×

 

VOTI - voices of the industry

OPEN CONVERSATIONS

 

We’re very proud to be hosting Episode 1 Open Conversations with incredible young composer Will Davenport in which he chats to musicians within the LGBT+ community about their wonderful work, their time in lockdown, the power of community and their thoughts and feelings on the future. This week Will is joined by fantastic artist Asher Fynn and previously CM featured vocalist and creator, Luca Manning. Tune in below!

 

 

We also had the pleasure of chatting with Will about his own incredible work as a composer, as the chair and founder of the LGBT+ Working Group at The Ivors Academy and his ideas behind Open Conversations.

 

Hey Will, we’re so pleased to be hosting your webinar series Open Conversations with some brilliant musicians. First, however, we’d love to find out more about yourself! You’ve been involved in a plethora of amazing projects. What was your introduction like into composition?

 

You’ve been involved in a plethora of amazing projects. What was your introduction like into composition?

 

My introduction was in many ways bizarre, but also in many ways fairly traditional. I started playing the piano when I was 8, and when it came to my grade 5 exam a few years later it was decided that I would give the Trinity College exam a go, which includes the option to be examined in one of your own compositions. This was the first time I wrote a piece for piano. This was pretty revelatory because I realised that making new music felt more natural to me than performing old repertoire.

 

Simultaneously, I started messing with Garageband and eventually Logic from age 12, making electronically produced music quite obsessively. I was on a computer making music for fun whilst piano practice was more of a chore, but eventually I began to realise that both worlds could collide. I’m still excited by the relationship of these two worlds.

 

Can you tell us any more about your current musical projects? We would love to know more about the ideas behind your experimental audio book!

 

The audiobook, entitled How Did We Get Here? Is an utterly mad homage to all the sci-fi movies, stories and music I have grown up with. I wanted to create a piece of immersive fiction, and explore how sound can build an auditory world around the listener. I have written the script and am exploring the relationship between dialogue and sound as an element of the story. I love sci-fi as a genre as it can be so accessibly political, the story is set in the far future but it very much relates to our current predicaments. This project shall hopefully be released by the end of the year, alongside several other projects such as my debut album release and an online event for String Quartet and Electronics… 2021 is proving to be a busy year!

 

Identity and composition seem to be very closely linked in your work. How important is music to you in expressing and developing identity?

 

It is so incredibly important to me. My debut album I Can’t Get Out of Bed tackles issues of identity, shame and guilt. It has taken an awfully long time to find the confidence to release it but finally this year I can say it will be released. When I listen back to it I often don’t recognise myself in the lyrics, which proves that identity is something which can be transient and changeable. But also with my less autobiographical projects, whilst I’m working on big sci-fi concepts or writing for String Quartet, there is still undoubtedly a lot of my identity and ideology in the work. I see music as a direct conversation with a listener, and I feel like I am often revealing my crazy innermost thoughts.

 

You have been part of the Ivors Academy for a number of months, can you tell us more about your time there and the work you have been doing?

 

My relationship with the Ivors began just as the UK got struck by coronavirus, so it’s been an entirely online relationship (like many relationships at the moment). Despite that, the support that I have felt from the Ivors and all the wonderful, inspiring people I have met through the academy has been invaluable. It has allowed me to maintain a sense of community through all of this.

The Ivors are dedicated to change and improvement within the industry. Part of this improvement revolves around pushing further equality, diversity and inclusion both within the Ivors and the larger music community. As a gay musician I voiced that the academy should put work into LGBT+ equality and diversity. They were incredibly forthcoming to meet my request, allowing me to chair an LGBTQI+ working group and network, this opportunity has allowed me to work with Wesley John, Graham Davies and Emily Saunders!

 

What are your aims and objectives for the Ivors’ LGBT+ working group?

 

Firstly, my aim is to open up room for conversation within the industry and connect LGBTQI+ creators and allies together. Simply sharing experiences unleashes so much power and confidence for musicians, and confidence translates to an audience. Visibility is integral in destroying stigma. This is why I am so glad to be launching this new series.

 

We’re really excited to be launching ConnectsMusic’s Open Conversations. What were the initial ideas behind the webinar series?

 

Me too! I am very grateful to Emily Saunders for allowing me to host this for ConnectsMusic. The initial idea emerged from a really fantastic conversation with Emily, and led to me to wax lyrical about so many powerful and inspiring LGBT+ people within the industry. It seemed like such a clear route to use the platform to highlight new and upcoming LGBT+ musicians and highlight that queer and creativity go hand in hand.

 

What are your aspirations for Open Conversations? What do you hope people will take from it?

 

I hope that people are inspired by the creative conversations, inspired by the power of the LGBT community and the visibility of the musicians involved. I hope people will be inspired to fight for further diversity and inclusion within the industry.

 

What’s in store for Open Conversations’ first video?

 

My first Open Conversation is with the indomitable Jazz vocalist Luca Manning, and the incomparable sound artist, producer and vocalist Asher Fynn. Whilst being two genuinely kind, powerful and inspirational individuals, they also manage to be two incredibly prolific talents who I think you will be hearing much more from in the future. You don’t want to miss it!

 

What’s in store for Open Conversations Part 2?

 

Part 2 will feature some more inspiring conversation and a truly beautiful piece showcased by Asher Fynn.

 

Stay with us for more installments from Open Conversations and Will Davenport!

1. CONNECTSMUSIC MICROSITE SUPERLINK
FREE personalised Microsite with flexible ‘super-smart’ URL
Your customised music link-in-bio
The only music link you need
Your online music sales, streaming, and identity all in one place
2. HOW TO
Click on ‘Create Artist Microsite'
No coding or design skills needed
Free quick and easy to create
Connects to directory where everyone can find you
Be shared on ConnectsMusic features and social media
3. SHARE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
The perfect PR support
Connect audiences to all your music with one flexible sharable link
Select a music release, click 'share button' to auto-copy
Share your SUPERLINK URL to all online platforms featuring your selection
Your audience can enjoy your featured sounds, then click outside selection to explore all your additional music, videos and bio on your Microsite
ConnectsMusic Industry Support, Gigs, Features:

Nik West

 
Jun 22, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

SIMON MOULLIER

 
Apr 22, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

Rome Steetz

 
Apr 27, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

Baco Exu do Blues

 
Apr 15, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

Karim Saber Quintet

 
Apr 26, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

MURDO MITCHELL + LUKE LA VOLPE

 
Apr 15, 2023
  The Sunflower Lounge

Hannah Horton Quartet

 
May 19, 2023
  Sunnyside Jazz Club

Stanley Jordan

 
May 11, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

Aaron Liddard Nylon Man

 
Apr 30, 2023
  Ribble Valley jazz Festival

The Dead South

 
Oct 27, 2023
  Roundhouse

Spiritbox

 
Jul 13, 2023
  Roundhouse

Sam Furlonger & The Fraser Smith Quintet, bring you ‘Frankly Sinatra’

 
Apr 5, 2023
  Crazy Coqs

Lana-May & Her Hot Jazz Band Presents: Fashionably Late to the Postmodern Party

 
Apr 13, 2023
  Crazy Coqs

Heathen Apostles

 
Jul 25, 2023
  The Sunflower Lounge

M83

 
Jun 29, 2023
  Roundhouse

Aaron Liddard Nylon Man

 
May 9, 2023
  Norwich Jazz Club

Ray Gelato + Hannah Horton Quartet

 
Jun 24, 2023
  The Swinging Cat Jazz Club

Oye Santana

 
May 13, 2023
  Ropetackle Arts Centre

JAMES BRANDON LEWIS “EYE OF I” (1ST SHOW)

 
May 27, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

The Mission

 
Oct 28, 2023
  Roundhouse

Susana Baca

 
Apr 21, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

NOAH STONEMAN TRIO

 
May 31, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

Brandt Brauer Frick

 
May 13, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

Jen Cloher

 
Jun 13, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

Knight and Spiers

 
Apr 25, 2023
  Ropetackle Arts Centre

Byron Wallen’s ‘Four Corners’

 
Apr 8, 2023
  Vortex

Sarah Smout

 
Apr 27, 2023
  Ropetackle Arts Centre

Tomorrow’s Warriors presents Mali Sheard Quintet

 
Mar 30, 2023
  Karamel N22 | Collage Arts

KARIM SABER QUINTET

 
Apr 26, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

JAMES ALLSOPP QUARTET FEATURING STEVE BUCKLEY

 
Apr 13, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

Emilia Martensson

 
Mar 29, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

BRONWEN LEWIS

 
Apr 9, 2023
  The Glee Club Cardiff

Hannah Horton Quartet

 
Jul 14, 2023
  The Bear Club

Hannah Horton Quartet

 
May 26, 2023
  Mycenae House

REGGAE STAR KABAKA PYRAMID

 
Apr 10, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

ÀVUÀ

 
Jul 16, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

The Ewan Bleach Trio

 
Mar 29, 2023
  Crazy Coqs

STEVE BANKS QUINTET ‘EMBOLDENED’ TOUR

 
Jun 14, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

SEAN GIBBS BIG BAND

 
Jun 2, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

BOSTON-BASED SEPTET COUCH

 
Mar 30, 2023
  The Jazz Cafe

Mario Bakuna & Andria Antoniou presents: Female Voices of Brazil

 
Apr 7, 2023
  Crazy Coqs

DAVE STOREY TRIO – CIRCEO ALBUM LAUNCH FT. JAMES ALLSOPP & CONOR CHAPLIN

 
May 3, 2023
  Vortex Jazz Club

The Gary Fletcher Band

 
May 17, 2023
  Ropetackle Arts Centre

Curtis Stigers

 
Mar 28, 2023
  Ronnie Scott's

John Donegan/Nigel Price Quartet

 
Jul 19, 2023
  The jazz Cave

Sam Jewison Sings Gershwin

 
Apr 23, 2023
  Crazy Coqs

THE HARVEY/O’HIGGINS PROJECT

 
Apr 22, 2023
  606 Club

Lyra

 
Apr 28, 2023
  Bush Hall

Three Rivers Music Society Concert.

 
Apr 5, 2023
  The Baptist Church

Kokomo

 
Apr 29, 2023
  Ropetackle Arts Centre
Artists Connects Pages
artists
venue
media
What's On
live and streamed
Industry Nuggets
Top Tips
Info you need to know
VOTI
features
Interviews with Heavy Hitters
Watch & Listen
Features
selected music and videos
by creators for creators and their audience - music community at its core