Story: Brent Moya | Photo: Jodie Booth
A local music production company have made waves after entering their material into a local competition.
Bad Sign Productions formed in 2008, flanked by a growing list of local artists including Sister Nina, Kid 1 and Kaney B, Sean G, SteamedUp, Mc Flesh, RS1, DJ Mink and Dutty Dan.
Bad Sign Productions feel it has been important to give some of our local talent a real oppertunity to flourish. “It’s important to encourage young performers and local talent positively. I think using music constructively is beneficial in building inclusion, using creativity to break down walls of negativity that are created around us.”
Ex Messenger worker Robert Emmanuel Smith is managing director for Bad Sign Productions and informs me that this video recording opportunity came out of nothing.
“Someone who’s created an album came to see me and I suggested contacting South Yorkshire Film Industry.”
On contact with Sheffield Independent Film Robert was informed about the ‘2Weeks 2Make It’ music video competition in which film makers are paired with musical artists. However it also emerged that there was only one week left for submitting material.
The lack of preparation time did not deter the group as, Kaney B (Cainan Blake) and Kid 1 (Tom Hutt) were to see me and I suggested contacting South Yorkshire Film Industry.”
On contact with Sheffield Independent Film Robert was informed about the ‘2Weeks 2Make It’ music video competition in which film makers are paired with musical artists. However it also emerged that there was only one week left for submitting material.
The lack of preparation time did not deter the group as, Kaney B (Cainan Blake) and Kid 1 (Tom Hutt) were selected along with 18 other South Yorkshire musical groups selected from 200 entrants.
“We received the good news on Monday 10th April when the organisers invited us to attend Sheffield Independent Film to be partnered with JPL film productions.”
JPL productions are owned by John Paul Lancaster, a photographer turned film director who studied fine art at Sheffield University and recently finished a film making course at the London Film Academy.
From then on, like 18 others, they were given two weeks to produce a music video. Their record ‘Link Up Drink up’ is known as Dubstep or 4/4 and sounds like a mixture of Niche and Drum & Base. Robert feels the track has commercial appeal, “We chose this track because it's catchy and has a feel good factor with boy meets girl lyrics,” he said.
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony on the 29th April. Unfortunately Link Up Drink Up didn’t win, but ran a close second for the audience participation vote.
Watch Link Up Drink Up on YouTube.