Twice-Mercury Prize nominated, BRIT award winning singer-songwriter Beth Orton is to mentor a specially-selected group of 14 up-and-coming female musicians, composers and vocalists from all over the UK.
It’s a timely event, designed to instigate public conversation on women in the music industry. It follows a series of high-profile artists voicing their concern that women continue to face inequality, and the concern that PRS for Music membership (who are writers and music creators) currently only comprises 14% women.
The event, produced by Brighter Sound and hosted at Manchester’s Band On The Wall, will bring together some of the UK’s most exciting young female talent to collaborate with one of the country’s most respected songwriters.
Beth said: “I am thrilled to be asked to support and take part in this exciting and important project. Getting the chance to mentor — or simply the opportunity to stand as witness to — the diverse, and possibly unheard, talents of artists from all across the UK fills me with curiosity and some apprehension!
“If I’m lucky I will get to share some of what has been passed along to me over the years. I am equally prepared to be humbled beyond recognition and cannot wait to be so!”
After noticing that the vast majority of previous applicants were male, Brighter Sound created this residency especially for female artists in order to spark discussion around women in the music industry and to support emerging female professionals.
Beth is perfect for this collaborative mentoring role, having worked with a host of notable musicians including William Orbit, The Chemical Brothers, Terry Callier, Dr. Robert and Ben Harper.
Her residency is an intensive five-day project which will produce new work and culminate in a unique showcase event at Band on the Wall on Friday 20th February.
Brighter Sound has produced four previous artistic residencies with highly-acclaimed folk group The Unthanks, Grammy award-winners Snarky Puppy, DMC DJ of the Year award-winner, DJ Yoda and Mercury Award nominees Everything Everything.
www.brightersound.com
bandonthewall.org/education/wall-of-sounds