The biz's brightest new talents tell their stories. This week it's the turn of The Noise Cartel music publicist Donnay Clancy.
What do you love most about the music business?
“Working alongside like-minded people who are as passionate about music as I am. I’ve made so many great friends through my job and it’s something I’m really grateful for. I love that I basically get to talk about music all day and contribute towards helping talented artists get the exposure they deserve.”
And what frustrates you the most about it?
“Talented DIY or unsigned bands potentially getting overlooked by the business due to a lack of resources and budget for marketing, recording, touring and all the other expenses that go along with being in a band, leading to – in a worst case scenario – them splitting up. Going to shows and buying a T-shirt or record is one of the best ways to support them so they can keep on going.”
What’s your proudest achievement so far?
“Getting to work with [Korn frontman] Jonathan Davis on his debut solo album last year is definitely up there. He’s a huge icon in heavy music and to have the opportunity to work with him, an artist I grew up loving and listening to, is honestly unreal. To have him thank me and receive recognition when I met him at Download Festival last year as well was just amazing. Nearly three years into this job and it still blows my mind that I get to work with some of my favourite bands. Teenage me would be screaming if she knew I was working with Lacuna Coil!”
Where is heavy music in 2019?
“Heavy music is in a really healthy place right now. Bands as heavy as [Noise Cartel client] Babymetal are getting booked to play huge stages at Glastonbury, where there’s a dedicated stage for metal that hosted the likes of Gojira, Entombed AD and Employed To Serve this year, and bands like Architects are being playlisted on BBC Radio 1. It’s great that heavy music is being recognised and respected by the mainstream, but not only that, the underground is thriving, too. Independent festivals like DesertFest and Upsurge are showcasing some of the best underground talent around and there’s a real sense of community amongst the scene, which is growing every day.”
What’s your ultimate ambition in music?
“To work a band from grassroots level playing pubs and clubs, and help them reach arenas. I’d like to think that’s something that could still happen and I see the potential for it to happen with some of the artists I work with now.”
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