Alternative Power 100 Music List 2021
The moment we've been waiting for is here!
Find out who made it in this year’s Alternative Power 100 Music list 2021 partnership with Patreon.
We want to say a huge thank you for all your nominations, celebrations and kind words about others, it's been so inspiring to read them all. Congratulations to everyone on the list, and everyone who received a nomination! With the challenges we've all faced this year it's important to take time to celebrate the things we've achieved and the people who inspired us.
From those architecting new ways of owning work to people building a new creative economy where the independent community can fully thrive, across 10 categories, our list is full of inspirational change makers and future thinkers from across the world. From Artist Managers to Sound Creators and forward thinking business minds we're so excited to see where you all go next!
With love, from the shesaid.so team
Abbie McCarthy: Broadcaster, BBC Music Introducing
“I am Abbie McCarthy's radio producer and have worked alongside her on various projects for several years.
Abbie has been a tireless & passionate champion of new music for her entire career up to date. As BBC Music Introducing In Kent's presenter, she has supported local artists in the early stages of their journeys on radio and helped them secure opportunities on bigger platforms. Notable acts that she has supported via the show include the likes of Slaves, Sports Team, Sea Girls and more recently Mimi Webb, Josie Man, BABii and Falle Nioke.
Outside of radio & presenting, Abbie is a patron of the Music Venue Trust, always looking at ways to support independent venues around the UK. Abbie is also the host of her own brand Good Karma Club, a clubnight based across the UK championing the hottest new artists around. The platform has provided early shows for the likes of Tom Grennan, Pale Waves, Easy Life, ENNY, Mae Muller and many more and has reached international levels, including a packed out stage at the biggest new music festival in the world - SXSW Festival.”- Adam Winch-Furness
Airene Resurreccion: Associate Art Director, The Orchard
“Airene Resurreccion leads The Orchard’s team of creatives who are focused on bringing the company’s distributed artists’ and labels’ vision to life across social platforms and through content creation, branding, design, AR lenses and more. As the Associate Art Director for The Orchard operating in 45 offices worldwide. Airene and her team solely service all of The Orchard’s global branding content, ads, and collateral.The last year proved to be tough for many creatives, but Airene and her team were able to create stunning visuals for some of the company’s biggest releases including Hip-Hop legend Nas, through a partnership with his record label Mass Appeal. His first release under the partnership was his latest album King’s Disease II, which had guest appearances from heavyweights like Lauryn Hill and Eminem. For Asian American and Pacific Islander month, Airene moderated a conversation for The Orchard with representatives from GIPHY, the Asian American Collective and more about embracing Asian heritage and culture throughout the music industry.”- Colleen Theis
Alison Tenenhaus: Video Artist
“I create trippy, abstract, custom visualizers, music videos, and branding—for all kinds of musical artists—that grab eyeballs and melt minds!”- Allison Tanenhaus
Camilla Pia: Assistant Commissioner
“Camilla has come from championing at Apple Music to assistant commissioner on 6music. They've been instrumental in pushing more LGBTQIA+ acts and content and are just an all round wonderful person and an incredible perspective to have at any decision making table. 6 music continues to grow strength to strength and definitely more so with Camilla as part of it. They are fab” - Sophia Kearney
Hannah Bellil: Head of global stink rising and music vedio
“I am nominating Hannah because she is fearless with her quest to create an even playing field for emerging creatives within the Music video landscape. Her inclusivity agenda is really impressive and she holds space for diverse directors and music artists to collaborate and flourish.”- Sophia Lamont
Kassandra Powell: Music Video Director + Art director + Videographer
“Kassandra is a well respected part of the queer scene in London and has an incredible visionary eye for art. Kass filmed our first ever aftermovie for HE.SHE.THEY. in 2018 and has completed multiple others for us since. Her amazing eye has helped us tell the story of our parties the world over and really capture the moment. Not only this she directed 2 incredible music videos for some of the first tracks on our label. She's the co-founder of the incredible Obscure Creative films: https://www.instagram.com/obscurecreative/?hl=en and shoots some of the most interesting visual content i've seen for music videos. She's become even busier during the pandemic, where restrictions have allowed, shooting incredible engaging content to help people connect to their audiences whilst they couldn't perform live.”- Sophia Kearney
Laila Mckenzie: Founder and Co-Author Lady of the House Executive Director of Fr808dom Ltd
“Laila and her team have worked so hard this year to Celebrate, Champion and Honour women in Electronic Music and Beyond. The book has told 150 women’s stories to the world. By telling the storys of the women who have unpinned our scene we rewrite the narrative and shine a light on who really defined the business to where it is now.
Laila has not only co wrote the book Lady Of The House but she has created a movement which intends to shake up the perceived power dynamic of the past and really show that it is women who underpin the very soul of our scene. “- Maria May
Nneka Jackson: Writer and Legal Professional
“Nneka Jackson has been a published writer since 12 years old. In 2020 she was commissioned to write and voice a spoken word piece for Nike NCG. She served as Editor in Chief of black queer LA magazine,Shew. Where she successfully reached the motherland and secured submissions from the wider African diaspora. Currently she is working on the Caribbean's first visual spoken word album.
Her work has been published in Gyal dem and she is the editor in Chief of Eek a vagina. Her influence have ranged from LA, London to the Caribbean. She is not only redefining how creatives are viewed but creating a bridge for creatives from Africa and the Caribbean to access new markets while advising them on IP through her training as a lawyer. She defines the new creative economy.”- Melanie Wynter
Raissa Pardini: Graphic Designer & Creative Director
Raissa Pardini is an Italian-borned, UK multi-disciplinary designer specialised in Digital Typography, Graphic Design and brand focus. She has been working for many of the most interesting music artists, labels, art and culture projects around the world. She has been curved her design passion between Milan, Berlin, London and finally, Glasgow.
Her work have just been added to the V&A permanent collection.
She mixes old-school typography and colourful details with a contemporary eye and critique.
Tami Makinde: Managing Editor
“I really admire her dedication to what she does and how much growth I’ve seen her experience within the past year, from an intern all the way to the managing editor at The Native.”- Pamela Omagbitse
Virgil Abloh: American Fashion Designer
Virgil Abloh was born in 1980 in Rockford, Illinois, USA, to a family of immigrants from Ghana. He spent his young years in Rockford and, in 2002, he achieved a B.Sc. Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 2006, he graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and received his Master of Architecture.
In 2009, during his internship at Fendi in Italy, Abloh got to know world-famous rapper Kanye West and they started a collaboration together. In 2011, Kanye West appointed Abloh as his agency's creative director. In 2013, the designer started his own fashion house "Off-White", specializing in high-end streetwear, with main offices in Milan, Italy. This was followed by a number of successful collaborations with well-established companies such as Nike and IKEA.
In March 2018, Abloh was also appointed the menswear artistic director at Louis Vuitton. In November 2021, he died after a long struggle with cancer.