ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music)

CALEB WILSON - ACM BASS ALUMNUS

Can you tell us about yourself? What have you been up to since graduating from ACM?

I'm Caleb Wilson, and I came to ACM to study Bass straight after my GCSEs. I just loved music; I had never even considered the idea of music being my source of income before I came to ACM, and I am the first in my family to go into the creative industries. Long story short, I made a commitment to myself to give this music thing a go.

I've not been in the game for long, but I've had some great opportunities come my way – particularly with music in media. I got to work with Idris Elba on Yardie – his debut film as a director – and supporting KT Tunstall was awesome too, but most people know me for the increasing amount of work I do with CBeebies! That includes the TV Christmas productions (2018's show ran in cinemas); being the resident bassist for YolanDa Brown's show (YolanDa's Band Jam), which has just been commissioned for a second series; and touring the UK with the one and only Justin Fletcher (Mr Tumble himself!).

What made you choose to study at ACM?

For me, it was the fact that the tutors were actually doing the work we were learning about and it was more than just learning modes and scales. Also, the environment from being around so many musicians was something I'd never experienced before. It pushed me to want to become better.

How did your course at ACM prepare you for life in the music industry?

It provided a roadmap of what I needed to work on to be able to position myself as a professional musician worth paying. I also had great tutors who didn't shy away from the realities of this industry, because it's definitely not all sunshine and rainbows out here!

What was the most useful thing you learnt at ACM?

Reputation is everything. It's so much more than if you're a good player. Are you reliable? Are you on time? Do people enjoy being around you?

My favourite saying is “Your network is your net worth”. Talk to everyone. If your friends are playing, go and support them and talk to 20 people you've never spoken to before. You have no idea where your next opportunity will come from.

What advice would you offer to future ACM students?

Go to workshops! I’ve been around the ACM circle for a while now, and most of the people who are working in music now were regular workshop-goers. Success leaves clues – so study someone who has the results you want, and see what you can learn from them to implement within your own journey. Tutors and mentors make for great case studies too.

CARMEN VANDENBERG - ACM GUITAR ALUMNA

Can you tell us about yourself? What have you been up to since graduating from ACM?

My name is Carmen Vandenberg, and I play guitar! Since I graduated, I’ve jumped from one session job to the next and from one band to another, or all at once, from working with Roger Taylor and Dave Stewart to writing an album with Jeff Beck, and touring it for over a year around the world. But most importantly, I started a band with my best friend Rosie Bones and fellow ACM student producer Filippo Cimatti called BONES UK.

What’s been the top highlight of your career so far?

There have been a few – but the most rewarding has been growing and developing our band, through tough times as well as overwhelmingly beautiful ones. Another would be performing at the Hollywood Bowl with Jeff for his 50-year career anniversary with a lot of incredible guest artists.

What made you choose to study at ACM?

Some of my friends from Italy had gone to ACM a year before me while I was finishing high school – and our school in Lucca is called JAM Academy and is linked to ACM, so when I was presented the offer it seemed like the logical next step.

How did your course at ACM prepare you for life in the music industry?

I learnt a lot from both our talented tutors and from the camaraderie with fellow students. Some friendships created during my time at ACM are still the strongest in my life. It also prepared me on how to be ready for auditions, to never be late, and opened my musical vocabulary.

What was the most useful thing you learnt at ACM?

It’s hard to pinpoint one sole thing. The overall experience is what counts for me and the memory I treasure most.

What advice would you offer to future ACM students?

Never quit, keep practicing, keep writing, have fun, work very hard, make friends, don’t assume things will get done for you, but most importantly do it because you love it.

CRISSIE RHODES - VOCAL ALUMNA ACM

Can you tell us about yourself? What have you been up to since your time at ACM?

I’m Crissie Rhodes, one half of UK country music duo The Shires, and I am a Vocals degree graduate from ACM. I studied there in 2007-2009.

I signed my first record deal in 2014, only eight months after we formed The Shires. I was working as a session singer before that, performing in various studios. As The Shires, we’ve released three albums, two of which went into the Top 10 official chart – and we’re currently working on our fourth album.

What’s been the top highlight of your career so far?

There have been so many highlights in my career so far. Performing to 50,000 people in Hyde Park for BBC Radio 2 was pretty unreal, and also selling out and performing our own headline show at the Royal Albert Hall was incredible.

What made you choose to study at ACM?

In all honesty, for once in my life I didn’t do my research and purely went off a friend’s recommendation. I didn’t know that you could study pop music at university, so when he bigged it up to me, I signed up straight away.

How did your course at ACM prepare you for life in the music industry?

ACM was a well-rounded course of study. I learnt about performance, working with other band members, how to take an original song and make it your own. I learnt about songwriting, how to craft songs, the different genres to write in, tips and tricks.

We were also taught about sight-reading, theory, and how to use software to create scores, as well as the business side of music and research methods. With all this knowledge, ACM taught me how to apply myself. I was grateful for a step-up in an ever-changing industry. All of the teachers were working in the industry as well as teaching at ACM. They gave insights into how it really works, and showed us how to stay up to date.

What was the most useful thing you learnt at ACM?

Develop a network of friends. The friends I made at ACM still form my core friendship group. As a touring musician, I see so many ACM alumni at various festivals all over the country, either playing for artists or bands or performing as the frontperson. We formed a network where we can get each other involved on various projects either as deps, session musicians, or permanent members. This industry is built on networking, so get to know your peers – you never know whether you might need them, or they might need you!

What advice would you offer to future ACM students?

Get your priorities right, work hard, make mistakes, always give yourself constructive feedback on what’s good or bad about what you’re doing, accept constructive feedback from others, and collaborate with all creative people from producers to photographers, videographers, designers, etc. Surround yourself with people who influence you positively and make lots of friends; it sure does make life a lot more fun when you’re doing what you love and working with friends!

JOE CLEGG - DRUMS ALUMNUS

Can you tell us about yourself? What have you been up to since graduating?

Since graduating from ACM, I have managed to work as a session musician and musical director for well over a decade, working my way up the ladder from pub gigs to arenas.

I joined a band that provided me with the opportunity to tour Europe immediately after leaving ACM, albeit without earning any money, which proved to be a crucial stage in my development as a musician. I learnt how to tour and how not to tour, how to play with musicians and play to a click. My eyes were opened to music production, songwriting, and the business side of the industry.

I also experienced not having work, not getting any calls, and questioning whether a career in music was worth the pursuit. I taught drums, worked in a coffee shop, and designed flyers and album artwork for bands – anything I could to stay afloat.

I stumbled across an unsigned artist on the internet and found a way of contacting her, which ultimately lead to an audition. I threw everything I had at it. I pestered the producer for stems, invested money into non-cracked versions of software, and bought a Roland SPD-S. I even borrowed my parents’ car to ensure I got from Lancashire to London in time for a 10am audition. That audition changed everything.

I have worked with Ellie Goulding as her drummer and musical director for ten years this year, with other musical direction credits including Mumford & Sons, Clean Bandit, Years & Years, Sigrid, Aurora, AlunaGeorge, Tom Chaplin, DJ Fresh, Becky Hill and more.

What’s been the top highlight of your career so far?

There have been many highlights, for which I am grateful. The early years with Ellie were quite something: first TV show, first time travelling the world, first time scoring for an orchestra and first time making a mistake live on-air. Everyone on the team was experiencing it for the first time, which made it electric. In 2016 we played an 80-date arena world tour with Ellie – the Delirium tour – which is one of the things I am most proud of.

Playing at Wembley Stadium was cool, as were multiple nights at Madison Square Garden with Mumford & Sons last year. I also played drums at a Royal Wedding, which was just nuts.

What made you choose to study at ACM?

At the time ACM felt like the best fit for me as a person, and as a musician. It was a big thing for me to up sticks and move from Lancashire to Surrey, but I’m really glad that I did.

How did your course at ACM prepare you for life in the music industry?

As a drummer, I had the chance to learn from some of the very best; you’d be hard-pressed to find someone with a better pocket than Mike Sturgis, and Pete Riley is just on another planet. I found that there was enough information in that course to last me several more years, often revisiting the course notes later down the line and discovering things I’d missed, or wasn’t ready for the first time around.

What was the most useful thing you learnt at ACM?

That a career in music is not a given, and there aren’t any shortcuts.

What advice would you offer to future ACM students?

Make the most of the learning environment and soak it all up. Work hard, and you’ll develop a solid musical foundation from which to grow.

LUCY TALLANT - MUSIC BUSINESS & INNOVATION ALUMNA

Can you tell us about yourself? What have you been up to since graduating from ACM?

After leaving ACM, I moved to London and started working at Sarah Stennett’s Turn First Artists, and then on to First Access Entertainment. After several years there, I went on to start my own management and artist development company, XVII Music Group.

What’s been the top highlight of your career so far?

It’s hard to choose one, but being part of the team that achieved a Billboard #1 with Iggy Azalea, as well as multiple #1 singles with Rita Ora is up there – although so is discovering a brand-new artist and their first sold-out London show, being at Drake’s birthday party in New York, and starting my own business!

What made you choose to study at ACM?

I love the energy that I get from the ACM buildings and its staff. That’s what drew me to study at ACM originally. There’s a real buzz of talent accompanied by support and experience.

How did your course at ACM prepare you for life in the music industry?

Gaining an understanding of label structures, deal formats, and being questioned on how I would approach certain situations as a manager really opened my mind to being excited about a career in the business end of music, but also taught me the foundations of information that I needed to confidently stand alongside more experienced people in the industry.

What was the most useful thing you learnt at ACM?

To research. Not just in a sense of coursework or passing exams, but that knowledge is power and knowing which previous campaigns have been successful – or unsuccessful – and what other current artists are doing to break through is the only way to truly adapt to this ever-changing industry and stand out with your work, but more so as a manager.

What advice would you offer to future ACM students?

A modern-day manager plays many roles, especially for new and developing artists. Understand the digital landscape, current trends, and how they can be used for marketing advantage, because a sound social media and digital marketing campaign is the key to launching any artist. Make any lessons on music law your new favourite subject – you will talk to lawyers constantly in day-to-day life as a manager, and understanding what deals your artists are being offered and their pros and cons is literally crucial.

Most importantly, you can’t learn properly about something without practising. If you want to be a manager, then BE ONE. Find some artists, DJs, writers, or producers to work with.

SHEA STEDFORD - MUSIC PRODUCTION ALUMNUS

Can you tell us about yourself? What have you been up to since graduating?

Since graduating, I have worked at various studios as well as building my own studio, recording and mixing various artists and producing my own material. While I was at ACM, I got the chance to work at a couple of studios who employed me full-time once I graduated. I got to record and engineer some great top-tier pop groups and writers – including Little Mix, The Saturdays, Girls Aloud, MNEK, and Donaeo – who I still associate with today.

What’s been the top highlight of your career so far?

The highlight of my career so far would be my two Library Music Award nominations (for ‘Best Ambient’ and ‘Wild Card’) in 2015, with tracks from a solo library music album of ambient electronica.

What made you choose to study at ACM?

I chose ACM purely because of its atmosphere, and the fact that I would be taught and mentored by industry professionals.

How did your course at ACM prepare you for life in the music industry?

My course prepared me completely for life in the real world of music. There were so many things I was unaware of before ACM that have helped me to keep doing what I love. You may not think that something is relevant at the time, but any information is golden and will come up in the real world.

What was the most useful thing you learnt at ACM?

The most useful thing I learnt at ACM was to be open-minded. Try and gain expertise in as many different avenues as possible, in order to broaden your revenue possibilities.

What advice would you offer to future ACM students?

My advice to anyone applying to ACM would be to be open-minded and take on everything that is given to you. Also be proactive, book studio time, and stay on the radar, as this is where the expertise and opportunities come from.