Copyright: Carrie Davenport/Lemonade Shoelace
At this point, the ‘overnight rags to riches’ musician trope has been well and truly exhausted.
So many of Northern Ireland’s greatest success stories (with the exception perhaps, of the fully formed, teenage pop-machine Ash) are perceived as overnight sensations. Rocketing out of their childhood bedrooms and into the mainstream, with a song like ‘Run’ or ‘Something Good Can Work’ ready to win over any crowd.
Most people don’t see Snow Patrol’s years in the back of a van, or their two indie albums pre-Final Straw takeoff. Nor do they know that Two Door Cinema Club started life as first round drop-outs of the ATL Rock School television program, with the questionable name ‘Life Without Rory’ (sorry for bringing that up lads...).
Although these rough times are often brushed under the carpet for most acts once they find success, they are an inevitable and often difficult part of the journey. Music charity Help Musicians are determined to change that.
For 15 brand new emerging artists in Northern Ireland today, the opportunity to bypass these tough years is being presented by Help Musicians ‘Fanbase Builder Programme’. Each act chosen for the scheme will be given practical advice on how to create a buzz around their music, manage their career like a business and ultimately grow their fanbase as effectively as they possibly can.
Just what Gary Lightbody and co would have done had they been on this program, is anyone’s guess. However, with the chance to incubate their musical career alongside professionals with their best interests at heart, the next generation of Northern Irish pop-stars will hopefully be breaking through earlier than ever before.
The chosen artists are:
May Rosa, Clodagh May, Balcony Sunrise, Sugarwolf, Ethan Hollan, Ferna, HY:LY, Moon Landing, Hi/Lo & the Tribes, Kid Apollo, Lemonade Shoelace, Sarah Toner, Sasha Samara, Search Party, Glass Wings & definitely not Ash.
