Author: Sree Murali
We all know the glitz and glam of an Eras tour and the styles of Harry; but what does performing look like when you’re starting out or trying to make it big while still oozing talent and pumping energy? Certainly electrifying, as evident from Hear Me Now’s ‘AMPLIFY’ event back in March.
AMPLIFY boasted names like DJ Eza, Spen Sax, Jess1, N.E.V.E, Nessa Tenny, NPA, Beetone, Eyez, Loue Marc, T Dot, Linkz, and Gio. It’s not just talent they have in common; it’s also the fact that they are from Derby and are performing in their hometown while enjoying growing popularity in places far beyond Derby, as in the case of Eyez, who’s even toured Australia.
What is it that sets musicians apart from the likes of you and me? Hitting notes that just hit
different? Of course. But music is not the only thing that sets these artists an octave apart.
It’s more. Much more.
I learned this as I interviewed artists performing at AMPLIFY and delved into the reason they are artists in the first place and the message they would like their music to spread. It is no secret that music can touch lives. But artists like Jess1 go far beyond just making an emotional impact: they make a social impact.
Talking about his youth intervention programmes, the versatile rapper says,” I do a lot of boxing with kids. Train them up and try to take them off the streets so they won’t get themselves into crime.” Jess1 aims to get the kids involved inmusic and boxing, which can hopefully change their lives and keep them from getting into trouble.
One might wonder about the source of the artist’s inspiration. For rapper, Loue Marc, his inspiration and achievements reflect one another, and he says his music is like the manifestation of his ideas, “All my music’s manifestations of ideas, thoughts, creativity.”
Some of these artists also dabble in different genres, and NPA not only performs multiple forms of music but is also an entrepreneur with her own line of customised jewellery.
Apart from being a soul-stirring singer, N.E.V.E. aka Niamh, founder of Hear Me Now Management and the organisers of AMPLIFY, manages artists too. When asked about her inspiration and experience, Niamh shared “I think it was more that I got a taste of music management; I’ve been working on my own work behind the scenes as well; but I love the business and the industry. It’s so complex and so hard to get a grasp of, which is why I want to use my knowledge to help others break through the barriers in this industry. It keeps me on my toes. I’ve been doing business for over two years now. It’s been interesting, to say the least, there is always still so much to learn and I look forward to doing so and passing that knowledge on. As for my music, it had been pushed to the side for a while now but watch this space!”
Artists often have a few musical curveballs up their sleeves. For instance, Loue Marc doesn’t listen to a lot of rap, “I don’t really listen to rap music a lot, which is weird because I rap.” Also, Gio, who partners with fellow rapper Linkz, didn’t really listen to music growing up “I think I discovered music when I was 16 or I didn’t realise that people listen to music. I just put on a pair of headphones and I was like, ‘Whoa, this is really good’. But then somehow a flame lit up in my body about creativity and I started making music.”
One often does not realise how powerful a tool music is for bringing about changes in the world.
N.E.V.E. says, “ I think the best way to combine communities is through music. So the focus we’ve had on today’s event is actually trying to change stereotypes not only of the genres of rap music but also of the black community within these music genres. Sadly, there are a lot of negative stereotypes that are still found in today’s society and the music industry. A huge element of the events we put on are us making a stand in Derby saying that the negative stereotypes that people – most importantly venue owners and public protection sectors – have about these genres of music, especially with rap, grime, and drill are wrong; in actuality the people who come are simply here to enjoy the crafts and their creativity rather than cause trouble, which is what people think they have been doing.” N.E.V.E also aims to challenge negative stereotypes through music “So we’ve got a lot of old mindsets in this city and we are trying to refresh their minds, combine communities, and break the stereotypes. This event was partially funded by Derby City Council’s Small Arts Grants, their involvement is already a step in the right direction.”
The bonds within the music community are incredibly strong, more so when you partner with another artist. Linkz, who partners with fellow rapper Gio, says, “We are just a crazy duo. He fumbles and I go ahead. If I fumble, he’s got me, and that’s how it works. We are a duo at the end of the day and that’s what we do.“
The artists at Amplify rocked out energetic performances, leaving the audience enthralled.
Talking about his favourite performance, Huncho, a student at the University of Derby volunteering on the night, says, “ I think my favourite performances have to be Jess1 and T Dot and the DJ (DJ Eza). I keep repeating the DJ because she really did a great job.”
This truly did feel like an event for the community by the community.
Talking about the importance given to AMPLIFY’s technical quality, Niamh Toner explains, “AMPLIFY is a community event run professionally. Often, we see community events running with lack of attention to giving the artists – as well as the audience – an experience to remember. It was important to ensure that the artists felt valued and experienced high-quality audio and lighting and an opportunity to develop their crafts.”
Hear Me Now Management aims to not only give a stage to upcoming artists but also gave an opportunity to a lot of budding talent, helping them build up their portfolios and CVs. N.EV.E. says, “For some, this was the first time they had performed on a stage of this size; for the DJ, it was the first time she had DJ’d at a venue with a sound technician on-site in Derby (which is usually an experience found outside of the city); and of course for some of those behind the scenes managing the event, it was a chance for them to gain work experience to pad out their CV. We also always allow photographers to come in and snap the event, enabling them to expand their portfolio, as well as providing the artists with more content. We hired local videographers who have recorded snippets of each event that we can share with each artist to potentially use it as material too.”
N.E.V.E explains the choice of The Hairy Dog as an ideal venue for the event, “ The point is, we
believe community events should be as beneficial as possible for the community and not the tick box exercise we often see. This is why larger venues like The Hairy Dog play crucial roles in providing these aspects and further opportunities.“
The event certainly attracted attention from the local media. Alfie from Musikbox says,
“Absolutely brilliant night filled with brilliant upcoming artists. It is amazing to see such a diverse amount of genres, from rap to R&B and many more! Musikbox attended the ‘Amplify’ event to do some short interviews with the musicians and discover their aspirations and why they love creating music.”
With its mind-blowing performances by local artists and a key focus on community, the work Hear Me Now is doing very much captures the essence of what August Rush said:
“The music is all around us, all you have to
do is listen”.August Rus