Name:

Charlie Morrison

Band / Job Role within Brighter Sound (GMMAZ):

Bands (a long time ago): Space Monkeys, RSL

Job at Brighter Sound – Head of Operations and Finance

What projects are you currently working on (or recently worked on) with Brighter Sound (GMMAZ)?

I’m involved in most of the company’s projects… As I deal with finance, company management and marketing, I’ve normally had something to do with everything, in some way somewhere along the line…

What instruments do you play?

Drums, Piano, Bass.

How old were you when you started to play an instrument and be a musician?

I played piano as a kid and hated it. It wasn’t til I was 12 that I got a drum kit and that was it. Then I taught myself piano as a teenager and got into that a lot more.

Why did you first get into music?

There was always music on in the family car – Talking Heads, Beach Boys, Eurythmics, and my dad is a musician, so he used to play me Kraftwerk and I’d watch his bands rehearse. If I was to be totally honest though, the first time anything went “click!” was the guitar riff on Money for Nothing by Dire Straights. I think I was 10.

What bands/artists have influenced your own personal style?

I know it’s cheesy, but everything – I’ve been through so many phases, from metal, to experimental hip hop, indie, rock, reggae, film soundtracks (I used to be obsessed!), Cuban and everything elso pretty much. Currently, The Drums, Arcade Fire, Stooges and Eagles of Death Metal.

What advice would you give to any young people learning to play and make music? 

Finding like-minded people is amazing – there’s nothing better than forming a band with your mates. Start writing your own material as soon as possible, be brave with ideas, don’t be lazy, and play gigs.

What advice would you give to any young people wanting to make a living from music?

It’s very difficult. When I was 18 my band was signed. We had an album out, singles, US and European tours and videos on MTV in the states and Japan. I was on £150 per week throughout, and when we split up, I was 21 and left with nothing.

If it’s recording / releasing / touring music that is your plan, being a named writer is important.

And “getting signed” in whatever sense isn’t the only way to earn as a musician. Session work, teaching, music for theatre / film, even setting up your own label can bring in cash. As with anything though, it’s about hard work, being very good, and making contacts. Generally, have your wits about you, know where the money is coming from but don’t do it just for that reason. Be unique. The love of the music you’re making is key.

What has been the highlight of your music career so far?

Playing the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe, headlining the Azzurro Festival in Italy to 20,000 people, and winning track of the year on Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Show.

What inspires you to make music?

Whether you’re on stage, in the studio, the rehearsal room, or in your bedroom, there’s no sensation like nailing that rhythm, or harmony, or sound, or song that just makes you go… “!!!”

Name:

Laurence Boot

Band / Job Role within Brighter Sound (GMMAZ):

Trainee

What projects are you currently working on (or recently worked on) with Brighter Sound (GMMAZ)?

Brass Roots

What instruments do you play?

Guitar, Bass, Mandolin, Percussion, Didgeridoo…

How old were you when you started to play an instrument and be a musician?

14

Why did you first get into music?

I heard a Jimi Hendrix cassette tape when I was on holiday and thought it was amazing.  My older brother already played guitar, so he got me started.

What bands/artists have influenced your own personal style?

My taste has always been very eclectic, and I take influence from all sorts, even if it’s not directly reflected in what I play. If I had to name some of the more influential artists to me, it would be people like Tortoise, Juan Martín, Tom Waits, Radiohead, Miles Davis, Aphex Twin, Shakti, Talking Heads…    

What advice would you give to any young people learning to play and make music? 

Keep an open mind, and don’t be afraid to experiment. 

What advice would you give to any young people wanting to make a living from music?

Get really good at your instrument(s);  be confident in what you do; make good use of opportunities to network; it will take time, so stick at it.

What has been the highlight of your music career so far?

It’s difficult to pinpoint one particular moment, especially as the best bits often happen when nobody is there to hear them.  I would say though, that generally over the last year I’ve really enjoyed working with so many different artists.  Playing such a wide variety of styles has been really fun. 

What inspires you to make music?

The feeling you get when you play something that just sounds great (and it’s even better when other people think it’s great too).

Laurence is currently working on our ‘Brass Roots’ & ‘Get Up Stand Up’ projects. Helping to create, inspire and make original music with young people aged 11 - 15 on from the Greater Manchester area.

Brad - 16

MC, Rapper, Beat Boxer.

When I first started GMMAZ:
When I first started GMMAZ in 2008 I had been invited to a summer school in Stockport. My teacher had told me about this event because she knew I was interested in music and she had told me that GMMAZ is a great way to use your talent and your ability and I was up for anything so I went. When I arrived at the summer school project in Stockport I thought it was going to be another rubbish crappy thing where you go and you get really bored very quick. When everyone arrived at the project GMMAZ and their employees (the artists) sat us down and explained how the next three days was going to work and by this time I was really getting excited about the idea of making music and performing it at the end of the project. When we got started GMMAZ made all of the youths feel right at home because they were nice they understood and best of all they listened to what we (meaning the youths) wanted and personally that made me feel good because normally at the age I was at then no one ever listened to me and it was all about adults and what they want to do so in a away being listened to and taken seriously helped my confidence to come forth and share my ideas with the group.

What I have achieved and accomplished at GMMAZ
Things that I have accomplished at GMMAZ are gaining confidence learning to do things that you see on TV, meeting new friends, inspiration and ability to take control and be a leader also I have achieved to find my inner self I have found out who I am which is a born musician and a person who will never let go of his dream and for me to say that is easy seem I have had the help of GMMAZ. I have also got my Bronze and Silver qualification in the Arts Award and hopefully now in 2011 working towards my Gold there are so many much more things that I have gained and accomplished from GMMAZ.

What am I doing now) 2011)
I am now in training with GMMAZ and helping out with the sessions. I am also building up my career slowly but surely in the music industry, I am being more open to all kinds of projects that are getting offered.  By far GMMAZ is the best music project you’d ever want to attend.

That’s my small profile about GMMAZ and my time thanks for reading.

Natasha - 17

Singer, songwriter, keyboards

I have been working with GMMAZ for just over two years starting with a project I did through school.

I have learnt many things with GMMAZ over the course of these two years. I hadn’t performed much before so it was with GMMAZ that I learnt the fundamentals. My confidence has grown to the point where I am confident creating music and performing live. I’ve been given the opportunity to try things that I wouldn’t have normally tried, like beatboxing and percussion.

Even though I haven’t ever really wanted music to become a job (I enjoy it as a hobby) I have found that I really enjoy composing, so now I am considering, in the future, becoming a professional songwriter.

I have two pieces of advice for people who want to get involved with music. First, it is important to keep an open mind with music. It is vital to explore all styles of music because there are many things that a person can discover they actually like if they listen to it with an open mind. Second, it is important to pay attention to everything in life because you can be inspired by absolutely anything, and often inspiration comes in the strangest forms.