label logoThe Label Recordings is Edge Hill’s new independent label without contracts, which has been set up by the University to promote existing new music and students eyeing-up a career in the competitive industry some real hands-on experience.

It offers a musical journey that invites musicians and bands to collaborate with students, who will be given the opportunity to learn about the music industry by becoming part of the music industry. They are involved in all aspects including searching for emerging talent, music production, video production, releasing tracks and organising live events.

Media lecturer Carl Hunter, who is also bassist in the Liverpool band The Farm, explained the idea behind The Label, which hopes to help launch some of the region’s brightest talents.

He said: “The music industry is in a strange place, there’s a great fear about not seeing a return from an investment. This means creativity is more ignored than health warnings on ciggie packets. What we’re trying to do is remove that fear and create opportunities.

“In my experience, the first foot on the ladder is either too high or in someone else’s garden. The Label is a place where you can try your hand at anything. You can direct a music video, you can work in A&R, you can package a sleeve, you can organise a club night, book the band and promote it. It’s a way to become an insider and get a flavour of what all the people behind the scenes really do.

“Even more importantly, The Label isn’t interest in taking a slice of the band’s music or earnings, quite the opposite in fact. Imagine that, a record label that will put out a band’s song, package it, shoot a video and help with distribution? It’s a chance not to be missed.”

You can like The Label on Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/TheLabelRecordings or follow us via Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheLabelRec .

‘Ten Sound City Saturdays’ celebrate partnership with leading music festival

Edge Hill University has programmed an exciting series of Saturday events in Liverpool and Ormskirk to complement their partnership with Sound City.

The eclectic programme will offer students the chance to showcase their work and gain valuable music industry experience, as well as an exciting range of performances from cutting edge Liverpool artists and talks from top music industry figures. Venues will include Static Gallery, Liverpool Small Cinema, Bluecoat and The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University.

The first two of these events will take place on Saturday 4th March, when a Vintage Mobile Cinema will appear at Liverpool’s Albert Dock screening a selection of music videos from The Label Recordings – Edge Hill’s record label which promotes existing and new music. The evening will bring a gig at The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University from four of the most exciting acts on The Label Recordings – Shrinking Minds, Oranj Son, Ali Horn and Youth Hostel.

The programme also includes several symposiums and talks including Independence Day which will tell the story of Radio Merseyside’s PMS (Popular Music Show), the UK’s longest-running independent music radio show. This talk will be given by the show’s presenter Roger Hill who has been in the driving seat for 35 of its 40 years. Symposia taking place include 30th Century Woman which will discuss women in music, and the Art and Pop symposium Things may come and things may go… with further details of speakers available soon.

Also as part of the Sound City Saturdays programme, avant-garde Liverpool act a.P.A.t.T will present Observed Music, a multi-disciplinary, interactive, site-specific performance installation at the Sound City Festival site. On the same day, bands from the Label Recordings stable will take over the festival’s Emerging Talent stage for a three hour slot.

The programme also features a zine-making workshop with performer, artist, writer and musician Mark Greenwood, You Say You Want a Revolution, a talk/workshop/production of ten one minute sound works with visual artist Alan Dunn and Surround Sounds, a programme of music films, documentaries and videos.

Cathy Butterworth; Arts Manager at Edge Hill University said: “It’s exciting to be bringing this new element to what is already a very successful partnership with Sound City. Ten Sound City Saturdays will provide Edge Hill students with enhanced industry opportunities and experience and strengthen the University’s links with Liverpool arts venues, organisations and artists.”

Dave Pichilingi, CEO, Sound City said “We’re proud of our partnership with Edge Hill, they’re an incredibly forward thinking university who have brought exceptional quality to Sound City with the artists they have showcased, students who have interned and attended the festival and conference and work across dance and multimedia since their early days of working with us.  Ten Sound City Saturdays is a wonderful way to engage students and to celebrate our 10th anniversary edition and we’re delighted to be part of it.”

Edge Hill has been involved with Liverpool Sound City since 2013 and last year signed a three-year deal as the festival’s Industry Connection Partner. As part of the deal the University’s music arm The Label Recordings, which boasts local success stories Hooton Tennis Club and Oranj Son amongst their alumni, has an exclusive stage at the festival to showcase bands from their stable, as well as those from Liverpool and surrounding areas.

Ten Sound City Saturdays: listings information

 

Vintage Mobile Cinema

Saturday 4 March, 11am-5pm

Albert Dock, Liverpool City Centre

Booking Closed

 

The Label Recordings present Shrinking Minds, Oranj Son, Ali Horn and Youth Hostel

Saturday 4 March, 8.00pm – Booking Closed.

The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University

 

Zine making workshop

Saturday 18 March, 2pm-4pm (drop-in session)

Static Gallery, Roscoe Lane, Liverpool

Booking Closed

 

You Say You Want a Revolution

Saturday 25 March, 2pm-4pm

Static Gallery, Roscoe Lane, Liverpool

Booking Closed

 

30th Century Woman: Women in Music Symposium

Saturday 15 April, 2pm-4pm

Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool

Booking Closed

 

Things may come and things may go….Art & Pop Symposium

Saturday 22 April, 2pm-4pm

Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool

Booking Closed

 

Surround Sounds: Film and Music

Saturday 6 May, 1pm-6pm

Liverpool Small Cinema, Victoria Street

FREE, no booking required

 

Resilience and Revolution

Saturday 20 May, 2pm-4pm – Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool

Booking Closed

 

a.P.A.t.T : Observed Music

Saturday 27 May, 10am – midnight

Sound City festival site

Booking Closed

 

Emerging Talent stage – Label Takeover

Saturday 27 May, 6pm-9pm

Sound City festival site

Booking Closed

University record label shortlisted for prestigious award

Hooton Tennis Club

Hooton Tennis Club

Edge Hill’s ground breaking record label has been shortlisted for a Times Higher Education Award, it was announced this week.

The Label Recordings is shortlisted alongside five other institutions in the Excellence and Innovation in the Arts category, with the winner due to be announced at a glittering ceremony in London on 26 November.

Edge Hill University’s not-for-profit record label, The Label Recordings, set up in November 2013 by lecturers Carl Hunter and Clare Heney is an innovative means of promoting student employability in the notoriously closed-off music industry.

Through mentoring, shadowing and tutoring, The Label operates exactly like an industry placement. Student volunteers from various degree disciplines work across fluid teams in A&R (artist scouting), music and video production, marketing, event management and graphic design.

This exciting new endeavour has propelled Edge Hill from a relative unknown in the music industry to one of higher education’s most credible voices in popular music.

The record label has had four signings so far: The Inkhearts, Hooton Tennis Club, The Little Secrets and SeaWitches. All artists have received international airplay including on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. Hooton Tennis Club have now signed a record deal with Heavenly Recordings, been named NME’s Band of the Week, received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and obtained a coveted slot at Glastonbury Festival 2015.

No other University record label in the last 10 years can match the level of music industry exposure achieved by The Label Recordings. The Label is frequently mentioned and discussed on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, and has been discussed in NME Magazine. BBC North West Tonight recently ran a feature on the record label’s success featuring interviews with Carl Hunter, students and a student-made music video.

Roy Bayfield, Director of Corporate Communications at Edge Hill said: “I’m delighted that The Label has been nominated for the THE Excellence and Innovation in the Arts award. The shortlisting recognises the hard work and creative vision from students, staff and artists which has been constant since the project’s inception. The Label continues to offer students unparalleled industry experience and opportunities, and the success the acts are achieving is incredible.”

Hooton Tennis Club in Liverpool Sound City Top 10

Hooton Tennis Club, signed to Edge Hill’s very own record label, have been chosen as one of the top 10 acts at this year’s internationally renowned Liverpool Sound City Festival.

The 10 acts were chosen by music journalist and founder of the Get Into This Award, Peter Guy. Hooton Tennis Club released their debut single Kathleen Sat On The Arm Of Her Favourite Chair through The Label Recordings in April 2014. Read the full article on the Liverpool Echo website here.

peterguy

Edge Hill makes an impact at Liverpool Sound City Festival

Sound City 2014 Logo

Students and staff at Edge Hill University played a massive role in bringing the leading music festival, Liverpool Sound City, to life this weekend.

A team of students were involved in an innovative partnership with Liverpool Sound City, filming the festival’s best acts and editing the footage ‘live’ to create high-quality videos of bands including Clean Bandit, Kodaline, The Neighbourhood and The Tea Street Band.

A total of 22 students took on roles such as Camera Operator, Sound Technician, Production Manager and Producer to deliver the finished videos which are already being used by Liverpool Sound City to promote the festival worldwide.

Film and Television student and Sound City Production Manager Aurelija Zubaviciute said,

“Sound City has been an extraordinary experience. It has taught me so much in the space of just three days and has given me real-life experience of what my future career could be. I’m glad to have been part of something so exciting and to have worked with such an amazing team.”

Edge Hill dance companies Edge FWD and 3rd Edge both brought their unique and powerful brand of performance to some of Liverpool’s most iconic venues.

All male dance company EdgeFWD performed Alpha, a 15 minute study on male group behaviour, created by renowned choreographer Anthony Missen’s Chameleon Company. Female dance company 3rd Edge made their festival debut performing Lovely Ugly, a 10-minute work inspired by Dylan Thomas. Both dance pieces were performed alongside the festival’s headline acts at Liverpool Cathedral, The Factory and the Moon Museum.

lovely ugly
Lovely Ugly performed by 3rd Edge at Liverpool Cathedral. Photo taken by Geof Atwell

The Label Recordings, Edge Hill’s very own record label, hosted its own showcase of music at The Kazimier Gardens on Friday 2nd May to a full-capacity audience. The evening was organised and delivered by students involved with The Label and the performing bands including acts signed to The Label, Hooton Tennis Club and The Inkhearts, as well as bands chosen by the students, Beach Skulls and Seafaring Creatures.

The night itself, which was introduced by BBC Radio DJ Dave Monks has already been positively reviewed by the Liverpool Echo, Flipboard and Bido Lito and has added to the excitement currently building around The Label as a way of providing students with real experience in the music industry.

Roy Bayfield, Director of Corporate Communications and Student Recruitment at Edge Hill University said,

“Sound City is an immensely exciting city-based festival happening right on our doorstep. For a university teaching and researching music, film, media and performance, there are all sorts of exciting links. Our students are getting opportunities to volunteer, perform, participate in an international conference, pitch business ideas to an expert panel and film the most interesting bands. They will be gaining exactly the kind of industry experience that employers want to see, and making contacts that will help them kick-start their careers. We also have a showcase evening of The Label Recordings, organised by students who are already making headway in the music industry by developing and promoting some fantastic new talent.”

inkhearts
The Inkhearts at Edge Hill’s showcase. Photo taken by Alan Wright

To cap off Edge Hill’s involvement at the leading music festival, Computing students Laura Stowers and Lyndsey McCormick bagged the prestigious Student Innovation Awards with their idea for a new app, QJump, marking the second year in a row that a team of Edge Hill students have achieved the accolade. You can find out more about the Student Innovation Awards here.

Liverpool Sound City is the largest international music, digital and film festival and conference in the UK, playing host to more than 360 artists in 25 venues across the city.

Find out more about studying Music at Edge Hill here.

Find out more about studying Film and TV at Edge Hill here.

Find out more about studying Dance at Edge Hill here.

Student Film Crew: Aurelija Zubaviciute (Production Manager), Anna De Bont (Producer), Kirsty Milburn (Producer), Luke Pearson (Sound Technician/Camera Operator), Dominic Smith (Editor), Laura Gregory (Editor), Daniel Seddon (Camera Operator), Jemma Perrin (Camera Operator), Adam Smith (Camera Operator), George Clarke (Camera Operator), Toni Jordan (Camera Operator), Luke Kirkbride (Camera Operator), Daniel Orr (Camera Operator), Holly Chatten (Camera Operator), Bryan Dramiga (Camera Operator), Robert Monteith (Camera Operator), Louis Kitchen  (Camera Operator), James Conibear  (Camera Operator), Daniel Hall  (Camera Operator), Hanna Manalo  (Camera Operator), Santiago Rodriguez  (Camera Operator), Philip Curtis  (Camera Operator).

Young indie band first to be signed up to University record label

studioUpcoming indie band The Inkhearts have been given their big break after being the first artists to be signed up to Edge Hill University’s very own record label.

The Label Recordings is an independent label without contracts, which has been set up by the University to promote existing new music and to give students eyeing-up a career in the competitive industry some real hands-on experience.

After a massive search across the North West to spot new talent, The Label Recordings came across the The Inkhearts, a four-piece band from Skelmersdale with their own unique sound, and have been in the recording studios with them.

The band, all aged between 17 and 18, couldn’t contain their excitement when we caught up with them in the studios. Listen to the interview here with the band and also the students who are benefitting from being a part of the initiative

Media lecturer Carl Hunter, who is also bassist in the Liverpool band The Farm, is hoping The Label Recordings will launch some of the region’s brightest talents. He said: “In my experience, the first foot on the ladder is either too high or in someone else’s garden. The Label is a place where you can try your hand at anything. You can direct a music video, you can work in A&R, you can package a sleeve, you can organise a club night, book the band and promote it. It’s a way to become an insider and get a flavour of what all the people behind the scenes really do.

“Even more importantly, The Label isn’t interest in taking a slice of the band’s music or earnings, quite the opposite in fact. It’ a record label that will put out a band’s song, package it, shoot a video and help with distribution? It’s a chance not to be missed.

The University is working in partnership with Parr Street Studios, Liverpool’s legendary Grammy-award winning recording studio complex, where artists including Arctic Monkeys, Cast, Coldplay, Spice Girls and many more have recorded.

You can follow The Label on Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/TheLabelRecordings  or via Twitter at https://twitter.com/TheLabelRec.

Music degrees at Edge Hill

Inkhearts Facebook page