On the Couch with MEX On the couch with MEX

On the Cape Talk show the Business of Entertainment I had as my special guest Kwame Kwaten Vice-Chair of the UK’s Music Managers Forum.

Kwame has in his 30+ year career in the music industry, been a musician, manager, producer, consultant and A&R.

And now has founded artist service company Ferocious Talent where he runs everything from top to bottom, his A&R skills are unparalleled.

His own writing and production credits include work for Jay Z, Shola Ama, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones and Seal to name a few.

The band, D-Influence (which Kwame was a member of), signed to Atlantic Records, and accomplished many amazing moments such as supporting Michael Jackson, Prince and James Brown on tour.

His A&R and management work over the years has seen him discover Shola Ama, Laura Mvula and Rumer resulting in millions of records sales and multiple award wins and nominations.

Kwame is also currently a Trustee at The Brits Trust, Vice-Chair of the UK’s Music Managers Forum, Trustee of the MOBO Charity and Co-Chair of the BRITS Diversity Committee.

He is also Co-Director of a social enterprise company, Cre8ing Vision, with Andrea Euell and Nicola Charles.This company houses The Ultimate Seminar, Ultimate Live, The Ultimate Circle, The A&R Initiative Focus Groups and The MBOL Show.

Enjoy this exclusive interview on Cape Talk, from Thursday 30 May at 9pm with Grammy-winning duo, Blue Lab Beats.

Context:

"Few acts encapsulate the breadth of what’s been happening in London’s jazz and neo-soul worlds as well as Blue Lab Beats” - Loud & Quiet

“Fresh innovation...the duo’s broadest statement yet” - CLASH

“Their sound is a shining example of the youth-driven, boundary-breaking creativity that characterises the blossoming scene which is dominating the capital” - DUMMY

Grammy winning duo Blue Lab Beats one of the fastest-rising production duos in the world right now have just released there fourth studio album, Blue Eclipse.

The prodigiously talented duo who ended 2023 by selling out KOKO and picking up their second MOBO Nomination, got 2024 off to a stunning start with the sumptuous soul groove of their new single “Wait A While”, featuring Grammy-nominated Amber Navran, LA-based singer/producer, and founding member of Neo-Soul trio Moonchild, and rising UK Neo-soul artist Farah Audhal.

Blue Eclipse heralds an exciting new era for Blue Lab Beats and the 12 songs reveal the depth and breadth of producer NK-OK, and multi-instrumentalist Mr DM’s musical ambition.

Featured guests include Mercury Prize nominated Kojey Radical alongside Daley, on “Take Time”, IDK & Jay Prince on “Say Wow”, Amber & Farah on “Wait A While”, and Poppy Daniels on the title track.

“We called this album Blue Eclipse as a nod to Blue Skies, our first EP.

We wanted to embrace some themes and sounds that we’ve used throughout our career and make an album that truly represents us.

Using sky titles acts as a reminder of people in our lives who inspired us and left a very important mark on us.

We wanted to welcome old friends as well new ones onto this project and we are so happy with everyone’s amazing contributions.” Blue Lab Beats.

Listen below

Blue Eclipseopen.spotify.com

Track-listing:

1.Never Doubt

2.Say Wow (feat. IDK, Jay Prince)

3.Rice & Peas (feat. Kyra, Bnny Hunna, Aidan)

4.Cherry Blossom (feat. Ben Jones & Parthenope)

5.Sky Paradise (interlude)

6.Wait A While (feat. Amber Navran, Farah Audhali)

7.Sunset In LA

8.Nights In Tokyo (feat. Kaidi)

9.Take Time (feat. Kojey Radical & Daley)

10.Guava (feat. Poppy Daniels, Richie Seivwright, Camilla George, Kaidi)

11.Blue Eclipse (feat. Poppy Daniels)

12.Brother (feat. Natalie Lindi)

Starting out as bedroom producers, remixing tracks for A-listers such as Dua Lipa and Rag’N’Bone Man, on to supporting the likes of Roy Ayers and Thundercat, and producing on Kojey Radical’s ‘Reason To Smile’, Blue Lab Beats have been dreaming big from the beginning.

Their 2018 debut album XOver, a brilliant blend of analog and electronic sounds, included the track ‘Pineapple’, which amassed over 10 million streams alone, while 2022’s ‘Motherland Journey’ proved a work of great musical ambition and imagination featuring vocals from the late great Fela Kuti, as well as one of a kind artists Tiana Major9, Ghetto Boy, Ego Ella May, Kofi Stone, and Pip Millet.

The last two years have seen Blue Lab Beats emerge from the bedroom, and into the ears, minds and hearts of millions of music lovers with over 50 million streams, a GRAMMY for their production on Angelique Kidjo's 'Fired Up' track from her ‘Mother Nature’ LP, a Jazz FM Innovation Award and now two MOBO nominations.

The pair also contributed the key track "Blow You Away" (Delilah) featuring Afrobeats artist Ghetto Boy, for the hugely acclaimed British film Rye Lane and also made their silver screen debut when they performed in the movie.

Playing two electrifying sets at Glastonbury Festival in 2023, the Blue Note in Tokyo, Love Supreme in Japan , three shows at Jazzaladia Festival in Spain, a sold out show at the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, a support with Robert Glasper at Jazz A Vienne and straight on to both Montreux Jazz Festival an

Guy was back on Thurs at 9pm on CapeTalk



Talking about:

Shortage of training for filmmakers in the business aspects of film.

How are they financed? How do you justify the cost and what is the plan to repay the money.

Lack of institutional financing and the negative thinking around film and television projects

The importance of having the legal issues pertaining to a project resolved from the outset – this extends to chain of title, production and distribution agreements.

#businessofentertainment

With a background in corporate law at one of South Africa’s big five law firms, Guy joined the firm in 2002 and seeing an opportunity of an under serviced sector began practicing in the broader field of media and entertainment.

The firm has since grown into a formidable boutique entertainment firm that is often described as “punching above its weight” given its client base in the film and television sector both locally and internationally.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the legal and business end of the entertainment industry and his involvement in the production and/or financing of more than 200 projects, Guy is in a unique position to offer quick and comprehensive advice on all aspects of film, television, development, production, financing and distribution.

Guy’s clients include global financing institutions active in film and television financing, studios, streamers and production companies as well as some well-known individual creatives.

Guy has numerous film and television credits to his name including the Oscar nominated film “Invictus”.

He is highly regarded both locally and internationally as South Africa's leading entertainment lawyer and has been instrumental in securing production work for his clients in excess of three billion rand.

Guy is also a regular speaker at industry events.

Peter Lacey is a successful entrepreneur who comes from a background in the entertainment software industry, having successfully built S.A's largest independent entertainment software company, Vision Software, before selling it to Electronic Arts (EA) and running the African division for four years.

Peter has always taken pride in the fact that South Africa has tremendous talent, both in software development and musical ability, and that all we ever needed was a channel to the international market to develop that intellectual property offering.

Peter is a huge music fan, having been a DJ at college and he has known Brian O'Shea for 20 years. When he decided to leave EA in 2000 there was only one thing he wanted to do: create a music company with a global reputation for great music.

Peter is a natural risk taker who has brought all artists onto the label under his motto "Pride, Passion, Patience and Persistence". Peter handles all exploitation and other business activities. These include publishing, personal and business management arms to young artists striving to break out of the traditional low income base artists presently have in this country.

Peter Lacey is a successful entrepreneur who comes from a background in the entertainment software industry, having successfully built S.A's largest independent entertainment software company, Vision Software, before selling it to Electronic Arts (EA) and running the African division for four years.

Peter has always taken pride in the fact that South Africa has tremendous talent, both in software development and musical ability, and that all we ever needed was a channel to the international market to develop that intellectual property offering.

Peter is a huge music fan, having been a DJ at college and he has known Brian O'Shea for 20 years. When he decided to leave EA in 2000 there was only one thing he wanted to do: create a music company with a global reputation for great music. Peter is a natural risk taker who has brought all artists onto the label under his motto "Pride, Passion, Patience and Persistence". Peter handles all exploitation and other business activities. These include publishing, personal and business management arms to young artists striving to break out of the traditional low income base artists presently have in this country.