Music Conference

shesaid.so at ADE 2024

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shesaid.so is excited to renew its partnership with ADE this year, offering activities that include a mentoring program for mentors and mentees of all genders as part of ADE Lab, along with a shesaid.so Pro Talk and Mixer as part of the ADE Pro program on Thursday, October 17th, powered by Ballantine’s True Music Fund.

At ADE 2024, shesaid.so will host a Pro Talk on Thursday, October 17, marking 10 years since its inception as an online community designed to bring women of the music industry together and bring awareness to the disparity that still exists in the business today.

This year’s discussion, featuring shesaid.so founder Andreea Magdalina, Spotify's Phiona Okumu, and artist Aluna, will focus on the challenges of monopolization and the underrepresentation of non-traditional electronic music genres, markets, and identities.

In addition to the Pro Talk, our presence at ADE will include a Mixer and networking session powered by Ballantine's True Music Fund, offering an opportunity for global talent and industry professionals to connect and collaborate. The Mixer will feature a live performance by Tati au Miel, presented by MUTEK Montréal, FIBER Festival, and shesaid.so, as well as DJ sets by Aluna b2b Storm Mollison.

Please note you will need an ADE Pro pass to access the shesaid.so panel and Mixer taking place at Felix Meritis. If you are a shesaid.so ALICE, NINA or ALLIES member please reach out to us to unlock your discount on ADE Pro passes.

The we.grow at ADE mentoring program will focus on supporting music industry professionals as part of ADE Lab 2024. The program will feature a total of 5  mentors and 5 mentees. Mentors will be curated from the shesaid.so community and announced on September 20th. 

shesaid.so has been working with ADE since 2017 with a focus on programming around diversity and inclusion in the music industry and a mentoring program that paired senior-level members from the shesaid.so community with mentees selected by ADE Lab. Since then, our team started shifting their focus towards programming that investigates the music business and educates its community on topics that are designed with shesaid.so’s core values at heart: diversity & inclusion, collaboration, and transparency.

shesaid.so @ ADE part of the ADE Pro Program

ADE Pro Talk

Day: Thursday, 17th October 

Time: 16:00-16:45  

Location: Concertzaal room, Felix Meritis

Title: 10 years of shesaid.so & nurturing micro-communities in global markets

Description: Join shesaid.so as it reflects on 10 years since launching its online community that aimed to bring women of the music industry together and bring awareness to the disparity that still exists in the business today. This talk aims to shed light on monopolization and the lack of support across non-traditional electronic music genres, markets or identities. How can we ensure that these values that built the business in the first place continue to represent the future of electronic music?

Speakers: Phiona Okumu, Aluna, Andreea Magdalina

shesaid.so Mixer at ADE powered by Ballantine’s True Music Fund

“Rêverie” Live AV performance by Tati au Miel presented by MUTEK Montréal & FIBER Festival

DJ sets by Aluna b2b Storm Mollison 

Day: Thursday, 17th October 

Time: 17:00-19:00 

Location: Concertzaal room, Felix Meritis

Head HERE for more info & to RSVP

we.grow at ADE Mentoring Program

we.grow at ADE 2024 is a mentorship program presented by ADE Lab and shesaid.so, a global music community of women, gender nonconforming people and allies of all genders whose aim is to create an equitable music industry for all through education, events, mentorship,  networking and job opportunities.

In 2024, the program will focus on supporting music industry professionals as part of ADE Lab 2024. The program will feature a total of 5  mentors and 5 mentees and mentors will be curated from the shesaid.so community.

For more info about the we.grow at ADE Mentoring Program, including the full list of Mentors, head HERE.

shesaid.so panel at Beyond the Music global music conference in partnership with Musicians'​ Union

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Join shesaid.so at Beyond The Music global music conference in partnership with Musicians'​ Union.

We are hosting a panel titled "Misogyny In Music: The Truth" with guest speakers; Zelda Perkins (Can’t Buy My Silence), Jen Smith (CIISA) and artist Ni Maxine , moderated by Dr Diljeet Bhachu, FHEA FRSA (Musicians’ Union) on Thursday 10th October at 15:15—16:30 pm BST.

Description: The previous government’s Women & Equalities Committee "Misogyny In Music" report underlined how ingrained misogynistic culture is in the music industry, and the rejection of the recommendations revealed a worrying lack of seriousness, understanding and responsibility towards half of this industry’s workers. In a drive to rewrite the cultural boundaries of the music business by truly understanding the difficulties women face, Beyond The Music gives the stage to those who want to share their experiences, gathering experts to discuss and shape the brand-new voluntary regulation.

Date: Thursday 10th October

Time: 15:15—16:30 pm BST

Location: Aviva Studios, Manchester

shesaid.so Members get a 20% discount on Delegate Passes; find the discount code at the Community Hub.

Delegate Tickets HERE & Beyond the Music Information & Listings

shesaid.so Guide to SXSW 2024

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We compiled a guide to SXSW 2024 featuring a selection of talks, parties, panels, interviews, and showcases curated by our community.

SXSW is an essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features sessions, music and comedy showcases, film and television screenings, world-class exhibitions, professional development and networking opportunities, tech competitions, awards ceremonies, and much more.

March 8-16 in Austin, Texas for the

2024 SXSW Conference & Festivals.

Update: Artists are pulling out from SXSW

Bands, including Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap, have withdrawn from the South by Southwest due to the event's sponsorship with the US Army, which they link to the military's support for Israel in the Gaza conflict. Kneecap expressed solidarity with Palestine and emphasized the unacceptable ties between the festival and the military. Other artists, such as Lambrini Girls, Scowl, Sprints, Okay Shalom, and Squirrel Flower, have also canceled performances at SXSW, citing objections to the festival's association with defense contractors and the US Army's sponsorship. The artists mentioned financial impacts but asserted their stance against war profiteering and support for the Palestinian cause. The festival, celebrating film, comedy, and music, has not commented on the withdrawals.

NME and BBC articles.

MARCH 10

Poolsuite & Yahoo proudly present DISCO(NNECT) at SXSW

Date & Time: Sunday March 10 at 2pm 'til midnight | Location: Hotel Van Zandt and open to all

An all-day, all-night rooftop disco affair featuring THE KNOCKS (DJ SET), SOUL CLAP, SHUBOSTAR and WONDEROSSO.

With free cover, complimentary cocktails, exclusive merchandise & gifts from the esteemed Vacation® sunscreen corporation.

RSVP HERE

Mindfulness Over Perfection: Getting Real On Mental Health

Date: Mar 10, 2024 | Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm CT

Location: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom D (Mental Health)

In this panel session, Wondermind co-founders Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefey will explore the importance of bringing mental health conversations into the light alongside Solomon Thomas and Dr. Corey Yeager - not just for decreasing stigma and building awareness, but as a way to deal in hard times. Moderated by Dr. Jessica Stern, the conversation will cover the importance of flexibility over strict routines in mental healthcare, dealing with negative self-talk, and getting real about when you’re not feeling OK.

Info Here

MARCH 11

A Ridiculous Boat Party

Date: March 11

The Ridiculous Boat with Ridiculous Biz returns during SXSW 2024 for a second year on Lady Bird Lake with two events; a dockside lounge and our very special sunset cruise. Join this unique event space where a curated guest list of innovative music industry and tech delegates can attend, network and enjoy musical performances.

Very limited capacity! Please register your interest for a chance to secure your ticket.

*Please note that due to high demand, registering doesn't guarantee you a place. Those that have been successfully allocated a ticket will be contacted via email on Friday 8th March 2024 with event start time and address. 

RSVP HERE

SXSW panel: New markets in Europe - How Cities Become Music Incubators

Date: Monday, March 11

Time: 4 - 5pm CDT

Location: Parkside, 301 East 6th Street, Austin, TX, USA

Are you curious about the emerging music scenes in Europe? This panel will dive into the fascinating topic of how cities across the continent are transforming into music incubators.

Speakers:

Ruth Koleva: Representing SoAlive Music Conference, Sofia Live Festival, Prophon Bulgaria; Board Member of IMPALA.
Vasil Anastasov: From ANMIP-BG and Muze Records.
Mila Georgieva: Vice President of the Bulgarian Music Association; Board Member of the European Music Council

Info & RSVP

MARCH 12

VibeLab at SXSW

How can Nightlife go towards greener future and what role does AI play

Date: Tuesday, March 12th, 2024

Time: 18:00 – 20:00 CST

Location: Thompson Hotel, 506 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701, USA

Details: Two sessions will explore the intersection of technology, culture, and sustainability within the nightlife and live entertainment industry.

Panel 1: Community Perspectives on AI in Nightlife and Live Entertainment

Time: 18:30 – 19:10 CST

Understanding the ethical dimensions of Artificial Intelligence in nightlife. Join moderator Mirik Milan, along with speakers Andreea Magdalina, Max Penk, Jess Reia, Jameson Thomas, and Lorrain da Silva.

Panel 2: Transformation of Nightlife for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Time: 19:15 – 20:00 CST

The urgency for sustainable development in urban nightlife requires a collaborative effort. Explore strategies with moderator Lutz Leichsenring and speakers Kady Yellow, Niklas Effenberger, Eli Goldstein, and DJ SHANI.

NIGHT SCHOOL launch and first open call

Time: 18:20 – 18:30 CST

In addition to the panels at SXSW, VibeLab is launching the NIGHT SCHOOL project, a pioneering program aimed at shaping the future leaders of night culture and an open call for 15 candidates to become part of the 2024 NIGHT SCHOOL alumni.

More Information

African Music's Mainstream Impact on Culture & Community

Date: Mar 12, 2024 | Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm CT | Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 18AB

Speakers: Liz Agyeman (TuneCore), Denisha Kuhlor (Stan), Melanie McClain (Blurred Lines), Christine Osazuwa (Shoobs / Measure of Music)

Join this dynamic discussion as we explore the significance of African music's journey to the mainstream. With the GRAMMYs now recognizing Afrobeats, Uncle Waffles groundbreaking Coachella performance, Burna Boy's historic UK stadium headline, and Ckay's billion-stream hit "Love Nwantiti," – the influence is undeniable. Discover the path that led us here and the immense value of African music audiences worldwide, all shaping the future of the global music industry. From streaming's impact to the transformative power of live shows, let's envision the exciting future for music from the diaspora.

The Artist Creative Process

Date: Mar 12, 2024 | Time 2:30pm – 3:30pm CT

Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB c

In this session, join singer, songwriter, orator, model, actress, visual artist, entrepreneur, and activist Kam Franklin, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Buffalo Nichols, singer, songwriter, guitarist and Jackie Venson, and moderator, emcee, television reporter, Writer-at-Large at Texas Monthly and Host of the National Podcast of Texas Andy Langer for a conversation about the artist creative process and how each artist approaches their process in creating music.

Info Here

Mothland, Fair Enough & M for Montreal present M for Mothland SXSW official showcase

Date: Tuesday, March 12

Location: Swan Dive, Red River Street, Austin, TX, USA 615 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States

Info & RSVP

March 13

POP Montreal & M for Montreal Official SXSW Showcase

Date: Wed, Mar 13, 2024 | Time: 6:30 PM CDT

Location: Swan Dive 615 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States

More than 12 Quebec and Canadian artists will share Swan Dive's two stages, presented by M for Montreal and POP Montréal.

DJ set by La Sécurité : 6:30 p.m.

Showcases: 8 p.m.

Full Line Up & RSVP

Symphonic Shindig

Date: Wed, March 13 | Time: 6:00pm-9pm

Location: Malverde, 400-B W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

Symphonic - one of the leading independent music distribution and marketing companies in the industry - is hosting an event to celebrate the festivities and meet up with like-minded creatives.

Make sure to snag some of Symphonic merch while you're there!

SXSW Badge is required.

RSVP & Info

Showcase: Sofia Kourtesis Presented by Electronic Music from Germany

Date: Mar 13, 2024 |. Time 2:30am — 2:00am

Location: Coconut Club Rooftop

Kourtesis’ music is the melding of her Berlin home and her South American upbringing, two
cultures that really couldn’t be further apart. Her debut album Madres, was released on Ninja Tune in October 2023.

Info Here

Showcase: Bathe Alone

Date Mar 13, 2024 9:00pm – 9:40pm CT | Location: Esther's Follies

Bathe Alone is the dream-pop moniker of multi-instrumentalist Bailey Crone. Taking shape in Atlanta, her haunting approach to songwriting and delicate vocal deliveries often draw comparisons to Beach House, Clairo, and The xx.

Her 2023 double EP, Fall With The Lights Down, is a sonic expression of nostalgic longing — with each part dedicated to one of Bailey’s great-grandmothers whom she never met. The release has been praised by media outlets like Under The Radar, FLOOD, Atwood Magazine, Ones to Watch, and notable fellow musicians like Sharon Van Etten. Bathe Alone has also recently opened for artists like Beabadoobee, Jadu Heart, Vacations, and Last Dinosaurs.

Info Here

LUKSO x Refraction: Austin with DJ D.DEE, SaliYah

Date: Wednesday, Mar 13 8:00pm

Venue: LoLo. 1504 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Refraction and LUKSO invite you to explore the exclusive experience by Berlin-based visual artists Cibelle Cavalli Bastos and Tabitha Swanson inspired by themes of identity and creativity in an interactive exhibition designed by Craig Barrow.

Exhibited digital artworks will be distributed exclusively to all event attendees on their very own Universal Profiles, powered by LUKSO blockchain.

RSVP & Info

MARSHALL FUNHOUSE SXSW 2024

Dates: March 13-15, 2024 | Time: 12pm-6pm, 7pm-2am | Location: Parish, 501 Brushy Street, March 13-15, 2024

Come for the live music. Stay for the legendary memories. Soak in the SXSW festival atmosphere you’ve come to know and love, but this time with a twist. Enjoy the music icons of today and tomorrow in our offbeat carnival world. Get ready to turn up the good times. Check back soon for more band and DJ announcements.

RSVP & Info

ROSKILDE FESTIVAL PRESENTS SXSW Official Music Showcase

Dated: 13th March | Time: 8pm-2am | Location: Empire Control Room

Roskilde Festival, one of Europe’s largest music festivals, is hosting a SXSW showcase with Music Export Denmark. 

The line-up features some of Denmark's most promising acts: Ivan$ito, Lucky Lo and Mina Okabe. International names Cumgirl8, Dry Cleaning and Kari Faux will also perform. 

 Roskilde Festival, is an 8-day event with an extensive music, art and activism program. 

For those 8 days the festival is Denmark’s 4th largest city with 130,000 inhabitants. 

Roskilde Festival is a non-profit event produced by 30,000 volunteers and every year ALL proceeds are donated.

The showcase is supported by Danish Ministry of Culture and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Info here

Canada House Music at SXSW: Day 1 & 2!

Join Canada House’s LIVE performances of up-and-coming independent bands from all across Canada.

Dates: Wednesday, March 13 · 12 - 5:30pm CDT & Thursday, March 14 · 12 - 5:30pm CDT

Location: Swan Dive 615 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States

This March, Swan Dive (615 Red River Street) will be your one-stop shop for all things Canadian as it transforms into Canada House at SXSW 2024. CIMA will be back for two full days of showcases on March 13 and 14 and will present 24 acts from all across the country.

Get there early because showcases will kick off at noon on both days and delegates are invited to join us beforehand for some delicious BBQ and the opportunity to mingle with the Canadians. Both days of showcases will start after the BBQ and will run through 5:30PM.

Info & RSVP

MARCH 14

How to Break Your International Artist in the US

Date: Mar 14, 2024 | Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm CT | Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 15

Speakers: Hallie Anderson (RAREFORM), Marshall Betts (TBA Agency), Nick O'Byrne (Look Out Kid), Alice Young (Virgin Music Group)

The US is one of the biggest and most competitive markets globally so how can independent international artists break-in and build an American fanbase. Through their experiences, each of these panelists have helped develop many successful international artist careers through touring, management, and marketing. This panel will address how to first enter the market and get started on a path to building an audience; how can you measure success; and how can “breaking” in a market be measured.

Info Here

Showcase: Miranda Joan Presented by SubmitHub Selects

Date: Mar 14, 2024 | Time: 10:00pm – 10:40pm CT | Location: Esther's Follies, 25 E 6th St. Austin TX 78751

Currently on tour with The Killers and fresh from performances this summer with Kylie Minogue, Orchestre National de Jazz at Montréal Jazz Festival and with CARRTOONS. Miranda has performed on national tours, played sold-out and headline shows at well-known New York venues. ‘Overstimulated’ is her highly anticipated new album, co-produced by herself and multi-instrumentalist, and bass extraordinaire CARRTOONS. “It is an album book-ended by songs of affirmation, of rooting, of returning to and loving oneself, intertwined with the messy, chaotic and interconnected web of my hopes, dreams, imagination, love, and heartach.

Info here

WOMEX AT SXSW 2024

Date: Thursday, 14 March | Location: Flamingo Cantina, 515 East 6th Street, Austin, Texas, USA

WOMEX once again returns to Austin, Texas, USA, to present the annual WOMEX Night at the SXSW festival.

The WOMEX Night is part of a bilateral, longterm partnership between WOMEX and SXSW: South By Southwest, designed to showcase upcoming talent on a global stage and open new networking avenues between artists and music professionals of the two events.

More Info

The International Touring Boom for Artists

Date Mar 14, 2024 | Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm CT | Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB (Music)

Speakers: Jon Lieberberg (Baron Management), Hans Schafer (Live Nation)

How does the live entertainment industry keep up with the perceived 'overnight' success of rising artists? Does skyrocketing on streaming platforms and social channels equate to selling out massive venues? Experts dive into these topics while discussing how the globalization of music turned into some of the most successful global tours for artists like RBD, Karol G, Peso Pluma, Kali Uchis and others from all over the world.

Where did the demand come from, how does touring fill the demand for these artists, what's next, and what is fueling this momentum?

Info Here

SELECTOR AT SXSW 2024

Date: FRIDAY 15 MARCH 2024, 20.00 (CT) – THE VELVEETA ROOM

Selector Radio is back and they are back at SXSW with another line-up of incredible and fast-rising UK talent: queer-led dance-pop outfit Porij, musician and DJ Nabihah Iqbal, experimental duo O., noise-punk mob Enola Gay, rapper and grime artist Chiedu Oraka, and singer songwriter Eleni Drake.

SELECTOR AT SXSW 2024

Info Here

MARCH 15

Presented by Houndstooth / MUTEK

Showcase: Aïsha Devi at Central Presbyterian Church

Date: Mar 15, 2024 | Time: 11:00pm – 11:50pm CT

No one on this planet sounds like Aïsha Devi. Her voice is her most powerful tool in a repertoire that includes thumping beats and rave stabs, seraphic and guttural singing, mystical linguistics and corporeal sonics.

Info Here

Showcase: Hinako Omori at Empire Control Room

Date: Mar 15, 2024 | Time: 3:00pm – 3:40pm CT

Since 2022’s critically acclaimed debut album “a journey…”, Hinako Omori has fast become one of the UK’s most compelling breakthrough musicians, blurring the lines between classical, electronic & ambient.

Info Here

Alice Longyu Gao Presented by Jaded | FRIENDS:FOREVER

Date: Mar 15, 2024

Time: 10:00pm – 10:40pm CT

Location: Empire Garage

Alice Longyu Gao is a Chinese singer, songwriter, DJ, and performance artist currently based in New York City and Los Angeles. Her music has been noted for its "bold hyperpop" production. Her music has been featured on BBC Radio as "Tune of The Week", and "Women of Choice" by Lady Gaga on Apple Music.

Info Here

Amber Lang Presented by CareFreeBlackGirl Cookout

Date: Mar 15, 2024

Time: 8:00pm – 8:30pm CT

Location: Palm Door on Sixth Patio

Fusing together various genres while blending an array of sounds from hip hop. pop and house music Amber Lang curates vibes that command the attention of audiences and fans alike. With an unforgettable persona and distinct style that brings high energy vibes that ignite crowds and connect with audiences. Amber Lang brings a notable a performance making for memorable moments.

Info Here

Father/Daughter + The Luna Collective Official SXSW Showcase

Date & Time: Friday, March 15 at 7pm CDT | Location: 301 East 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States

Father/Daughter is co-presenting an official showcase with The Luna Collective where every artist on the lineup is non-male.

The showcase is featuring: Limbo, Kaleah Lee, mui zyu, Asha Jefferies, Mia June & Madeleine Mayi.

RSVP

BMI Brunch at Geraldine's

Date: Friday, March 15th

Location: Geraldine's at the Hotel Van Zandt

Time: 10AM-3:00PM

One of the most anticipated events during SXSW 2024, the BMI Brunch, hosted by THEBROSFRESH, is taking place at Geraldine’s at the Hotel Van Zandt (605 Davis Street, Austin, TX).

The BMI Brunch is sponsored by George Dickel Bourbon, First Horizon Bank, ONErpm, The MLC, Liquid Death, Texas Music Office, Austin Music Movement, and the BMI Foundation.

Behind The Billboard Charts

Date: Mar 15, 2024

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am CT

Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 16AB (Technology/Music)

Billboard’s first national music chart launched over 80 years ago, and the Billboard rankings - including industry standards the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 - remain the definitive measurement of success in music, tracking the world’s most popular songs, albums, and artists. From The Beatles to Beyonce and everyone in between, Billboard has ranked the hits for decades across countless charts. In this session, hear from Managing Director of Charts & Data Operations at Billboard Keith Caulfield, senior music executive and founder of 10:22PM Celine Joshua, and Executive Vice President of Charts & Data Partnerships at Billboard Silvio Pietroluongo to find out how the Billboard Charts have been modernized and globalized to reflect the many means of music consumption in an ever-evolving borderless digital and social age.

Info Here

Baby Kahlo Presented by CareFreeBlackGirl Cookout

Date: Mar 15, 2024

Time: 10:15pm – 10:30pm CT

Location: Palm Door on Sixth Patio

Baby Kahlo, also known as Kahlo Muerto, is one of Baltimore’s rising, female rappers. Inspired by the style and art of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, she commands attention from everyone anytime she enters a room.

Info Here

Creating Vibrant Cities Through Nightlife Entrepreneurship

Date & Time: Mar 15, 2024 | 11:30am – 12:30pm CT | Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 9AB

Speakers: Brian Block (City of Austin), Lauren Goshinski, Raheem Manning (City of Philadelphia), Ben Van Houten (City and County of San Francisco)

In an increasingly homogenized world, a city’s independent nighttime economy–its bars, restaurants, nightclubs and music venues–is uniquely able to provide the authentic local experiences that nourish diverse communities, create meaningful experiences, and make our cities great places to live, work, and visit. A series of case studies from cities around the US will showcase policies, economic development tools, programs and placemaking strategies to attract and retain the independent music, culture and hospitality businesses that make our neighborhoods, downtowns, and cities unique and vibrant

Info here

MARCH 16

Abby Sage at The Creek and the Cave Backyard - Presented by Nettwerk x GRRRL Music Backyard Bash

Date: Mar 16, 2024

Time: 12:30am — 1:00am

Location: The Creek and the Cave Backyard, 611 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

Part of growing into adulthood means tearing down and reconstructing your narrative. This is what introspective performer Abby Sage has done on her striking, intensely personal debut album, The Rot, arriving March 1 via Nettwerk.

Info Here

Member Spotlight #40: Kaitlyn Davies

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For this month’s Member Spotlight we spoke to Kaitlyn Davies (she/her), a Canadian based in Lisbon, where she works and collaborates at the forefront of music and technology. She explores this nexus through research, facilitation and community organising in her roles at Friends With Benefits and Refraction DAO’s, and hosts radio shows on Refuge Worldwide and Cashmere Radio. Kaitlyn was kind enough to tell us more about her work in web3 and beyond, as well as to share some of her learnings and advice from her career so far.

shesaid.so: Tell us a little more about yourself, and your career journey so far.

Kaitlyn: Hi! I’m Kaitlyn, a Canadian based in Lisbon via Berlin, New York and London. I got my start in the music industry helping out at a university radio station in Toronto while I was in high school, which led me to an artist and brand development company where I held roles across public relations and artist management. I was feeling the itch to engage with bigger markets and live outside of my hometown Toronto, and ended up moving to London, UK in 2016. My time in London started out with me working in film festivals, but I could sense I wanted to be back closer to music. Through a stroke of luck and good timing, I ended up in the Boiler Room offices (which is where I first got introduced to shesaid.so!). Boiler Room was a wild ride and I spent time in both the London and New York offices over the course of the next 2 years, while also working on summer music festivals back in Canada. My visa in the UK was coming to an end but I wasn’t ready to leave Europe, and decided to move to Berlin in 2018. In Berlin I switched from working primarily in events and marketing to the recorded music industry, where I spent time in the !K7 Records offices before landing in the digital content operations department at SoundCloud for three years. 

While I was at SoundCloud, I started a collective, CO:QUO, with two amazing humans + fellow shesaid.so members, Mel Powell and PortraitXO. Our focus is to facilitate events, conversation and practice-based education across music, technology, art and science, and we’ve collaborated with artists, collectives, brands, and governmental funding bodies to bring our thinking to life. Operating at these intersections with CO:QUO and alongside some personal research, I inevitably ended up exploring blockchain and web3 technologies at the beginning of 2021. This research culminated in a series of digital events I produced with the collective exploring the future possibilities and limitations of technology for the music industry. This marked the beginning of my professional journey in the space, where I now work with and for two cultural DAO’s (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) Friends With Benefits and Refraction leading membership and curatorial partnerships, respectively. There is so much more to be said in between all of these lines, but an interest in the way humans, communities, art and technology interact has been the driving force behind what I do, why I move, and why I stay up late on the internet or at the rave. 

shesaid.so: What do you consider some of your greatest career achievements, and why?

Kaitlyn: Although I’d consider CO:QUO more of a personal project than career achievement, starting the collective has opened so many doors and given me the opportunity to pursue ideas collaboratively. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done, from our first residency at the Night Embassy to our monthly radio show on Refuge Worldwide.

This summer, I had the pleasure of working on the programming team for the inaugural FWB FEST in Idyllwild, California. The extended Friends With Benefits fam gathered in the forest for some big discussions, wicked musical performance, and one of the most magical sunsets I’ve ever seen. Pulling off this event with our dream team, and receiving positive feedback from our community was a big career highlight. 

Literally, the day after FWB FEST ended, our curatorial team at Refraction huddled up to begin decision making on our Creative Grants programme, which has been such a rewarding process from day dot. The programme has allowed us to decentralize our operations and collection, while supporting members of the DAO in realizing creative projects all over the world. The redistribution of capital and lowering barriers to entry are a huge part of why I decided to get involved in web3, and this project has helped drive that mission. 

shesaid.so: What are some of the challenges you've faced, and how have they shaped you and your career?

Kaitlyn: I started in the industry pretty young and often found it hard for people to take me seriously. I won’t say those days are totally over, but I’ve grown into my various roles over the years and know how to stick up for myself after living and working through those interactions. 

The music and creative industries are incredibly precarious and extractive. Taking on second (and third, and fourth) jobs, having projects fall through at the last minute, and the personal and nepotistic nature of the industry are all realities that can be very unkind to workers. Thankfully, these realities can have silver linings. Getting to work across disciplines, on varied projects, with people I’m lucky to call friends keeps me motivated. 

shesaid.so: Your career to date has spanned several areas of the industry, from the intersection of music and tech as well as research and community. What are some of the key skills that have helped you get where you are today?

Kaitlyn: Staying organised, curious, and positive has brought me a long way. Spreadsheets are here to help and have helped me manage big projects and keep track of ideas and resources. When my curiosity is dwindling, I know it’s time to pick up a book or trawl a dark corner of the internet. Keeping a (mostly!) positive outlook helps me drown out a lot of noise. 

Criticism is care, and being open to feedback is really important. I tend to go all-in on projects, and can put blinders up which don’t allow me to collaborate or work effectively. It can be tough to hear, but it’s important to stay in service of the project or community you’re trying to serve, not yourself. 

shesaid.so: Here at shesaid.so we continue to curate informative and discursive Web3 content which has inspired questions from artists, managers, labels/publishers and more. For those dipping their toes in to Web3, could you tell us a bit more about your work in this space so far and any ways people could find out more?

Kaitlyn: My work in web3 focuses around community stewardship, curatorial practice, and knowledge sharing. Admittedly my financial literacy could be better, and my technical skills aren’t as sharp, but I’m working on it! An amazing aspect of the web3 community is how willing folks are to help and answer questions. 

In my experience, it’s difficult to toe-dip without totally diving in, but a great resource for folks at all levels of web3-knowledge and across different industry sectors is the research and Discord community stewarded by the folks at Water + Music. I am always referencing their published research, and the discourse that goes on in their Discord is impressive. 

Friends With Benefits and Refraction also have editorial arms that are publishing thought-leading ideas around DAOs, online artist communities, and creative uses of technology that readers might find illuminating. 

shesaid.so: Can you tell us about Refraction and what we can look out for from the community?

Kaitlyn: Yes! RefractionDAO is a group of artists, culture workers and creatively inclined people collaborating on ongoing events, releasing NFT projects, and producing written, visual, and audio content around art, culture, and music today. We’re enabled by blockchain technology, meaning that we have a governance token called $REFRACT, which helps us compensate community members for their efforts, while increasing their say in DAO-wide decision-making. We primarily convene on Discord and at in-person events around the world. 

We’ll be closing out the year with Refraction Festival Miami during Art Basel, and a series of events in Tokyo accompanied by an NFT drop of the artwork displayed— stay tuned! I also mentioned our ongoing Creative Grants projects, which you can check out here.  If any of this sounds interesting, you can apply to join the DAO here. 

shesaid.so: You host radio shows on Refuge Worldwide and Cashmere Radio. What kind of music are you loving at the moment that we can expect to hear from your shows?

Kaitlyn: Big love to recent albums from Lucrecia Dalt, Sudan Archives, Moin, Marina Herlop and Alex G. I’ve definitely been in a moody guitar music and power pop phase recently after a summer of listening to a lot of UKG and techy-house mixes on SoundCloud. I am near constantly digging through Discogs and record store bins (I’ve been regretting not buying an All Saints 12” all morning), and am as big a fan of older releases as I am of new ones. Have had Brigitte Fontaine’s 1972 album Comme à la Radio and Little Annie’s 1992 Short and Sweet on repeat recently. Expect to hear all of this on upcoming radio shows! 

shesaid.so: Can you share one piece of advice that has stayed with you in your career and why was it impactful to you?

Kaitlyn: Being resilient is everything, and chasing your dreams is hard. There are ups and downs in every career path, but the creative industries are never-ending roller coasters. Realizing that it’s a skill and not a given to navigate the bumps has been integral to the way I go about my day-to-day. 

shesaid.so: Which people in the music industry are you inspired by, and why?

Kaitlyn: Holly Herndon, Mat Dryhurst, Liz Pelly, David Turner, Cherie Hu, Elijah, Bas Grasmayer, PortraitXO, Sarah Farina, DJ Sprinkles, Hanif Abdurraqib, Bob Boilen, Jessica Hopper, Kathleen Hanna, Patti Smith, Neneh Cherry, Britney Spears. Tirelessly, relentlessly, doing their thing. 

shesaid.so: How can people reach you if they want to connect?

Kaitlyn: Always there when you call, always online. 

Words by Clare Everson