EMI North’s mission to boost music from the regions continues apace as their campaign for new signings Walt Disco ramps up.
The Glasgow-based band played The Great Escape in Brighton last week and are touring the UK in June and July in support of new single Coup De Foudre.
EMI North label manager Scott Lewis, who spoke to Music Week about the signing earlier this year, said the label “couldn’t be happier” to welcome Walt Disco to its books.
“Since hearing the band’s early releases and witnessing their live shows in recent years, they have always struck me as an incredibly creative, boundary-pushing group so it’s a real pleasure to now be collaborating with them and helping craft their future together,” said Lewis. “Glasgow is a defiantly creative city with a rich musical history, and working with one of its finest emerging acts is extremely exciting.”
Walt Disco have always struck me as an incredibly creative, boundary-pushing group
Scott Lewis, EMI North
Hamish Fingland who manages the group through his Bounse Mgmt business has also spoken about the benefits of signing to the Universal-owned imprint, which is based in Leeds.
“Joining forces with EMI North has felt incredibly natural from day one,” said Fingland, who also manages Jacob Alon, among others. “We share the belief that world class artists can be developed outside of London, without compromising ambition, creativity or care. As a Scottish management company, it means a lot to us to have the opportunity to work alongside a label that actively champions the importance of regional identity and building from the ground up.”
EMI North have embraced the individuality of the band, which is exactly the kind of partnership artists need in order to make career defining work
Hamish Fingland, Bounse Mgmt
Fingland also spoke about the unique appeal of the five-piece group.
“One reason I have loved Walt Disco is that they are a band who have always done things their own way, and EMI North recognised that immediately,” he said. “Rather than trying to smooth off the edges, they’ve embraced the individuality of the band, which is exactly the kind of partnership artists need in order to make career defining work. This has empowered the band to record their greatest music to date. It’s a record we’re all immensely proud of and have the utmost confidence in.”
Walt Disco have released two albums to date, 2022’s Unlearning and The Warping in 2024. Their EMI North debut is currently in the works.
Subscribers can read our EMI North interview, which features Lewis alongside colleagues Jasmine Sidhu and Tasha Pert, plus Island EMI’s Louis Bloom and Nicola Spokes, here.
PHOTO: Celia Croft
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