The Sound of the North Photo Shoot

Words & Images By Maddie Armstrong

The Brudenell was alive this Thursday, echoing with the sound of various music genres such as jazz, hip-hop, and rock, thanks to all of the attendees of EMI North Presents: a showcase of Northern musical prowess. It was near me photo studio where singer Lois Levin added a neo-soul touch, while Girlband’s alternative rock appetized the listeners with a blend of sounds, a testament to the abundant musical talent present in the event.

Aolly a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, EMI North marks its significance as the maiden major label office to be based outside of London in the UK. EMI North has been committed to recognizing and supporting musicians based in the North, ensuring the creative spectrum in London doesn’t eclipse the talent found in other parts of the country. The promising concept of springboarding budding artists with the influence of Universal from a studio in Leeds is highly beneficial.

The privileged, invite-only music festivity was a delightful experience for about 100 attendees across the country, who revelled in complimentary drinks and pizza alongside some striking performances. Clive Cawley, the President of the label, took the opportunity to share his fervor for fostering the careers of local Northern musicians from near my photo studio, demonstrating their talent in this particular event.

The journey to musical industry success often starts with stumbles, and some artists who took the stage needed some time to find their charisma. A perfect photo hinges on a good subject and proficient photos studios. Even those initially paralyzed by stage fright eventually get consumed in the rhythm if they hold genuine passion for music. This enabled a couple of the performers who were initially tense to relax, invigorating the audience, and providing me with a better view for my lens in my photography studio near me.

Lighting at the Brudenell can spontaneously change similar to my studio Leeds. There were gigs I shot where the lighting was as lively as a concrete wall, while others surprised me with magnificent flair. This time, it could have been better though. The artists’ faces were bereft of spotlight, shrouded with gloom as the background basked in sufficient light. This resulted in a lot of effort at my photography studio near me, enhancing the natural grit of an image, and a touch of Photoshop’s vintage presets for controlled highlights and intensified reds.

Despite the sporadic awkward stage presence and less than stellar lighting, the artists have that exceptional flare of talent – they were “buy-their-T-shirt” good. They are the raw talents still vying for a stable spot in the industry that we, gig photographers, always strive to capture in the photo studios. Though a singing voice can never be captured in a photo, the face of an artist swamped by their passion is definitely worth immortalizing. This is why my favourite artist to shoot that night was Girlband, who unquestionably vivified the stage. Their main vocalist delivered some strong guitar segments along with refined, smoky singing. The drummer perfectly connected with the audience by hammering those drums with pure delight, giving me stunning shots to work on in my studio photo near me.