MEET RACHEL BROWN – #1 INTERVIEWS WITH THE TEAM

The first part of our series, ‘Getting to Know the Team,’ begins with owner Rachel Brown, who established Northern Exposure (NE) in January 2015. Hailing from Rotherham but now living in Sheffield, Rachel will pursue her Master’s in Psychology this September at Sheffield Hallam University and is a mother to three children. She founded NE with the vision of discovering the next rock and roll sensation and helping promote and support the upcoming music scene in the UK and beyond.

So, how did you get into music?

Well, my journey began pretty early, as my grandparents operated a music booking/management agency in the ’70s right through to the early ’90s. I grew up backstage at clubs and travelled a lot, where my grandparents arranged for musicians to perform at various venues across the world. They were also travel agents, which allowed me to immerse myself in all these diverse music and cultures. They collaborated with notable figures like Tom Jones, Millie Small, Gerry & The Pacemakers, and Lynne Perry from Coronation Street, among others. They even met The Beatles and made it a point to raise substantial funds for charities as they were strong socialists. My true journey into music began somewhat late though, following my divorce at 35. Equipped with a business and creative writing credentials, I stopped writing for music blogs and established Northern Exposure. As we near our ten-year anniversary this coming January, and despite some hurdles, I can definitely hand on my heart say that it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

What the past ten years being like?

Excuse my French, but a fucking whirlwind haha. Initially, Northern Exposure demanded my attention around the clock but it has got easier. Over the years I had two Sheffield offices: one at The Leadmill and another above a record shop. From these locations, we hosted acoustic live sessions on weekends, complete with filming, band interviews, and lots of drinks ha. These sessions were integrated into our Tramlines fringe events, featuring evening performances by the bands. We had Marseille band very early on, Rolla band, RATS and more.

Our series of gigs at Jimmy’s in Manchester were also triumph, with sold-out shows. Our charity concert at The Leadmill with Trampolene was a hit, selling out completely, and our fundraising success led to an invitation to parliament. We also released an album within this time with The Slow Readers Club and Cabbage featuring, Microdot’s Brian Cannon also designed our cover which was amazing being a fan of his album covers throughout my life.

During this period, I also organised gigs at Pretty Green and Baracuta, with sponsorships from Brewdog, Merc Clothing, Red Stripe, Scotts Menswear, Pirate Studios and Tanqueray Gin, hosting several in-store events on Carnaby Street.

Participating in Soccer Six was a highlight, where our team comprising bands like Stray Scene, The Blinders, Bang Bang Romeo, The Kavaliers and more. We embraced a solid defeat with good spirits haha, after finishing last or near-last against about 500 teams. I also had the opportunity to work with the record labels Creation and Well Suspect, and I truly had an amazing experience with both. The band competitions we have hosted have always been a huge success with INmusic in Croatia and Lakefest in the UK, seeing our winners share stages with Queens of the Stoneage and the Cure, then to watch The K’s go on to much bigger things is really heart-warming.

In the last ten years we’ve worked and promoted hundreds of bands and its being stressful at times but overall a really positive experience. I’ve also developed a massive passion for music photography, which truly ignited my enthusiasm throughout.

How did you manage with covid? Seems like a very distant memory now doesn’t it?

Well, I don’t think anyone in the entertainment industry dealt well with it did they. It was horrific and a miracle so many promotors survived. After COVID though, I found myself feeling somewhat disheartened with music. Despite performing a socially-distanced gig with Tom from The Blinders and Bang Bang Romeo, I couldn’t shake the feeling of I’d had enough. So, after seven years dedicated to boosting Northern Exposure’s profile, I decided to resume my studies and pursue a career in therapy at university. NE continued maintaining a steady, more relaxed course until Anne stepped in.

After six months of her dedicated work, I invited her and Holly to sit at the top with me and Sophie, overseeing the magazine’s operations. Now with a strong team at the top and thanks to Annes hard work sorting out all the admin side of things, Northern Exposure is thriving again. Together with Anne, Sophie, Holly, and myself, we jointly steer NE. We also have the lovely Shiner Sam onboard still who helps us interview some of the best new and upcoming bands.

Is it tough to balance it all?

The pressure can certainly pile on, and Anne handles the majority of the administrative tasks. I empathise with this as I’ve experienced it myself, so we all make an effort to keep an eye on the workload and occasionally we need to say, “Whoa, time for a breather!” Especially Anne as she juggles managing a library with raising four children, we call her Wonder Woman because she literally is! Then there’s Sophie is employed full time at a magazine in Manchester, Holly balances college with a job and also freelances with her videography and photography, and I’m in full-time university again come September while working part-time, but we all do our best to support each other. We now have more than 30 contributors, and sometimes it can be challenging to keep up. The people we have working for us are really helpful too, it’s taken a while to get a team of people we can rely on and more importantly trust, but I feel we’ve managed that now. They are all excelling at the moment too; their photography, writing, and overall eagerness to work fill us with immense pride and we’re all like proud mothers!

The thing is this industry has the potential to really engulf you, leading to countless hours of work, as it is inherently not a 9-5 job, particularly when running your own business. I often emphasise that, being a non-profit, that our capabilities are limited and tell everyone not to stress or worry. Our personal lives, families, daily jobs, studies, and above all, mental health should always takes preference over everything else.

What’s your personal ethos regarding Northern Exposure and helping photographers and budding journalists get opportunities to flourish?

From the outset, my motto has been “It’s All About The Music,” and that remains true. I view NE as a stepping stone to greater opportunities for anyone aspiring to enter the industry, be it bands, solo artists, photographers, journalists, or simply avid music fans with a talent for writing. I want to give opportunities to people who deserve them.

Admittedly, I have never put financial gain first. But being a staunch advocate for encouraging working-class bands to pursue music, I understand how hard it is these days not just to survive but also to form a band, afford recording, and release music so we want to help where we can. My desire has always been to assist others, even if it means sacrificing my own interests (and wallet ha). Sometimes this approach has led to several setbacks, as the industry is fiercely competitive, which sadly contradicts my fundamental values.

You said you were a photographer, what’s the favourite picture you’ve ever taken?

It’s got to be this one of Anteros from TRNSMT in 2017. One of the first!

Tell me about your first album that you was obsessed with and tell me a memory surrounding it.

Ah, this is an easy choice; it has to be ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I always regard this record highly over anything else I listened to at the time because it was the album that truly got me into guitar music. It’s so sexually dirty in parts and I remember being on a school trip to Crowden and me and best friend Keith putting it on at night in the common room and the teachers where like “GET THIS OFF NOW” Hahaha. Funny times and good memories.

Who are your favourite bands (new and old) and why?

Tough question, how long have we got? I’m listening to a lot of Maximo Park, Fontaine’s DC, Jack Jones, The Bug Club, Idles, Royel Otis, Sprints, CMAT, Miles Kane, Andrew Cushion, The Drums, Joe Unknown, Bleachers, Coach Party at the minute. Then older favourites like New York Dolls, Joy Division, The Cure, The Dolly Rocker Movement, (older) Kings of Leon, PJ Harvey and Florence & the Machine, so it’s as always quite a mixed bag really. Studying psychology at 43 and possessing a massive love for music, I’ve contemplated how the bands I listened to while growing up influenced my attraction to a certain type of man, and whether that was beneficial. I’ve concluded it definitely was not, haha. So I’m steering away from the laddish, football loving type of indie stuff and veering towards a lot more poetic stuff which Maximo Park and Jack Jones do beautifully. Both possess the ability to transport me to another place and evoke a sense of nostalgia, which I adore. It’s quite powerful when music can achieve that.

Tell me something about the music industry that you love…

The small percentage of people who’s hearts are in this for the right reason.

Tell me something you hate…

I’ve always noticed that a significant number of people show scant individuality, often imitating others, which I find annoying. However, over time, I’ve come to see it as a compliment. The backstabbing, criticism, and overall negativity one can face, especially in an industry rife with large egos, can be frustrating. Fortunately, as time has passed, I’ve learned not to let it bother me. I know who I am, and I don’t need to be upset by someone’s opinion when they don’t truly know me. Now, my attitude is more dismissive: “Meh, whatever, move on.”

Should you meet your hero’s?

I’ve had the fortune to encounter and interview many people I never dreamed I’d meet doing Northern Exposure, so I would say, yes, meet your heroes. Just don’t idolise them excessively, as you may end up disappointed; they are human and flawed, just like the rest of us. They just happen to be wealthy and excel at playing, writing, and singing great music, while many of us are broke, sing like a cat in heat, and can’t play a single note, hahaha. I’ve never being one to run up and harass famous people (only Richard Ashcroft when I was absolutely steaming in New York and saw him get out of a limousine haha he was lovely, thank god eh!).

In this line of work and being a woman it is extremely easy to get the tag of ‘fan girl’ or even worse ‘groupie’. I’ve always, despite one genuine relationship, done my best to keep away from gaining those titles by steering clear of anyone who worked in music.

Best festival?

It’s a tough choice between Tramlines and the Isle of Wight. I adore Leeds and TRNSMT, but there’s something truly magical about Tramlines and IOW. My first visit to Kendal this year was great, can you all please sort out your headliners though? The line-ups in 2024 was a complete shit show.

If you had to listen to one album for the rest of your life what would it be and why?

Choosing between “Unknown Pleasures,” from Joy Division which holds profound memories and emotional connections to a loved one who has passed, and Maximo Park’s “Apply Some Pressure,” which has been a constant through many years of my life, is very difficult. “Apply Some Pressure” harbours both past and present memories, and it’s an album I always come back to with huge affection and love.

Give me one new track or ep for whoever is reading this should listen to now…

It’s got to be Jack Jones new releases because I’ve not had them off all morning! “Who Let The Bass Pump Through The Floor” is absolutely brilliant.

What’s next for NE?

Ideally, we aim to grow at a manageable pace. It’s challenging to find individuals willing to invest significant effort and work without financial compensation, which makes it difficult to find reliable people. But gradually, you see who the good eggs are, the ones who stick around and you build with them. It’s all good; we’re all extremely pleased with how things are progressing and the direction it’s heading. The only way is up!

FOLLOW RACHEL AT: https://www.instagram.com/rach_brown_photo

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