Introducing: FAC Artist Advocates - Nadine Shah, ShaoDow & Eckoes
Advocate Artists fulfill a new role for contemporary and influential artists within the FAC; advocating policy initiatives amongst the artist community, influencing policy makers in government to hear artists’ views directly and, encouraging emerging artists to pursue valuable careers by leading the FAC’s education and outreach programmes.
Announcing the appointments, FAC Chief Executive, Lucie Caswell, said:
“I am delighted to announce Nadine, Eckoes and ShaoDow coming onboard as Advocate Artists. Our constituency is at the heart of music business and we remain the only UK body solely representing named, performer artists.
“This year we look forward to unveiling some truly groundbreaking initiatives that will help deliver grass roots development, education imperatives, welfare reforms and improved copyright legislation. Our mission is for artists to be recognised and rewarded for their immense socio-economic and cultural value. To accomplish all this, to grow and to support all UK artists, I am delighted to welcome these fantastic role models into team FAC.”
Nadine Shah said:
“Finally an organisation that properly helps to provide a voice for artists within the music industry and to government. As a musician it is so important to me to be a part of a community surrounded by my peers for advice and education. I'm honoured to be an Advocate Artist for the FAC and to be a spokesperson and represent the great work that they do. “
Shaodow said:
“It is an honour to join the FAC as an Advocate. Having built my career entirely independently from the ground upwards, I can think of few organisations that represent my artistic ethos and desires for the music industry as a whole. I believe my mission as a rapper and creative entrepreneur has always been to entertain and inspire. I look forward to doing this and more alongside the Featured Artists’ Coalition.”
Eckoes added:
"I’m so excited to be working with the FAC because there’s nothing else like them out there. An entity that understands artists and wants to empower them by creating a space for all the necessary information is just priceless. I’m proud to come on board, & we have some great things in the pipeline”
Introducing FAC Advocate Artists
Nadine Shah is a songwriter and musician from the north east of England and born of Pakistani/Norwegian heritage.
Her first album Love Your Dum and Mad was released in 2013 and received much critical acclaim not only for its musical components but also its political message of raising awareness to those suffering with mental health illnesses. Current album Holiday Destination, has won an array of plaudits, including being serially playlisted by BBC 6 Music and one of their Albums of 2017.
Nadine’s unique voice has been in high demand and has seen her collaborate with such artists as Portishead, Vivienne Westwood, The Camerata Orchestra, Ghostpoet, Charles Hazlewood, The Invisible and John Cale.
Nadine is no stranger to speaking out for causes she believes strongly in, whether it be promoting mental health awareness, defending local venues or championing women’s rights. She is a passionate and articulate campaigner for the interests of artists, including working with the PRS for Music Foundation and being an ambassador for Independent Music Week.
ShaoDow is a professional Rapper, Manga Author and possible Ninja. Trained in Shaolin Kung Fu in China, he used the tenacity and determination learned from his martial arts to build his music career independently. Managing director of his own label DiY Gang Entertainment, he now makes a fulltime living from his music.
Winner of The AIM 2017 Hardest Working Artist award, he has sold over 25,000albums independently, toured the UK, Europe, Asia and South America,performed at Reading and Leeds Festivals, annihilated his Fire In The Booth and opened for the likes of Tech N9ne, Wiley, Skepta, Stormzy and more.
British musician ECKOES is both a sharp-sighted futurist and a nostalgic sentimentalist. In her music and her listening habits she merges cutting-edge textures, intimate sensual sounds, and soulful pop hooks into her sublime and unmistakable sonic world.
ECKOES is one of the most intriguing and emotive new outpourings to emerge from the London circuit and tastemakers’ praise has come in quick from Clash, Wonderland, Indie Shuffle, Afropunk, the MOBO awards and Q. On the airwaves she’s received support from Tom Robinson at BBC 6Music, BBC Introducing, and Amazing Radio, setting the stage nicely for the release of her debut EP next year.