NTS: a new community radio station based in Dalston, launched in April this year. The community in this instance is the bubbling sub-culture of electronic music influenced by a staple of soul, funk and jazz amongst others.
Their recent short gives you a glimpse into the beginnings of the station, their developing culture and a five-a-side football team. Que Umbro’s involvement and the second reason for my musings.
Umbro having taken tips from Adidas and Puma, have been quietly repositioning the traditional football gear company as a lifestyle brand, producing content featuring musicians Chase & Status, Liam Gallagher and Murkage and other sports stars.
En route to embedding themselves in pop culture, the Umbro Industries campaign focuses on supporting fledgling creative entrepeneurs in Manchester with £10k bursaries.
The trend of courting creative communities looks like one that will last for a while for culture savvy brands, ensuring buy in from taste makers and all that goes with it. Thus giving creatives alternative forms of investment from financial to profile raising.
A wonderfully retro retrospective twist on a sci-fi favourite by Olly Moss, who has the uncanny ability knack of bringing a touch of ‘film noir’ to film classics ranging from Blues Brothers, Rocky and Robocop.
These posters have a real art house feel to them, which when considering the production process involved in making Star Wars in particular, is pretty apt. In the Return of the Jedi poster, I can almost smell the humid air of the Dagobah planet. I go too far? OK I’ll stop now.
After having had the privilege of being featured as part of this series, I missed the opening night of Paul Cummings‘ latest exhibition at the Exposure Gallery in London. I – like you – have 13 days to atone for my sins.
Sincerity and candidness were the order of the day here, with Pauly capturing the subjects as he knows them. Paul used technology (in this case an iPhone) as his starting point, before bringing the portraiture back to the oldest of artistic mediums: charcoal. He made my hair look better than it does normally so I have to thank him for that.
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The exhibition is FREE, and runs until Friday 30th September 2011. The gallery is open from Monday to Friday, 10.00 – 18.00, and the address is 22-23 Little Portand Street, London W1W 8BU.
It’s been no secret that the music industry has been put through it’s paces over recent years, with the internet forcing the industry re-evalute it’s business model and marketing strategies.
One thing that small independent labels have as an advantage over the large corporations is the ‘niche’. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, independents use selective tastes and underground relevance to be perceptive as well as receptive to changes in audiences tastes. One such movement that looks like it could be on to something is the Independent Label Market.
Last May saw the launch of the initiative on Berwick Street where independent label bosses from labels such as XL, Rough Trade and Mute set up stall and quite simply flogged their gear, which included back catalogues and limited editions and the odd pop star like Jarvis Cocker making an appearance.
In marketing speak, we would call this experiential; bringing the brand to the audience. On October 8th ILM go Stateside, setting up shop at Brooklyn Flea with MTV Hive and The Daily Swarm as partners. As a concept it creates a sense of exclusivity that indulges the senses of avid music fans while at the same time continuing a sense of community. Niche in this instance equals community building, which any brand worth their stock value are trying to invest in.
While brainstorming ideas for a new marketing campaign we will be running, I came across these fruit and veg skulls by Dimitri Tsykalov. One of those ‘why didn’t I think of that!’ moments.
Terry Obiora magically captures a day of BMXing nostalgia in Milton Keynes. These days I’m scared by a pot hole in the road. These lot on the other hand aren’t scared by anything. Riders ready, pedals ready, GO!
You may be familiar with Natty’s 2008 pop hits Bedroom Eyes, July and Badman, however you might not know of Natty the activist. Teaming up with friends and some like minded folk Vibes & Pressure was born – an event that mixes music, art and activism.
Tonight at Passing Clouds, Vibes & Pressure present Steppin Raiser – a chance to debate the recent UK Riots with young people, community leaders and musicians. As well as food for thought there will also some for the belly, plus live music.
For more information please visit the FB page here.
