Last weekend, Lakota partnered up with Bristol record label, Lady of the House, to provide a day of incredibly insightful discussions into the history of dance music and how to naviagte the industry. Each session was packed with valuable tips from experienced professionals, from DJ’s to authors and everything in between, which left me feeling inspired to work more on my passions, not only as a music enthusiast, but as a creative in general.
I’ve been to Lakota countless times as both photographer and raver, but this was the first time I’d been as someone eager to learn. The day began with none other than a live video presentation from house music legend, Barbara Tucker, joined by esteemed author, Ian Snowball.
If you don’t recognise the name Barbara Tucker, there is no doubt you will recognise her music; with six number one hits in the charts under her belt, including songs such as ‘Beautiful People’. Her incredible journey as an artist was definitely reflected in what she shared during this discussion, as she highlighted the importance of keeping true to yourself, using music as a way to share your story and make a difference on the earth, and consistently self reflecting to ensure you are on the right path. Tucker also expressed her personal beliefs in a higher power and astrology, and how that has helped to guide her not only in her career, but in life. I found this to be a refreshing take on success, as she wasn’t focusing on the subjects of work, money and popularity, but simply manifesting your own happiness and opportunities, and doing what you feel is right for you.
Sharing wisdom alongside Tucker was Ian Snowball, a successful writer with 15 years of experience, over 30 published books (including Lady of the House) and 3 Amazon bestsellers. He spoke about the importance of bookwriting, specifically in the music industry, and using books as a way to extend the personalities of artists and preserve their legacy for future enthusiasts. Both Snowball and Tucker discussed their collaborative book that’s currently in the works about Tucker’s life and career, and how they work together to create a true representation of who Barbara is.
Snowball went on to share his thoughts on the rapidly increasing world of AI and how it is being used within the music and writing industry. He expressed that although AI is making creative fields more accessible for young people, it has potential to suck the essence and soul out of dance music, and using AI to write books removes that authentic human connection. This was a very interesting yet heavy that left me thinking about how AI will effect the future of music and writing. He ended the session by sharing the importance of discipline when writing and pushing yourself to finish projects that inspire you - something that I will carry with me in my own writing,
After a quick coffee break, the stage was handed over to music journalist Matt Anniss for a discussion on ‘secret histories’. Personally, this was my favourite session of the day, as it left me reeling with ideas for new projects and research topics, and with a greater understanding of journalism within the music sector. Anniss described secret/hidden histories as topics that haven’t been given a platform previously, and are perhaps being covered over by something more mainstream, such as the roots of specific music genres being ignored and altered.
