Music Mixer: DIY Artist - Releasing Music in 2027

A series of five music industry networking events bringing together artists, industry professionals, educators and community leaders for informal fireside conversations, audience Q&A and facilitated networking. The programme is designed to strengthen Rochdale's music ecosystem, connect emerging talent with industry expertise, and showcase the borough's growing creative infrastructure. 

An exploration of how independent artists can successfully release and promote music in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. 

Yemi Bolatiwa 

Soul Artist / Singer / Freelance Musician 

Yemi Bolatiwa is a Manchester-based soul artist, songwriter and vocalist whose music draws on soul, R&B and jazz, with influences including Sade, Lauryn Hill, Lianne La Havas and Mary J. Blige. A versatile live performer, Yemi has appeared across many of Manchester’s leading venues including Band on the Wall, Gorilla, O2 Ritz and Blues Kitchen, alongside performances across the UK. Her work combines powerful contemporary soul songwriting with a strong emphasis on live musicianship and collaboration. 

Scott Lewis 

Label Manager, EMI North 

Scott Lewis is Label Manager at EMI North, the major-label regional operation established to support artists and music infrastructure across the North of the UK. Before joining EMI North in 2023, Scott founded and ran Leeds independent label Clue Records, working with artists including The Wedding Present, Bored At My Grandma’s House, Van Houten and Treeboy & Arc. His wider background spans artist management, touring, education and artist development, including work with Leeds Conservatoire, Launchpad and Come Play With Me. 

Jeremy Pritchard 

Musician / Everything Everything 

Jeremy Pritchard is a musician and bassist with Manchester-formed band Everything Everything. Since forming in 2007, the band have become one of the UK’s most distinctive alternative acts, releasing seven studio albums and receiving two Mercury Prize nominations and five Ivor Novello nominations. Jeremy studied Popular Music and Recording at the University of Salford, where he met Everything Everything frontman Jonathan Higgs, and has subsequently built nearly two decades of experience recording, writing and touring internationally as part of the band 

Event Timings: 

7:00pm –Doors open 

7:30pm–8:15pm –Fireside chat 

8:15pm–8:30pm –Audience Q&A 

8:30pm–9:30pm –Facilitated networking