 Jordan styling regular client Winnie Harlow When it comes to hairstyling within the fashion and entertainment industry, young creative Jordan J Brumant is fast becoming the first option. He began his career at just 13 years of age working at his local hair salon. A few years later he took the plunge into self-employment where his brand HBJB was born. And it has led him down a road to bigger success than anyone could have imagined. Jordan has since worked with an impressive number of renowned photographers, publications and brands, including Lancôme, Cartier, Chopard, GQ magazine and Glamour magazine. He has also accumulated a large roster of international celebrity clientele – to name just a few, Winnie Harlow, Eve, Lupita Nyong’o and Little Mix. I caught up with him to find out his freelancing tips and tricks and see if I could squeeze out any entertainment gossip!  Jordan at the GQ Awards You started hairdressing at such a young age and now style hair for the stars! When do you feel was your big break? My big break was when I decided to leave the salon I was working for to start my own business and build my brand. I had built up a large roster of clients and decided to go it alone and started developing myself as a session stylist What has been the biggest moment for you in your career and how did it make you feel? Biggest moment for me was when I did Cannes film festival. It really put things into perspective in regards to how tangible clients really are and it also made me feel humbled and grateful to work alongside world-renowned brands and other session stylists that I have always been inspired by. What have you learnt about the music industry while styling famous musicians’ hair? And as for the fashion world, is it true what they say about it being ‘bitchy’? Working with music artists has inspired me to develop my art. It’s also opened many doors for other clients and opportunities. It’s a good platform to showcase your work. I would say the fashion world can be that way at times. However, I have never experienced it personally. I treat people how I want to be treated and usually being nice goes a long way! What's the cheekiest bit of gossip you have encountered when styling some hair? Let’s just say what happens in the chair, stays in the chair ;) As a self-employed stylist, what has been the biggest struggle for you, and how did you overcome it? Going on vacation means a gap in regular income. To overcome this I work twice as hard before I go away and twice as hard to catch up when I come back. And what are the biggest benefits of being self-employed? Knowing that you are working hard for yourself rather than anyone else and having full creative freedom. What tips would you give to aspiring hairdressers? Perfect your craft. Always stay open-minded to learning. Always carry a card with you. …And never leave the country without a pair of scissors and a comb!  Jordan is recognised for having an intuitive sense of forthcoming trends and for his ability to create individual looks. He is currently situated in London but works worldwide. Follow his journey via his instagram or see his work on the official HBJB instagram. Words by @SazrahProducer  I caught up with the legendary reggae artist Shaggy backstage at Glastonbury Festival 2017! He'd just finished his set on the Gully Stage, Silver Hayes and had time for cheeky chat. Mr. Boombastic revealed his recipe to making number one hits, gave us exclusive information as to when the next album will drop and even answered some hilarious questions from the public! "Nobody is going to put me in a box...I do what the fuck I want.. I've earned it" Shaggy also addressed those who believe dancehall shouldn't stream into the pop music world! Enjoy! Follow Shaggy now! Interview by @sazrahproducer Filmed by @realharryr  Photo by Harry Rutter 'The rise and rise of gravel-voiced songster Rag 'N’ Bone Man continues. He has been taking the world by storm with his single Human – it has already reached No.1 in 23 countries in the iTunes charts. He has also been announced as the Brits Critics’ Choice winner of 2017 and is currently in second place in the fight for the UK Christmas No. 1 spot! As a huge fan as well as a good friend of the Brighton-based singer/songwriter, I know he totally and utterly deserves this and is humbled by his recent successes. I remember receiving a message from Rags a couple of months back, finding him beaming with excitement at receiving a gold disc due Human being No. 1 in the German and Austrian Top 40 charts. Little did he know that he could soon claim to be topping the full charts in six countries (let alone nearly four times that number for iTunes). Will the UK make it seven? Human is part of his upcoming album, set for release in February. I’ve never been able to encapsulate his unique sound in one word, so I asked him if he has trouble describing his genre to journalists. “It’s a hard question to answer as it’s all my influences mixed together,” he responded with a warm smile and shoulder shrug. His previous work has a funk and blues tone, mixed with a slight rocky vibe and hip hop grit in the drums. The sound created is epic and I cannot wait to hear what vibes the new album will bring. It would be beautiful to see such a great musician – who writes all his own material – hit the Christmas spot in the charts. To help get Human to No. 1, stream on Spotify or download single and support good music! Words by @SazrahProducer Follow music industry articles on Facebook
 Want to get into the music industry? Want to feel inspired? Well, this is just the guy you should be paying attention to. Being successful in the industry doesn’t always mean you have to be in the limelight. Singer and songwriter Myles Brown works behind the scenes on a lot of today’s hits. You would be amazed to see a list of the major artists whose songs and production have been boosted by his input. If he prefers not to namecheck them in interview it’s because he’s a refreshingly humble man content to stay in the small print of credits! However, Myles is also an artist in his own right. He does not stick just to one style or one trade. He is very much a creative soul and has some truly inspirational words for those who are looking to break into his line of business. I caught up with him to get to know a little more. Sazrah: What is your style? Myles: The best thing to say is once people get to know who I am they will understand my style because I am my style. I can relate. It’s like when people tell me to describe my music, it is just me and all my influences… …Yes, your history, your lifestyle, who you listen to, who your parents are, who your friends are. Everything has an influence on what you create. What inspires you? Life! Life inspires me because it’s what I had from the beginning and what I will have until the end. So what has been the highlight of your career so far? Wow! There have been so many. I’ve been behind the scenes working with rap stars, composers, I’ve done an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet on an occasion given by Her Majesty performed in Buckingham Palace. So there have been so many different fields that I have been blessed to be able to work in. I am just happy that I get to be creative. A lot of singers tell me that they struggle with songwriting. What advice would you give to the budding songwriters out there? I would say if you’re in school pay attention in English lessons, because they teach you the basics of how to structure your words and make sentences. And from that point your personality can then help you develop the way you start communicating things. It’s just having a certain ear for words, putting words together differently. In Hip Hop they have found a way to create a different language that never existed. You know when they say “what’s up, what’s good” or in London or Jamaica “waa gwarn”. All these terminologies have been put together by someone. Who created it? I don’t know. But I know it’s being used so much as it’s found its way into a world which is universal. So when you take your different influences, it’s about developing that and pushing forward. What would you say to anyone who wants to be in the music industry? Never give up and follow your heart. Follow your dream. Also you hear a lot of artists saying, “I want to do this. I want to do that.” Do it! In my opinion well done is better than well said. Some people say they have too many ideas and don’t know which one to focus on! I know I have been guilty of this in the past. How do you combat that? But you know it’s all good – because sometimes when you have so many ideas it shows your creativity. You shouldn’t limit your creativity. Get a dictaphone or your mobile device and record down your ideas. So when you are in a creative space, if you ever get a blank mind you can just refer back to it! Where can we find you? Twitter: @1MylesBrown Instagram: @1MylesBrown Thanks for your time. No problem. Thank you for your time. Words by @sazrahproducer  If you haven't heard of Brixton Soup Kitchen where have you been? It is a service for homeless people in London – and it has been a huge success, receiving recognition and help from the likes of Joanna Lumley, Jessie Ware, Fleur East, ITV and many more.
This Sunday 20th December it is teaming up with Lyrically Gifted to run a live music event at Prince of Wales in Brixton, where 100% of the profit will go to charity. This event is to raise money for hats, scarves and sleeping bags for homeless people in London this Christmas. Solomon, the founder of BSK, told OnTop radio: "Last year several homeless people died due to the fact that they did not have enough clothes. And instead of sitting and complaining about this on Facebook, we want to help make a change." So if you live in London, come on down to Prince of Wales (opposite the Ritzy in Brixton) 7pm. But make sure you get your tickets here and all of your money will go towards helping those in need without a home this Christmas. Now guys, I am not allowed to give anything away but I have heard about the secret special guests and you are not going to be let down, trust me! Even without these surprises, you can see the line-up is already amazing! Performing live: •Rough Copy •Randy Valentine •Youngs Teflon •Jordan Morris •Tom Prior •Dana McKeon •Ms Banks Plus very special guests DJs on the night: DJ Pioneer (kiss fm) DJ Melody Kane (SBTV, 1xtra) Barzy Boy (Lyrically Gifted/OnTop Radio) Doors: 7pm-1am, showtime 7:30pm What more can you ask for? I've been lucky enough to visit the Soup Kitchen and see their incredible work and I’m eager to support them further in the future. Words by @sazrahproducer UPDATE: Footage from the night here  X-Factor finalist Fleur East celebrated her upcoming single and album with close friends in a strikingly unexpected way – debuting the tracks as a silent disco. I attended the event where the fabulous DJ Melody Kane span out some banging classics to ensure the dance floor was always busy. As well as the dance floor the party boasted a bowling alley and a photo booth, all contributing to a very lively scene. At regular intervals the party music would stop for the album previews. Fleur would say a few words about each piece, before we listened via headphones to a new song from her upcoming album, Love, Sax and Flashbacks. She also was extremely thankful to everybody who attended and acknowledged the fact that they had been there throughout what she called her “struggle” in this industry. She has been in the music game for many years. But it’s thanks to her recent X-Factor success that she’s been signed to Simon Cowell’s label Syco. Her new album is set for release in December.  Although Fleur’s single, Sax, is yet to be released, it is already taking over social media by storm, mainly with dance videos – the catchy chorus has a great instrumental break that you’ll find is an irresistible temptation to strut your stuff. The songs I heard from her album gave me the same feel. It was recorded in London and LA after Fleur had been touring with X-Factor. She told us her main aim with the album is to bring the party to people’s houses. In fact she rejected the idea of making her final recording a slow jam as she really does intend that anyone hearing her album will want to boogie. Her aims certainly seemed to be working at the silent disco. Not one person with headphones on wasn’t dancing as we previewed the new upbeat classics. Fleur’s album has up-to-date lyrics – for example the current buzz-phrase “Netflix and Chill” – but it captures upbeat rhythms of various styles from over the decades including the electronic 80s vibe. It was a delight to meet Fleur and connect with her warm spirit and we even exchanged a few Ghanaian words! Fleur has a kind heart and I wish her every success in her well-deserved career. You can pre-order Fleur’s single on iTunes, and she is releasing the song on Friday November 6th so that it coincides with her X Factor performance this weekend. This has been pushed back from the original release date as Fleur told her fans, “I’ve decided that I didn’t just want you to hear it. I wanted you to experience it with me for the first time.” Phone snaps from the launch below. You can vote for Fleur to win a UMA here. You can vote for DJ Melody Kane to win a UMA here. Check out Fleur's new clothing line with Lipsy here Words by @sazrah_producer Follow my blogs on Facebook  Grammy nominated R&B star AMERIIE has announced her forthcoming UK tour kicking off next week on the 26th March 2015. She has had huge hits with One Thing, Why Don’t We and Gotta Work and is releasing a new single Mustang. She will be performing her classics as well as new material with a full band on the following dates:
I caught up with the beautiful songstress to find out more about her tour, single and future plans as an artist. Ameriie! It is so lovely to be having you back in the UK. How long has it been since you were last here? Thank you! I love the UK. I believe I was there a few months ago. You like to promote the fact that people should only do what they love. Why is this such an important message to you? It isn’t so much about doing only what you love, but trying to create a life where your passions guide how you spend your time. If you’re passionate about something, try to find a way to make a living doing it, and if that isn’t possible, do what you can to make it something in which you can devote a good portion of your time. I hear you and completely agree! You have a new single out named Mustang which I have been playing on my radio show and the listeners love it. What is it about? Mustang celebrates the untameable woman! Your UK tour kicks off this month and your fans are very excited. For you, what is the most exciting aspect of this tour? The most exciting thing is probably actually getting out there and performing. I love that the venues are intimate because the exchange between me and everyone in the audience is different as a result. Closer, probably. And of course, the live band adds another level of energy. I know I was one of the many people who had your album Because I love it on repeat for years. It featured some big hits. Will you be performing any of these hits on the tour? Thank you! I will be but I’m not sure exactly which ones as we’re still cementing the set list. Exciting stuff! What’s the next step for you as an artist? Completing both BILI and Cymatika Vol I.! Is Mustang going to be part of an album? Mustang is a part of BILI. Where can your fans keep up with future announcements from you? Both www.Ameriie.com and www.youtube.com/BooksBeautyAmeriie are the best places. Thank you for this! Thank you for having me! ^_^ Words by Sazrah Producer Follow blog on twitter Follow on FB   In preparation for the UK Soul Acoustic Tour in March I have been talking to some of the performers. You may have heard their sounds on my last radio show and wanted to know more information. Well here is another artist- Raheem Bakaré. His sensational lead track from the EP, ‘Portrait Of Love’ reached Number 1 on MTV Base and he has also owned ‘Record of the Week’ on 1XTRA so it comes as no surprise that Raheem Bakaré is hotly tipped for 2015. You can enjoy seeing him live next month at the soul acoustic tour which you can get your tickets for here. I caught up with him to see what he has to say.
The soul acoustic tour kicks off soon. What are you going to bring to the tour? I’ll be performing original songs from my ‘AWOL’ EP and a cover or two for the punters in the house. Excited to step into every city with my guitar and express myself on the stage. What does soul music mean to you? Soul music is one of the genres that I think has the most feeling in its messages. It’s uplifting music and knowing the pain and struggle it comes from. Its amazing to think such beautiful music derived from such hard times in black culture How would you describe your own music in five words? Fusion, Soul Influenced, Conscious, Chill What advice would you give to other upcoming soul artists who want to follow in your footsteps and be touring at such big events? Make music that pays homage to both classic and contemporary styles. Get involved with people who believe in you, plan and things will shift into place. There’s no one way about anything and endless genres to choose from so I feel the most important thing is to always create new music and the universe will do the rest. Where can we hear more of your music? You can find more of my music on Soundcloud and Spotify. Also keep up to date with releases on my website which is Raheembakare.co.uk Any news you want to let your fans know? I will be releasing new music in May. Wanna send mad love and appreciation to everyone that has been supporting my journey so far as well as those from South Africa who have been reaching out and showing support! Amazing! Thanks Raheem Words by Sazrah Producer Tweet her here FB her here You can NOW subscribe to Sazrah's blog on Bloglovin  In preparation for the UK Soul Acoustic Tour in March I have been talking to some of the performers. You may have heard their sounds on my last radio show and wanted to know more information. Well here is the first artist - KOF! Often described as “the musical-lovechild of Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley”, KOF is the acclaimed alt-soul singer-songwriter who is challenging the status quo with his thought-provoking, genre-shifting sound-beds that effortlessly & experimentally blend the essence of roots soul, reggae and jazz. He is also half Ghanaian like myself! I caught up with KOF to ask some soulful questions and let you all know more about his music and style.... next week you will be hearing another artists answers so stay tuned to my blog (subscribe here). The soul acoustic tour kicks off soon. What are you going to bring to the tour?
There are bunch of really talented artists on the tour and I feel we all bring our own uniqueness to it. Me personally I feel I'm just going to bring my own take on what soul music is or at least what soul music is to me. What does Soul music mean to you? Soul music to me is mostly an extension of ones soul and the ability to connect with someone on a level that is deeper than just music. It's about the words, it's about the joy, it's about the pain and it's based on the ability to use those energies to enlighten or heighten somebody's feeling towards a certain vibe or situation. It's really all about expressing yourself on a higher level. It's not called soul music for no reason. It speaks to our innermost thoughts and fears. I'd go as far as to say, when it's done right, it's a spiritual thing. How would you describe your own music in five words? Haha five words is not enough but... Honest, Evolving, Inspirational, Without Barriers. What advice would you give to other upcoming soul artists who want to follow in your footsteps and be touring at such big events? Just be true to yourself and the music that is natural for you to make. The thing that is great about soul music is its honesty. If you're honest within your music then people are going to see, respect and eventually connect to that. Where can we hear more of your music? I've just finished my debut album so I'm about to start releasing a load of new music. You can hear the stuff I already have out via my soundcloud or YouTube under KOFmusic. I also have a site that I'm releasing the new music straight to which is www.thebeautifulstruggle.co.uk. For updates I'm on twitter and Instagram under the same name - KOFmusic. Thanks! Any news you want to let your fans know? Yes my debut album is entitled 'The Beautiful Struggle' and it should be out around summertime so keep an eye and ear out for a bunch of new music and videos that I will be releasing in the coming months. I've been working on this album for the best part of three years, maturing in all aspects of my song writing and production skills. I'm so excited for people to hear it, I just hope they are open to listening to an artist who is influenced by many genres but is not defined by any in particular. I wear my heart on my sleeve with my music and I hope it shows with this album. Thanks! Want to see KOF live? Get tickets to see him perform at the Soul Acoustic Tour here Words by Sazrah Producer Tweet her here FB her here You can NOW subscribe to Sazrah's blog on Bloglovin |
Author: SazrahSazrah is a UK music producer who has composed music for BBC 1xtra, Film, Catwalk and famous artists. Her blogs are about upcoming artists, music industry tips and general chit chat! Categories
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