Finding an artist

Before I began to plan my music video, I needed to find a song from an unsigned artist. I began by searching on www.unsigned.com, which provided me with a range of genres; Rock, Acoustic, Pop, Electro and Country. I firstly found an artist named Aaron Kemp from Ohio, who produces Acoustic/Alternative music. I was interested in his song Everything, which has a slow tempo with a continuous acoustic beat behind the lyrics.

I emailed the artist expressing my interest in his music, asking his permission to use his song for my music video;

6 September at 21.35                                                                                                                                                                                     Aaron Kemp,

I recently discovered you on www.unsigned.com, and was particularly interested in your song Everytime. I am currently in the process of planning a music video for my A Level project, and wanted to ask your permission to use your song. I can keep you updated with the production of the video, and I would greatly appreciate any ideas you may have.   

Many Thanks, Cat Watkins                                                                                                                                                                      C.watkins@hotmail.co.uk

 However, I unfortunately never got a reply. After allowing a week for Aaron to reply, I decided to search for another artist. An associate of mine informed me of Ed Sheeran an acoustic artist who lives in London, and is due to be signed by a record company in the near future. I was wary of this, as I thought that some of his songs maybe already listed and I would be unable to use some them.

I listened to his music through MySpace (www.myspace.com/edsheeran) and read his background information. I particularly liked The City, Sara and Never Be Kissed, the three songs had a positive ambience and a good narrative behind them. When listening to The City, it didn’t inspire any ideas and I feel I personally liked the song too much and wanted to work with something I did not initially have an opinion on. Sara seems a very personal song to the artist, also having the slowest tempo of the three. I felt that my only option for this song would be to follow a typical love narrative, as that is what the song tells the audience. Finally, Never Be Kissed has a positive instrumental beat throughout the song, with engaging lyrics. After listening to the song several times, I improvised suitable ideas for the song.  Once I’d decided on a song, I went about emailing Ed.

14 September at 18:41                                                                                                                                                                                            Ed Sheeran,

I’m about to start my A Level Media Studies project, where we have to produce a 3.00 – 5.00min music video.  I have listened few of your songs from your first Album, but I have also heard your other stuff on MySpace. I really like “Never be kissed”, and have a few ideas for it. Understandable that you must be busy with gigs and events, but if it’s at all possible, could I get permission from you to use it?

Thanks, Cat Watkins

C.watkins@hotmail.co.uk

14 September at 22.35                                                                                                                                                                                Definately, permission granted! if you can youtube it after you’ve done it then we both win!

Edsheeran@hotmail.co.uk

Here is my chosen song for the music video: