On Tuesday Rami and I performed as part of the national festival of humanities launch, Being Human, at Senate House in London. It was a packed room of most of the universities in the UK, showcasing some of their work. We had everything from archeology, to social science, to weaving and menstruation! I was talking about my research into Arabic music, and how it can integrate with Western Pop for the University of Kent. I think I sounded like I knew what I was talking about...

On the 24th November Rami and I will be running a workshop at the Huguenot Museum in Rochester on using Arabic rhythms and discussing how music migrates which is free.

Thanks you to Being Human and the University of London for having us!

Pleased to announce that I’ll be speaking on the Musician Union Panel: The Musicians’ Union Takeover: Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down at BBC Introducing Live this year!

The panel will be chaired by MU Campaigns & Social Media Official Maddy Radcliff, and will take place at 12:15 pm on Saturday 10 November in the Help Musicians UK space in the North Vaults, where you can also find wellbeing workshops and a relaxation area.

We’ll be discussing issues from the #MeToo movement and the MU’s work to combat sexual harassment in the music industry, to mental health, fair pay, protecting venues, and making sure musicians can work in the EU post-Brexit – the panel will explore the big issues and how the MU can help rising artists.

You can also come and find me at the Musicians Union stand on Saturday. It’ll be a great chance to chat to you all about running for the upcoming Musicians Union Executive Committee! If you’re Musician Union members and you haven’t already, don’t forget to VOTE!

https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/Home/News/2018/Oct/BBC-Introducing-Live-Festival-Includes-Musicians

Anna x

 
I've had so much fun writing and being creative with this one in the studio last week! Yes, that's Dave Rowntree, drummer with Blur. We're working on tracks for a forthcoming project of his (can't tell you yet!). He is absolutely lovely and a real pleasure to work with. There are some great songs coming your way!

On Monday I was invited to the UK House of Lords on behalf of Funny Women. Baroness Jenkins and the Pink Shoe Club hosted an event featuring and discussing #WomenInMusic. Amongst other things we looked at what can be done to help promote and support our various roles within the industry. It was such an empowering and inspiring event, but also one that left me feeling anger on behalf of those women who have suffered, and are still suffering, harassment and discrimination in our industry.

Topics covered included:

Equal representation, bias, pay gap, sex discrimination, #MeToo, imposter syndrome & more.

Solutions: Education Mentors Key:Change A Women’s Guild in the MU, end silencing settlements (horrible things, should never have existed in the first place), ‘calling it out’ every time, pay gap transparency and #Equality.

Panelists included: Artist Elle Exxe, Lara Baker Founder of The BKRY, Author Sue Lawton MBE, Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE Chairman of the Radio Academy, Helen Bousfield, Head of Artist Rights and Touring Services, Universal Music UK, Angie Greaves, Radio Presenter, Magic FM, Sammy Andrews, CEO & Founder of Deviate Digital and the wonderful Alex Kerr-Wilson, Co-founder of Discovery Talent, who puts on events supporting new and independent talent.

There is change, but it’s painfully slow within the music industry. Hopefully our views will help and be heard at the next meeting of the House Of Lords.

Proud to have been able to join musical brothers & sisters Dave Rowntree (Blur), Newton Faulkner, Brett Anderson (Suede),  Ed Harcourt, fellow Songwriter committee members, politicians Tom Watson (Labour) and Kevin Brennan (Labour), UK Music, BASCA, Musician Union & others busking and supporting #LoveMusic campaign outside Google's office in London this morning to #supportonlinemusic. Campaigning for fair pay for our music being used online ahead of the EU Copyright Directive (Article 13) vote on 12th September.

 Keep an eye on UK & European press over the next day or so to see some more photos and hear our version of 'Wake Up' by Arcade Fire. We've already made London Live and the I newspaper (Independent), as well as The Irish Times!

Join us here: http://love-music.co

Anna x

Independent:

https://inews.co.uk/news/blur-and-suede-form-busking-supergroup-to-protest-at-music-parasites-youtube

'Wide Sky' has had its first review and...it's 5 stars from national UK magazine RnR (Rock n Reel)!! Jez and I are so unbelievably chuffed! Thank you Andrew (reviewer) and RnR for taking the time to really listen to the album. There's so much beauty and detail in this review, I had one or two tears in my eye! 

The magazine is out now in most newsagents (W H Smith's) and features Graham Nash on the front cover.  Please support it. Magazines like this are a life line for music fans and musicians.

An absolute honour. Thank you so much RnR. 😍 

Anna x

Here's a first glimpse at some of the new photos from the (belated) Wide Sky shoot with Philm (Phil Mitchell, not the one off the telly) yesterday! Really pleased with the results, and looking forward to updating the website!

 Thanks to Phil, Images HD Woking for hair & make up, and The Star Inn for their fitting chair! 

Change coming soon, keep them peeled! 

Anna x

It's always a pleasure to play at this festival. Such a warm, friendly and relaxed event, full of enthusiastic lovers of all sorts of music and art. Yesterday was no exception, and a perfect round up of a  weekend of summer live music! Which started with two performances for Party In The Park, Woking, with Fiery Bird & the Phoenix Cultural Centre, and a songwriters round celebrating women in the music industry for 'Write Like A Girl' with Eagle Radio! 

Thank you to everyone at Haslemere Fringe Festival, Woking Council, Celebrate Woking, the Phoenix Cultural Centre & 'Write Like A Girl' for having us, and to those who braved soaring temperatures to listen. We had a blast. Long may events like this continue.

Anna x

I'm incredibly honoured and proud to be able to announce that I'm now an elected member of the BASCA Songwriting Committee!! THANK YOU all so much for voting!

This is such an amazing group of people who are all focused on making the music industry a better place for everyone. Can't wait to get started!  

Anna x

Honoured to have been nominated for the #songwriting #committee at BASCA! I'm aware I'm a bit of an 'outsider' being the only #independent (#newmodel) #composer, #writer, #musician, but I think it's important we have a voice. So, if you'd like someone who's straight to the point, a bit fiesty, but very lovable, to represent you then please #vote for me. I promise to wave the flag for all of us, and take flapjacks to all the meetings. ❤️

#basca #elections #musicindustry #connected #music #ukmusic #change

https://basca.org.uk/candidates/