FAC Insights: Hello To Normal Land series 2021 throwback
Did you know? In 2020 FAC and Attitude is Everything launched a strategic partnership to work towards ensuring that the rights and interests of Deaf and disabled artists are fairly represented within the music industry. As part of this partnership, Hello To Normal Land was created - a series of short conversations with artists from AiE’s Next Stage initiative, exclusively for FAC Insights. Today we want to look back at all four Hello To Normal Land episodes, which we highly recommend listening to. Featuring conversations with artists Kelli Blanchett, Howard Doupe, FAC Ambassador Ruth Lyon and Robin Jax. Enjoy!
Next Stage is AiE’s artist development initiative which increases the representation of artists with access requirements, whether they identify as deaf/disabled or not. During ‘Hello To Normal Land’ editions of FAC Insights, artists within the Next Stage network shared how they’re keeping creative during the pandemic, their experiences of working differently and how they navigate the music industry.
In this episode Rich from AiE spoke to musician Kelli Blanchett, who had been performing with band Self Esteem prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. With funding secured to launch her solo project, Kelli talked about preparing a debut EP and film project to be released later this year, produced by Rebecca Taylor (Slow Club, Self Esteem).
In this episode, Rich spoke to Howard Doupe - Southport based songwriter and musician who begun 2021 with a decisive step forward. His band Bobhowla released their debut album on 6th of February, recorded and produced by Rod Jones of Idlewild. The record has allowed Howard to explore and open up about his lived experience of blood disorder Haemophilia.
In this third edition Rich checked in with our very own FAC Ambassador, Ruth Lyon. An artist, singer and composer of intense honesty, Ruth bares her soul with courage, conviction and vulnerability.
And here Rich talked to Robin Jax - a musician based in Birmingham, UK. He has made several recordings under the alias RobinPlaysChords, supported the likes of Purple Pilgrims, Alabaster dePlume, Thomas Truax and Madonnatron and more.
Attitude is Everything have been supporting the music industry for over 20 years, removing barriers for deaf and disabled artists, audiences and professionals so they can play their part. They are a disability-led charity that work in partnership with non-profit and commercial organisations to make what they do more accessible and inclusive: from big hitters like Glastonbury Festival, Reading & Leeds, British Summer Time and the 02 Arena - right down to many amazing grassroots venues across the UK.
More about Attitude is Everything