I’ve had an extraordinary journey through this game so far. As a journalist, DJ, broadcaster, mentor, label owner and many other roles between from production to promotion, I’ve seen this industry from many viewpoints.
From being the voice of major global dance brands such as Drum&BassArena, UKF and Vision Radio, and being a prominent contributor to renowned publications such as DJ Mag and Mixmag, to building up my own brand 1 More Thing, a platform that champions emergent and DIY culture but has also had a presence at major events such as Rampage Open Air and Sun And Bass; my experiences in dance music and DJ culture are 720: grassroots and mainstream, inside and out.
This has given me a unique outlook of the wider picture and an inimitable perspective, skillset, network and knowledge of dance music and DJ culture that I want to share with you. Following successful editorial and content mentorship projects internally at 1 More Thing, I’m now offering private mentoring sessions for creatives.
Tap into 25+ years of industry experience and let me help you turn that sprint into a marathon…
Let’s take a deep, focussed dive into any aspect of your work, project or concept. I’ll ask you a whole tonne of questions and tell you what I see and discuss with you ideas and ways to build and develop what you have.
Whether it’s creative brainstorming, beginner industry insight or getting a completely fresh objective and honest take on what you’re doing, I offer a unique supportive service.
I promise you’ll come away with a fresh perspective, a full tank of idea gas and a fat stack of inspiration for the future!
Sessions can include…
* An introduction to press and promotion.
* Interview techniques (for both interviewer or interviewee).
* Total bio analysis, re-marketing, narrative identity.
* Social media content ideas and planning.
* Music journalism insight, writing excercises and development.
* Excercises and tools to help you out of writers block.
* Consultation on history and research.
* Feedback on your music / career and thoughts on development.
I can help you find your story, own your story and bring a whole new light and energy to how that story unfolds. Especially in these particular fields…
An Intro To Press & Promo
Got some tunes ready and starting to making your first moves into this game and want to see through some of the smoke and mirrors? Let’s chat. I’ll demystify the process and give you tools and insight including building your electronic press kit (EPK), how to submit music to labels, how to engage with press and promo outlets and how to manage your expectations.
This can also include a profile/branding healthcheck; if you’re unsure of how to market yourself and put yourself out there authentically – or you have an idea for a concept and want an experienced professional opinion or check it’s not too close to an established brand that exists in another generation or genre – then this is a great opportunity for feedback on all aspects of your presentation and aesthetic.
Bio & Narrative
A punchy, attractive and engaging artist bio is necessary for all artists… But seldom, if ever, welcomed or enjoyed as a creative process. So let me help you explore your story and all the reasons why you do what you do. Let’s take the time to identify what it is that makes you, your art and your approach worth shouting about and worth anyone giving up their precious time to respond to and check out.
This isn’t about who you’ve shared a stage with as a warm up DJ, or that big things are coming soon. This is about the essence of you and your vision and what you want to see in the world. It’s why you’re compelled to be creative and how you go about that creativity and what challenges you face in the process… And it’s what will attract real fans who relate to you and resonate with where you’re coming from.
This goes so much deeper than a simple two-line bio on Instagram or 1500 character bio on Spotify. A thorough workshop session on this topic – with questions and excercises and analysing exsistent examples in the industry – can give you tools to create your own bio, write your own press releases and create a theme and consistency with your social media content. Step away from Chat GPT and get a human perspective on who you are and what you do. Here’s a very teeny taster from a DBS lecture I gave in January 2024.
Media Training
Whether people are requesting to interview you, or you’re starting to interview people as part of your content output, a session or two focusing on the art of interviewing can really sharpen up your game and give you confidence about how you handle the mic and how you compose and consider your questions or answers.
Having interviewed people almost daily for over 20 years I can shed a lot of light on the interview process, provide feedback on your skills, shed light on the type of questions, preparation and pace that are all involved in the process of a thoughtful, meaningful and focused interview.
As a spokesperson and prominent character in certain aspects of the music who’s regularly called upon for interviews, I also understand how uncomfortable and awkward it can be on the receiving end of an interview (especially a poorly conducted one) and I can provide helpful insight and tips into how you compose yourself and approach any type of interview.
Topics and tips include – the importance of research, how to construct open questions and provide media-friendly answers, thoughts on listening and interview flow, ideas on creating the right vibe and building trust and so much more.
Social Media Content Brainstorming & Planning
We all want our art and music to do the talking and to not have a presence on cynical commercial platforms to promote ourselves, but sadly social media still plays a very dominant role in all aspects of music marketing and promo. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be authentic to you and even enjoyable.
Let’s really look at what you stand for, what you want to say and what levels of comfort you have on social media. Once done, we can work out a strategy and style that works for you. Whether you’re considering talking on screen or looking for something that completely takes you off screen, I can provide examples, ideas, tips and techniques that will make social media a less cringe-inducing experience than it can be for so many of us.
When done well and thoughtfully, and curated with real passion for the wider roots and context of your music and where you want it to be, social media can help you put the spotlight on others, and help build legitimate connections and a community that goes well beyond a passive ‘like’. Book a session today and save yourself hours and hours and hours of overthinking and writing posts only to save them as drafts because you don’t feel comfortable posting them.
Music Journalism & Writing Tips
At a time when so much information is being controlled by major outlets with invested agendas, and when so much poor and erroneous information is summarised by AI without verified checks, the need for independent music coverage and reporting has never been more necessary and relevant. It’s vital that the standards and quality of independent music coverage and reporting is kept high, fair, transparent and accountable.
I was lucky enough to come through traditional magazine journalism. It’s a discipline that’s remained with me today both in terms of objective, fair and transparent curation and technically in terms of both writing and researching. Having been through many changes in the digital realm since those early days – as an editor, broadcaster and freelancer – I have a vast experience in longform, shortform, news-based and story-based articles, features and content and can provide a very detailed and scrutinous health check on your writing.
This is an area where I can provide acute technical feedback and would welcome any budding or emergent music writer to book a session and take a deep dive into their work. Areas of focus can include clarity and direction, arrangement and flow, economy of language, development of voice and tone and how best to use and attribute quotes.
I can also provide detailed insight on how to identify and develop a story, pitch techniques, researching tips, interviewing and feedback on your ideas and direction.
I’m always really inspired when I speak to new music journalists at the start of their journey and learn how and why they’ve got into this side of the game. It remains a unique form of reporting that can shed so much light on artists, their stories and challenges, wider movements, the culture and its context, influence and significance. If you have any questions or interest in music journalism at any level I would recommend a session.
Music Feedback
A private Demo Drop session where we can take your tracks apart and really inspect and explore what works, what doesnt, where it needs to go next and who it needs to be sent to.
Whether you’re at a crossroads creatively and need a fresh take or you’re looking to refine a big batch of ideas into an EP, let’s have a listening session and take your beats and release plans to a new level.
I’m not a technical music producer but I think this gives me an edge you won’t find from other feedback sessions; having collected and played this music for 30 years and worked in it every day for 25 years, I understand the dynamics of music from an instinctive and informed point of view – I know what stands out and what feels authentic and have been subject to enough mainstream slop that I can help you avoid many of the gimmicks and techniques that some artists can fall for when keen on building an audience.
Arrangement, development, placement, marketing, thoughts on how original it feels and where it fits in with the wider picture are some of the aspects we might cover in a listening feedback session. Check any episode of the 1 More Thing Demo Drop stream for a wee flavour of the type of feedback I can provide but on a much more detailed, thorough and personal approach as it’s not being viewed by a live audience.
Dance Music History & Research Consultation
Don’t believe everything you read, or watch or listen to. As the decades roll by and dance music becomes older and older, and more and more guff gets sprayed over the internet, the line between facts, myths and absolute BS becomes more and more blurred due to unequal societal systems, motives, ego, money, poor journalism and of course now AI.
If you’re working on a project that requires research and history on particular aspects of dance music history and would like thoughts and reflections on sources to invite for interview, wider context, additional reading and key underdogs or behind the scenes – or commentary from personal experience if applicable – then please consider booking a consultation session. As well as my own highkey nerd-level knowledge and archives, I have an extensive collection of books and magazines and a network of specialists and spokespeople across most genres and aspects of the industry who I can suggest and potentially connect you with, if appropriate.
Human feedback and insight for human creatives who value authenticity and integrity…
No matter which area of the above that you’d like to discuss, all mentoring, feedback and consultation that’s provided is based on lived experience, industry knowledge and my own creative processes.
These sessions promise an objective and honest perspective on your art and creative career and will generate a number of ideas, inspirations, examples and excercises on how to develop things and move forward in a sustainable, consistent and meaningful way.
When booking a session you’ll be asked a small amount of questions so I’m informed and prepared for your session. Each session will be specific to you and your art and will be conducted with a view to building your confidence in your abilities and empowering you with a wider context of where you and project sit both in terms of the current landscape and the music’s rich history.
If you’re looking to become a big headliner overnight, or you want to simply copy another person’s journey or style or cut any corners/pay for a fast track then I would not recommend working with me. We won’t get along. However if you’re interested in a much more enduring, inspiring and fulfilling journey as a creative artist and your main ethos is being true to yourself and your vision then we’ll definitely find the right chord.
Each session will be presented and wrapped up with a conclusion and video recording of the call to return to at your own pace plus any additional resources and links mentioned during the call. Email me now with any questions – dj@1-more-thing.co.uk – or please book using the form linked below.
