The beat goes on
Students at a Yorkshire university are making the music industry dance to their tune – with their own record label
BUDDING musicians in Sheffield are proving they've got the beat, and not just gigging on stage – they've launched their own record label.
Octagon Records publishes new music from student artists, who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to have their music heard. The Sheffield University venture is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK; established by students themselves.
“Having a student run label within the relatively risk-free university environment has allowed me, and many other students, to explore opportunities within the music industry, and discover where we could see ourselves working,” said Mia Sedgwick, an aspiring music marketing manager, and a member of the label's student committee.
“Octagon Records gives students the freedom to explore their own passions and interests, the flexibility to do it alongside their degree, and the support and knowledge from industry professionals to allow them to flourish.
“Students learn many valuable transferable skills, such as leadership, teamwork, communication, perseverance and innovation. In today's competitive music industry, projects which provide experience like this are incredibly valuable when it comes to employability.
“And to be able to do it alongside a degree just adds even more value to the experience. To me joining was a no-brainer and it has been an incredibly positive and informative experience.”
The record label was founded in September last year, and by all accounts it's been making all the right sounds. In less than 12 months, it had already forged several partnerships with leading music organisations, including Hudson Records, Tramlines festival, and HMV.
As Sedgwick alluded, the idea behind the initiative is to help aspiring student musicians break into the music industry.
Musical influence
Sophie Steele (pictured below) is a British/French, young up and coming artist. She has been singing since she could speak and playing guitar since the age of 10; her influences range from folk to jazz, rock and pop.
“Working with Octagon Records gave me a wonderful first taste of what it will be like going into the music industry and for that I am very grateful,” she said.
“They were attentive, willing to listen to my concerns and be there to help and be efficient all while trying to complete a degree of their own. I am very much looking forward to continuing our musical adventure with new recordings and am sure to experience the same reliability and fun energy.”
Tapping into Sheffield’s rich musical heritage, which has provided some of the biggest names in world music, the label is working to provide mentoring opportunities, and help student musicians develop hands-on skills in music promotion, distribution, and event management.
Generous donations from the university's alumni have allowed the label to buy high tech equipment for making music videos, live streaming, promotional campaigns and materials for online platforms.
Octagon Records is supported by Sheffield’s music department, but the label is open to all aspiring student musicians at the university, regardless of their degree, in what is believed to be a UK first.
The label also receives support from Hudson Records, a professional music label releasing music worldwide with artists such as Seckou Keita and Bellowhead. This provides invaluable experience to the students who get to connect with industry professionals.
Since its launch, Octagon Records has provided a series of masterclasses with industry experts, which has given an insight into artist management in the live and recorded music scene.
Production trips have helped students experience the making of music videos and access to Bellowhead’s reunion tour at Sheffield City Hall enabled students to meet artists, crew and sound engineers to gain an understanding of how a tour is managed.
Inspired support
The label also hosts regular open-mic nights to help further develop new artists in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Rochdale-born Leo Howard-Cofield has been playing the guitar since primary school. Now making music from his flat in Sheffield, he is being supported by Octagon Records, and he has gone from playing open mic nights in the university’s pub to performing at the city’s Tramlines Fringe festival – the festival overall attracts around 40,000 people every summer.
“I think Octagon Records is super important because, as a student, it’s already hard enough to make yourself heard, let alone as an artist,” he said.
“I think the leg up they provide into the world of music, whether that be by helping to record, release, or perform – all while being students themselves – is vital to keeping young musicians creating, and keeping them inspired.”
MC