Turn First Artists

What's your role at Turn First? CEO.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Colourful.
How did you get into the music industry? By good luck.
What are your proudest career moments to date? My long standing relationship with the team at Turn First and being involved in the successful launch of Sugababes, Noisettes, Jessie J, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding and Conor Maynard.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Never being bored.
What was the first record you ever bought? Top of the Pops compilation album.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Marvin Gaye, Prince, Hendrix, Beatles.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Singing with my Husband and watching Come Dine With Me.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Be patient.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Dan Croll.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Exciting.

What's your role at Turn First? Commercial Director.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Non-stop.
How did you get into the music industry? Managing my sister, the artist ‘JEM’.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Jem’s first radio play’s and platinum album. Gold album’s V V Brown and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly. Rita Ora’s recent 3 x No.1 singles & No.1 Album. Big live moments.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Diversity and keeping in touch with young people.
What was the first record you ever bought? Karma Chameleon – Culture Club.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Muse, Kings of Leon, Nitin Sawhney, Simon & Garfunkel.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Craig David, Jo Jo, anything produced by Stargate.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Do as much as you can to create a noise by yourself, don’t rely on management, labels, agents! Be persistent.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? L Marshall.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... READY.

What's your role at Turn First? Marketing Director.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Virgin Altantic + Blackberry.
How did you get into the music industry? By being persistent.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Helping sell over 3 million albums.
What's the greatest thing about your job? The team and the artists.
What was the first record you ever bought? The first one I remember was Sesame Street.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Talib Kweli, Nas, Eminem, Whitney Houston, Nirvana and Guns ‘n' Roses.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Red Bull?
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Keep going and keep your team inspired.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Cimorelli's, Dan Croll, Iggy Azalea.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Committed.

What's your role at Turn First? Director of A&R and Ellie Goulding's manager.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Every day brings something new.
How did you get into the music industry? Was an indie kid at gigs every night of the week, started to see the same faces around and just built up contacts that way until Sarah brought me in as a scout.
What are your proudest career moments to date? I'm lucky enough to A&R Ellie's records so I think having a number 1 record is my proudest to date.
What's the greatest thing about your job? I absolutely love travelling. I get to travel a lot and work with my absolute favourite artists. Doesn't feel like a job!
What was the first record you ever bought? Ace of Base on cassette.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Stevie Wonder probably, maybe Bon Iver?
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? I certainly love a lot of pop records but I don't believe in feeling guilty for liking something. I'm very open and proud when I like a record no matter how cheesy.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? It is going to be far more work than you realise. Also never moan about doing promo, you're doing it for yourself, not as a favour to anyone else.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Sons & Lovers.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Family.

What's your role at Turn First? Creative Director - I oversee branding / visuals / stills / artwork / videos and also marketing plots of various of our magnificent artists.  .
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Mental.
How did you get into the music industry? Age 13 I started with the Australian singer Kate Ceberano - through her brother that taught me karate....and have lived and breathed it since then. It is an addiction.
What are your proudest career moments to date? This year, being part of the teams that successfully launched Conor Maynard and Rita Ora. To see Ellie Goulding's album at the top of the charts in both the UK and US and seeing her beautiful album cover on billboards. To get new writers cuts, the get new artists signed, to have our records in Rough Trade, to top hype machine, to sell millions of albums - and to hear our songs on the radio - all these things make me proud.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Standing at a rammed gig watching people singing along to one of our artists and the people, no matter how stressful or mental it gets, we still all manage to laugh- a lot.
What was the first record you ever bought? Madonna Immaculate Collection.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Blondie / Queen / Gwen Stefani / Katy Perry and Billy Joel. (pls note he is not a guilty pleasure)
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Spice Girls - they are the reason I live in Britain. My friend won a trip to London to see them 14 years ago which is why I decided to move here. Diet coke and champagne- these pleasures are not guilty.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Do. Do. Do.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Aluna George / Bastille / Dan Croll / Hiam
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Dedicated.

What's your role at Turn First? Office assistant.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Crazy-good.
How did you get into the music industry? Hard work, passion & perseverance.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Getting a band signed to Turn First.
What's the greatest thing about your job? The talented and inspiring team I get to learn from.
What was the first record you ever bought? Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Sade, Donny Hathaway, Amy Winehouse, Pete Rock, Jay-Z, The Rolling Stones.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? The Valleys, Geordie Shore and a little bit of Taylor Swift…
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Keep on truckin'.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Coffee & Cakes For Funerals.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Stupendously-stupendous!

What's your role at Turn First? Producer/Writer Manager as well as A&R consultant.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Absolutely hectic, & unpredictable.
How did you get into the music industry? Managed Parker & James whilst I had a full time job. Met Chloe Roberts at a music seminar, who then introduced me to Sarah Stennett. Sarah took a gamble on me after I had a couple of good meetings with her.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Having hits with Parker & James including Do it like a dude, Who's Laughing Now (both Jessie J)  Oopsy Daisy (Chipmunk), Vegas Girl (Conor Maynard) & Wonderful (Angel). Signing the publishing deal with P&J as well as Developing Ms D from a girl with a great voice to a prolific writer. Just being in the industry that I pretty much always wanted to be involved in is an achievement in itself.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Working with great talent and also working alongside my amazing but crazy colleagues. We always manage to have a laugh even through the stress.
What was the first record you ever bought? Bobby Brown's 'Don't be cruel' album on CD.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? I don't really have a favourite artist but  will probably have to say Michael Jackson or Prince.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? 80's & 90's pop music.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Make sure you become savvy on the business side of things because you might end up being managers this game is difficult to crack
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Angel.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Amazing!

What's your role at Turn First? Artist Manager.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Balancing a lot of spinning plates on a lot of sticks...
How did you get into the music industry? I called and emailed EVERYONE in the industry (from the cleaners to the CEOs!), every day for 6 months… and sent around a weekly A&R blog to all the A&R guys at every label, in hope that someone would return my call or email. I had a lot of coffee’s and a lot of chats and a lot of ‘sorry we’ve got no vacancies’… then one day I met Sarah (our CEO) for a coffee and the rest is history…
What are your proudest career moments to date? I’m proud of all i have done up to this point, at which i find myself working for a company like Turnfirst with the excellent roster we are building. There’s still so much more to do…!!
What's the greatest thing about your job? it doesn’t feel like a job to me.
What was the first record you ever bought? “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Deep Blue Something.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? The Rat Pack, Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Eva Cassidy, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Nina Simone, Prince, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel, U2…
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Westlife.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? You’ve got to REALLY want it. It can be a long, hard process developing your talent to the level it needs to be. Be patient and use your own initiative to ‘get yourself out there’. All results in this business are achieved through hours, weeks, years of very hard work. You need to be 100% dedicated to your music career, if you really want it you’ll get there.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Me… if I don’t get myself back to the gym!! : )
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Superfragilisticexpialidocious.

What's your role at Turn First? Label Manager (Killing Moon/Just Because).
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Wake up, coffee, emails, coffee, phone calls, coffee, more emails, coffee, blog about new music, coffee, chicken, sleep (a bit).
How did you get into the music industry? I was in a band at University, and I became music editor for my uni magazine about 5-ish years ago. Through that I landed an internship at one of my favourite indie labels called Full Time Hobby and ended up working on their associated labels Hassle and Vagrant as chief whipping boy and head of the tea-making department. That led me to working at Mercury Records for a bit as an A&R consultant, then becoming A&R at Almost Gold Recordings. I started Killing Moon in 2011 and have just been doing that ever since. Its exhausting and awesome.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Knowing just how much hard graft has gone into a record - from signing the band and spending a good while developing them and trying to make the world at large realise how brilliant they are, to finally putting the recordout on release-day - and having all that culminate into a packed-out single launch is quite frankly as close as I'll get to heaven on Earth.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Being able to actually do something with the bands that I'm a massive fan of. I love discovering new acts all the time and really enjoy being the one to help get them going.
What was the first record you ever bought? I'm so glad you asked. First album was Very Best Of by Pet Shop Boys. First single was No One Can Stop Us Now by Chelsea FC as they had a very big FA Cup final with Manchester United at the time and I needed to represent. My parents bought me those records. The first record I bought with my own money was Look What I Almost Stepped In by a punk rock band called The Vandals.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Alkaline Trio. I have a tattoo of their heart'n'skull insignia on my booby. And of course every band on the Killing Moon label roster is a personal favourite of mine, otherwise I wouldn't have released them.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson. If you say you don't like that song, you are lying. Stop lying. I have also been known to do brilliant karaoke versions of  it.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Be honest, and be realistic about what your aspirations are. Always remember the reasons you wanted to get into music in the first place.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Bluebell, Draper, The Family Rain, SR SLY, Duologue, Night Engine, Sisterland, MMX, Vela. Yes I am completely biased, so really you should consider this a list of acts I want to be big.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Stonking.

What's your role at Turn First? I am Turn First's A&R front-liner, going into battle to keep the roster fresh and juicy. I assist with management and A&R of artists already on the roster. Finally, I run Killing Moon's A&R department.Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Researching, listening to and meeting developing artists...and gigs, lots and lots of gigs.
How did you get into the music industry? A healthy mixture of musical obsession and meeting the right people.
What are your proudest career moments to date? I'm proud of my work everyday, that's the point right? Honestly though, I'm proud to work with some of the most talented and experienced music professionals in the world and I'm proud to be confident in my opinion through sincerity, level-headedness and gut feeling.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Free gig tickets! No, meeting great people. No, listening to great music all day. No, everyday being different and challenging. Actually, everything.
What was the first record you ever bought? My mum bought me Cheap Trick - Live at Budokan on my request.First single: Richard Blackwood - 1, 2, 3, 4 Get With The Wicked.First self-bought album: TLC - CrazySexyCool (and I still listen to it about 6 times a week.)
Who are your favourite artists of all time? I'm a complete Queens of the Stone Age super-fan. Portishead, Crystal Castles, A$AP Rocky, Bibio, J Dilla, Mos Def, Nas, Average White Band, The Meters, Youth Lagoon, Jeff Buckley, TLC, Destiny's Child. I still maintain that Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory is the greatest album ever made, no matter what Oliver Newman says.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Essentially the entire Murder, Inc. roster, as well as PenKnifeLoveLife, Lil Mo, Lil B, Gucci Mane, and I wake up every morning to Dusty Springfield's 'The Look Of Love' and still love it to pieces. There's something about that slow saxophone solo that makes my heart smile!
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Find a niche. There is so much music out there that it keeps me up at night, literally. Be honest. The best music comes from an artist projecting who they are and what they care about.TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS! Your friends and family will give you honest feedback and help you to figure out who you are as an artist.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Iggy Azalea, Draper, Haim, Duologue, Only Real, Ryan Hemsworth, Roosevelt, Dan Croll, Rhye, Polica. Also, I'm predicting that Ja Rule, Max B and Big Lurch will escape from jail just long enough to create the greatest album of all time.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Exponential.

What's your role at Turn First? Managing Conor Maynard & Eagle Eye.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Extremely Stressful.
How did you get into the music industry? Working At Record Shop (Black Market Records).
What are your proudest career moments to date? Seeing Conor get No.1 Album.
What's the greatest thing about your job? I get to do what i love.
What was the first record you ever bought? I didnt, got my records from the shop i worked in.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Stevie Wonder / Prince / Marvin Gaye / Hall & Oates.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Chocolate & sex oh and food.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Work Hard and believe in yourself.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? All Turn First Artists/ Lianne La Havas.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... AMAZING!!!!!!

What's your role at Turn First? Management Assistant.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Biblical.
How did you get into the music industry? By turning up at the door of a management company and refusing to leave until they gave me a job. I waited in the car park for 3 hours for the MD.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Getting Conor out of bed for 6am once (not in a weird way, we stayed in separate beds!)
What's the greatest thing about your job? Jono has taught me how to make salads
What was the first record you ever bought? Peter Andre – Mysterious Girl. Please don’t judge me. I’ve bought loads of Katie Price albums since then.
What are your favourite artists of all time? Michael Jackson, The Beatles, Eminem, Ed Sheeran, My Blobby (such a good lyricist).
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Girls Aloud and Nancy Dell’Olio.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Don’t be different for the sake of it, it’s annoying. But find new ways to get your music in front of people and write great hooks!
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? That woman who eats 10 pie & chips a day. That’s mental! … and Naughty Boy.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Salacious [or bonkers].

What's your role at Turn First? Artist Manager.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Overseeing the day to day promotional activities for Ellie Goulding and Conor Maynard
How did you get into the music industry? I literally fell straight out of school and into my first job. I sent my C.V. to all the record companies and ended up working for Virgin Records.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Working with Steps on their record breaking Arena Tours back in 2001, Mutya singing on stage with George Michael, meeting Prince William and just working with Ellie Goulding who is the nicest girl on the planet.
What's the greatest thing about your job? No two days are the same!
What was the first record you ever bought? Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up. shhhhhhh.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Madonna & Kylie Minogue.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Reality TV and Chocolate.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Don’t try and take the fast route auditioning for shows like X Factor and The Voice.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? No idea.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Loud!

What's your role at Turn First? Artist manager and A&R consultant.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Literally all over the place - no two days the same!
How did you get into the music industry? Blagged some summer work experience in A&R dept of a record label whilst at uni then got a job as a runner once i'd graduated.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Not really my style - the best is yet to come.
What's the greatest thing about your job? The people i get to work with.
What was the first record you ever bought? Nu Shooz - i can't wait.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Prince. Radiohead. Bruce Springsteen. Daft Punk.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Billy Joel.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Just do it - don't be a wannabe.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Jai Paul, Raleigh Kid, Gabrielle Aplin, Disclosure, Peace.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Dynamic.

What's your role at Turn First? PA.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. A whirlwind with occasional cups of tea.
How did you get into the music industry? I interned for Turn First Artists.
What are your proudest career moments to date? Every day is a proud moment!
What's the greatest thing about your job? Working with Team Turn First.
What was the first record you ever bought? Britney Spears – Baby One More Time.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Muse, Foo Fighters, Less Than Jake, Eagles of Death Metal.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Wispa Gold’s and the X Factor.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Don’t be afraid of hard work.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Bluebell.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Awesome.

What's your role at Turn First? Management Assistant.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Non-stop.
How did you get into the music industry? Through my sister- kept asking me questions!
What are your proudest career moments to date? Getting my first disc! Rita getting 3 number one singles, and number one album! Going to Cuba with Liam Bailey.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Working with amazing people, learning something new every day.
What was the first record you ever bought? Spice girls album.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Sade, Beyonce, Prince.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Gossiping! Moaning!
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Be persistent, keep meeting new people keep an open mind and strong heart!
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Angel Haze.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... Fun.

What's your role at Turn First? Artist Management Assistant & Office Manager.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Honestly no day is ever the same but i spend a lot of the day rushing around and laughing.
How did you get into the music industry? I studied music performance and then a degree in Music and Media Management. I interned lots whilst at Uni and it eventually turned in to my grown up job!
What are your proudest career moments to date? Honestly, getting a job at Turn First. My first career choice job out of Uni and in this day and age i realise i'm really lucky to be an employed graduate doing something i love!
What's the greatest thing about your job? Spending all day listening to music and being in an environment where you can be creative in so many ways... and Champagne fridays : )
What was the first record you ever bought? Backstreets Back - Backstreet Boys...
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Kylie Minogue and Muse.
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? I eat way too many burritos. Not sorry.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Send in good quality demos and learn your craft well.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Dan Croll, CHVRCHES, Everything Everything... and our Turn First Artists are going to take over the world.
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... THEBESTPLACEINTHEWORLDEVER.

What's your role at Turn First? Artist Manager. I also help set up our releases for Turn First Records.
Describe your day-to-day in one sentence. Anything could happen!
How did you get into the music industry? A happy accident. But being a music geek and extremely enthusiastic definitely helped!
What are your proudest career moments to date? Seeing Friends Electric play to a packed dancing tent at the Isle of Wight Festival, and first trip to Maida Vale to record a session for Radio 1.
What's the greatest thing about your job? Every time an artist you work with gets played on national radio. SERIOUSLY AMAZING
What was the first record you ever bought? Michael Jackson’s “Bad” on 12”, which I misguidedly sold at a bootsale when I was about 11. I also bought Salt n Pepper’s “Push it” on cassette around the same time, and, looking back, probably for the best I was too young to decipher what they were on about.
Who are your favourite artists of all time? Blur, Talking Heads, Daft Punk, Super Furry Animals, Girls Aloud, Prince and R Kelly..
Everyone's got guilty pleasures, what are yours? Ke$ha. Spreadsheets. Cheese.
What advice would you give to wannabe stars? Be nice, be patient… and you’ve never EVER got enough songs.
Who do you think is going to be big in 2013? Dan Croll!
Sum up Turn First in ONE word... EPIC.