- Music Week is delighted to welcome Ezra Collective to the cover of our latest issue. It has been almost a year since they made history by becoming the first ever jazz act to win the Mercury Prize for their second studio album, Where I’m Meant To Be. With their follow-up LP on its way, the excitement around what the band has to offer next is palpable. Joined by the quintet’s manager Amy Frenchum and Partisan’s Jeff Bell and Zena White, Femi Koleoso and fellow bandmate Ife Ogunjobi dive into how the new record came to life, and talk staying grounded amidst the noise, identity and how they will never compromise the music.
- Meanwhile, the latest edition of the Music Week Interview sees Robots + Humans president Robert Ronaldson open up about life at Sony. In a conversation that takes in the role of technology in artist discovery and music’s ever-evolving relationship with data, the tech entrepreneur turned leading executive offers a fresh take on the UK’s issue with emerging talent.
- Elsewhere, ahead of the release of his highly-anticipated memoir, Rebel With A Cause, former Island president Darcus Beese opens up about how writing the book changed him and discusses his secrets to success, tackling discrimination in the industry and building a legacy to be remembered.
- Also in our features section, star songwriter and producer Kamille lays out her unconventional plans for the release of her brand new K2 project and KISS’ rising star Esi celebrates her new rap show, talks the genre’s future and traces her inspiring journey from community radio to national airwaves.
- Our final feature is a label services special, where a selection of key industry players outline the evolution of one of the industry’s most competitive sectors. There’s all of that and much, much more inside!
