re completely free.
Read more about the courses on offer on our dedicated page.
Fast-Track an online degree
Plus, a lot has been interrupted during the strange period, but if you’re feeling like being quite productive during this time, you might be interested in our Fast Track Degree scheme. The scheme allows music industry professionals with relevant experience the chance to ‘fast-track’ to the final year of a BA degree in music, sound, production etc (see our courses here), and you could get a degree for a third of the price, for a third of the time – and all from the comfort (or confines…) of your home.
Interested? Sign up here.
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Academy of Music and Sound and AMS Online x
Our Free Short Courses are now being developed for online delivery
A Good News Story!
In the light of recent developments there have been a lot of cancellations, the most recent being the annual Glastonbury Festival, and a lot of changes makes for some very negative reading. So here's a good news story! Our short courses that are delivered in Edinburgh and Glasgow have been approved for online delivery.
Short Courses from the comfort of your home...
Currently we run short courses in Sound Production, Synthesis, Rap & hip hop, Working in Live Music and Women's Employability in Music. Read more about all the courses that will be available here.
All online courses will be free of charge - and will hopefully give students and the wider public the change to learn something new and channel some positive energies during all this self-isolation.
As soon as the model for online delivery has been devised details will be available, so keep an eye on these pages for updates.
Coronavirus Update March 16th – WE'RE CLOSED
All of our Academy of Music & Sound centres are now closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Exeter, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton and Gateshead will all be closed until further notice.
Our head office Exeter will also be closed with all staff working from home. They are reachable on email.
Current students: Please keep an eye on the site for updates should this change.
All course material will be available online and our staff will be reachable by email. Take a look at our contact page for relevant email addresses.
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Please stay healthy and safe as best as possible. Remember, there are some key things you can do, as an individual, to help stop the spread*
- Wash your hands thoroughly, with soap and hot water for 20 seconds or more - and often
- Try and pay with contactless where possible
- Avoid public and communal spaces and facilities including events, and stay at home if you experience any symptoms and call 111.
- Always wash your hands when you get home or into work
- Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterward
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
It's also important not to panic too much - this includes buying only what you need from supermarkets - if you buy enough for yourself and your family only, there will be enough. Please think of others.
If you're working in the events, music or arts sectors and you've been effected by the virus, head to our page on advice and tips, and how you can support yourself and others in the scene at this time.
*Source: NHS UK.
Four students on inspirations & the music industry, for International Women's Day 2020
We interviewed four Female AMS students about the female artists inspiring them and how they feel about being a woman in the music industry in 2020.
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For International Women’s Day 2020 we spoke to 4 female students studying at various AMS centres and on our online programme. They discussed the female artists who have inspired them the most, and spoke about the struggles and obstacles of being a woman in the music business today.
Are there inequalities? Do they feel that they have the same opportunities as men? What would they like to see change in the industry?
We spoke to four students; Isla, a Glasgow student, Chloe, a second year vocal student studying in Exeter, Astrid (who performs under the name Milly Eon), a final year student on the AMS Online production course, and Hannah, a first year Edinburgh HNC student. Each student gave measured and interesting responses, drawing on their personal experiences and wider issues in the music industry – everything from representation, diversity, expectations and opportunity was covered. Interestingly, the largest and weightiest section of the interview comes after we asked the students – “what challenges have you faced within the industry?”
But it’s not all doom and gloom; it’s International Women’s Day and there’s plenty to be celebrated in regards to female talent, progress, and otherwise unrecognised hard work within the sector! The students spoke about some of their favourite female artists and who is inspiring them right now; they also spoke about what they would like to see change in the industry, and commented on the positive progress that is being made.
Dive in and enjoy… Oh, and Happy International Women’s Day.
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Which female artists are inspiring you right now?
Isla: “Amy Winehouse, Birdy and Ella Henderson have been massive inspirations throughout my music journey so far. Particularly Ella Henderson – she has massively inspired the way I write. I feel her way of writing music and lyrical content is extremely emotive and beautiful.”
Astrid: “Missy Elliot! She’s one of my main influences at the moment. I also love Queen Latifah, although I haven’t heard anything recently that she’s done, but i’ve heard some of Missy Elliott latest tracks, she seems to stay quite relevant which is what I really like about her. She always stays current and I think I draw most of my inspiration from her. She’s my main go-to female producer at the moment.”
Hannah: “Although our voices, image and style are so different, Amy Winehouse has inspired me in many ways. Her singing style is unique, and you cannot categorise her into one genre, which, in my own way, is what I aim for in my career. People know me as an indie-folk singer, but I also like to mix in some blues and soul vibes! What I love about the way Amy sings is how much heart and passion is put into her songs. Her voice is rich with emotion, which is what sets her apart from singers of the same genre. I love the way her songs are brutally honest. They have been written for more than commercial reasons and the emotive way she sings them tells her story, which is what I aim for.”
Chloe: “Beyonce is someone I have always been someone who has inspired me to push myself and believe in myself. She stands up for women’s rights, empowers women and changes people’s lives.. From when she was in Destiny’s Child, to now as a solo artist she’s continued to inspire me with her song writing, morals, family values and singing. She helped me a lot with things like body empowerment, loving myself and realising it’s okay to be different!”
What about when you were getting into music for the first time?
Isla: “I wish I had more female musical influences growing up but unfortunately this wasn’t the case.”
What barriers are there for women in the music industry today?
Isla: “Women don’t have as many opportunities within the industry as men, which is extremely disappointing as there are so many young women who have so much drive and passion for being a full time musician, but don’t always have the same chances as men.
“Sometimes men are seen as ‘more capable’ when it comes to performing and producing – women have different qualities and talents that men don’t. I think so many more women are needed within the industry to help girls who are growing up to understand that the things they’re going through are or were experienced by us as well.”
Astrid: “It’s very male dominated – especially areas like electronic music.”
Isla: “Diversity is so important because it allows everyone to be seen as an individual regardless of gender, race, sexuality… Diversity allows people to be unique without feeling the need to label themselves as something they’re not and this is something in which the younger generations need to be exposed to.”
“When I started producing I was often mistaken for the singer. It’s a stereotype in the industry that females are usually assumed to be the vocalist rather than a producer.”
Have you faced any challenges within the industry?
Isla: “I have faced many challenges in terms of setbacks both in music and personally, I have struggled massively with my mental health and believing in myself. I have doubted my abilities from time to time but I always take these as learning curves and topics in which I can develop lyrical content from. There are always positives to take from these negative times and many of my favourite songs in which I have written have come off the back of these harder times.
Hannah: “It could be down to the folk genre that I’m part of that attracts lovely and open people, but in my experience, I have always been very welcome as an artist. I have noticed though that the industry seems to attract more males than females in general. For example, in my college, there is a high ratio of males to females. I couldn’t say why this was though!”
Astrid: “When I started producing I was often mistaken for the singer – It’s a stereotype in the industry that females are usually assumed to be the vocalist rather than a producer, there’s a lot of that kind of thing going on! I’ve had people contact me on Soundcloud and say ‘bro how you doing’ – and I’m like woah, I’m a female not a male! What gave you that idea?”
“They are often shocked and skeptical when they find out I’m actually the engineer; there’s quite a lot of scepticism from male singers that I’ve come across, only to find out that they really like my work and they really like how I’m able to tune into their production and their vocals…”
“I guess it goes with the stereotype of assuming women can’t do a male’s job, and then the shock of finding out your production skills! It’s like looking at a female mechanic – you assume it to be a male’s role – and then you find out a female is going to fix your car, so it’s that initial shock, or disruption to your expectation – the seemingly out of the norm…”
“There is so much media influence on the appearance of female musicians – it doesn’t matter about height, weight, acne, scars and stretch marks, or their past. All that should matter in music is the voice and the story the person is trying to tell.”
What would you change?
Astrid: “I would like to see a lot more female producers in the industry, I'd like to see a lot of female engineers as well – I don't know why that is the way it is, you know, why it is so male dominated? It's an interesting thing really.
Isla: “I would love to see more performance opportunities such as on stage at festivals like the Queen Tuts stage at trnsmt festival – who’s to say females can’t be on the main stage at gigs like this? I believe women can bring so much maturity and be the voice for so many people out there who are afraid to speak upon how they feel when addressing certain topics!”
"Who’s to say females can’t be on the main stage at gigs like this?"
Is there progress being made for women in the industry?
Isla: “I think progress is being made, but sometimes we are still pushing to be heard which can be difficult , especially for younger women. There is so much media influence on the appearance of female musicians – it doesn’t matter about height, weight, acne, scars and stretch marks, or their past. All that should matter in music is the voice and the story the person is trying to tell. Artists like Billie Eilish are doing it for us women right now, but I feel we all have so much more to give than people could even think.”
Hannah: “I can’t think of any instances where I have been treated differently because I am female. I am not saying that sort of thing doesn’t exist, but I think we have come so far and it’s great and we should celebrate that.”
Astrid: “From my experience it seems to be still very male dominated, and there seems to be many more female vocalists than there are female engineers or producers. I've not seen many female producers at all.
"I guess it goes back a long way - plenty in history of female inequality! There's still lots of changes to be made. There’s more to be done, definitely.”
Check out Isla, Chloe, Hannah and Astrid (Milly Eon)'s music on their social channels: