A+R and Publishing
Andy McIntyre
A&R
In 1989, Andy was in a field, DJ'ing an illegal rave. During the 20 years that have followed, Andy has joined a few select, very successful A+R teams - in the main, strong independent labels. He is a true industry all rounder - working with a plethora of talented artists in as many genres. He has helped to guide the recordings of artists that include Muse, Ash, Symposium, Gary Moore, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and Willy DeVille.
He has worked on the production and campaigns for artists as diverse as Garbage, Paul Oakenfold, Arthur Baker, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Testament, Therapy and Candy Dulfer. As a creative consultant and A+R on audio-visuals, Andy has worked with another huge selection of talent, ranging from Queen, Otis Redding, Cat Stevens, Babyshambles, Jeff Beck, The Who, Run DMC and Carlos Santana.
As a music man, Andy McIntyre is at his peak - he possesses an unusually deep understanding of both the creative and business elements of making music, has great ears and a fabulous disposition with artists and managers alike. His love of mostly all musical genres (you will lose him with opera), means that there are very few projects where Andy's wisdom and understanding cannot benefit from. He still DJ's, but not so often in fields...
Joel De'ath
A&R
Joel's career in music began in 2001, cutting his teeth as an A+R scout for the UK rock label 'Music for Nations'. With a blossoming reputation for fabulous 'ears', he was quickly snapped up by the strong independent label, Mushroom Records. In 2003 he found and signed Funeral for a Friend and the cult classic, The Darkness. Mushroom was then acquired by Warner's, where De'ath joined the Atlantic A+R team, adding the brilliantly successful 'Get Cape Wear Cape Fly' to his roster.
In 2007 Joel set up his own Management and Consultancy Company, 'No Sugar' whose clients include UK rock producer John Mitchell, the hotly-tipped 'The Joy Formidable' and Parlophone Records.
The word 'passion' does not come close to describing Joel's relationship with music. He eats it, dreams it and lives for it. His knowledge and creative input is invaluable for any artist, new or old.
Rene Renner
A&R
Rene has deep experience in both the UK and Europe, having cut his teeth as the Director for the Winterthurer Musikfestival. Moving to EMI Switzerland, Rene not only managed EMI’s associated labels (XL, Cheeky, Blue Note) but took the reins as Director, A&R. Rene worked on varied projects, including Lunik, Herbert Groenemeyer, Faithless, The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, Beatles Anthology, Trainspotting (OST), and Romeo & Juliet (OST).
Rene set up the UK arm of the critically acclaimed, Berlin-based Gronland Records, owned by Herbert Groenemeyer. As MD of Gronland UK for 8 years, Rene established a network of independent distributors and marketing teams, around the world.
In 2009 Rene founded Feraltone, which combines publishing with artist consulting (management), provides a distribution platform around Europe and links music and ad agencies. The management roster includes LA-based French singer and huge underground artist Soko, and Jamaican singer and dancehall/electro artist Terry Lynn, who toured the US with Swedish producer Radioclit backed by Jamaican beer Red Stripe, who, along with co-managing, Feraltone also distributes.
From 2010 Rene will be at the helm of Canadian Label Last Gang Records, (MSTRKRFT, Crystal Castles, Metric, Chromeo) overseeing their European operations.
Chris Sheehan
Songwriter
Chris is a singer/songwriter/producer/label/studio owner from Manchester. Now based in London, he released and produced ‘Around The House in 80 Days’ in 2007 as half of The Bench Connection with Matt Deighton. Chris is now preparing for the release of his first solo record as Low Lanterns, titled ‘Goodbye Cruel Circus (I'm off to Join the World).’
Chris has written with an eclectic mix of artists, including Linda Thompson (Fairport Convention), Chaz Jankel (The Blockheads), Chris Difford (Squeeze), Marti Pellow (Wet Wet Wet), Neill MacColl, Linda Lewis and Mark Brydon (Moloko), and rising stars Tara MacDonald, Athena and 'Fe.’ Chris also produced ‘Part Of Your Life’ by Matt Deighton and Chris Difford as well as current production for Dennis Bovell.
As Chris was wholly responsible for the making of his albums, from writing, recording, and artwork to raising funds, he has first-hand experience in choosing a studio, producer and engineer, sourcing the right equipment for setting up your own studio, and hiring the right players and people to mix and master the album.
Chris understands the necessary steps you then have to take as an artist or indie to get it into people's earphones and onto their turntables. With all the best intention in the world, a lot of money gets wasted making independent albums... he's been there and done it so you don't have to!
Chris is also renowned for his obsession with food and for ‘frankensteining’ perfectly good recipes.
Jemma Skidmore
Synch
Jemma has been involved with synchronisation for over 5 years, managing film, TV and games catalogues within Europe and the US. Starting at Kobalt Music Group, Jemma jumped right in and developed excellent relationships with writers, management companies and representatives and ad agencies which led her to successfully placing tracks on worldwide adverts such as Channel No 5 and Coca Cola.
After moving to [PIAS] in 2009 to head the Sync and Brand department of the internationally renowned entertainment group, managing the [PIAS] roster across ads, film, TV, games, and brand partnering she has recently been appointed as Synchronisation Manager at Cutting Edge Group.
She has maintained and continues to generate new relationships both within the UK and on an international basis. Working upon these relationships has resulted in Jemma partnering artists and their music with a variety of brands and products such as Playstation, Gucci Group and V Festival/4 Music.
Chris Difford
Songwriter
Double Ivor Novello Award-winning Chris Difford has been writing lyrics for over twenty five years, most notably with Squeeze, has 13 albums, countless top 20 hits, 32 American tours, 30 UK tours and a variety of global tours under his belt.
Over the years, Chris has written with Elton John, Trilok Gurtu, Marti Pellow, Lamont Dozier, Willie Mitchell, Bryan Ferry and many others, as well as collaborating with songwriting partner Glenn Tilbrook to write the successful 1984 musical, ‘Labelled with Love’.
His first Ivor Novello Award was won after scripting the lyrics for the 1998 film ‘Still Crazy.’ Chris then accepted his second with and Glenn Tilbrook in 2008 for their Lifetime Achievement Award which was soon followed with the prestigious Nordoff Robins Silver Clef Icon award.
Chris juggles his own recording and gigging career alongside teaching songwriting at BIMM in Brighton and running songwriting workshops around the world.
Helioscentric, a studio he built in 1995, still runs today and attracts such luminaries as The Pet Shop Boys, Paul Weller, Keane, Scouting for Girls, Elvis Costello and many others.
Donagh O'Leary
Publisher
Donagh O’Leary
Dublin born, Donagh has spent most of his life playing bass guitar in various bands, releasing albums and touring around the world with varying degrees of success.
After deciding life on the road just wasn’t fun anymore, O’Leary set up Bomber Music Ltd, a publishing company that specialises in alternative music genres, and has worked with Wildhearts, I Was A Cub Scout, King Blues and The Damned. The company has grown in the last few years to become a crucial hub of the UK’s alternative/punk and ska scene.
