Amy Winehouse, Jay Sean and DJ Steve Sutherland to headline at second Phase of HUGO URBAN RULES, Birmingham. Britishhiphop.co.uk has been following the HUGO URBAN RULES Project since it’s successful London launch last summer.
If you missed the first phase of Hugo Urban Rules: the nationwide urban music programme last year, trust me – you missed a lot! So here’s a quick reminder. The programme was designed to educate, develop & showcase new talent and is the result of a partnership between HUGO Fragrances and a host of music legends. After hundreds of budding urban music stars uploaded their music to the website or posted in their demos, a select group of artists and acts were short listed by a leading industry panel to go through to the auditions and the master classes.
The judging panel went on to select a winner from the master classes and auditions, who was than given the once in a lifetime opportunity to launch their career. Last year’s London winner, stunning RnB singer Daisy Agnew from Maidenhead, Berkshire performed on stage with Joe, Sway and Terri Walker and will collaborate with top UK producer C-Swing (Jameila, Sugarbabes) on a new track which will appear on the Hugo Urban Rules CD, which will be available this year. The London Phase of Hugo Urban Rules also shined the spotlight on some of the other talented runner –ups including Blemish Blackstar, a talented London based mc who has already opened for De La Soul and Joe Budden and is predicted for big things in 2007 with his latest EP, Reflections. Phase Two of HUGO URBAN RULES sees the urban music programme heading to Birmingham on the 21st and 22nd of February 2007. This time around with the UK’s own Queen of sultry soul and jazz: Amy Winehouse, award winning Galaxy Radio DJ Steve Sutherland and Jay Sean– the UK’s own Asian RnB star. They have all been enlisted to find new urban talent and perform at an exclusive complimentary concert in the Custard Factory on Thursday 22nd February, hosted by Radio 1 Xtra’s Twin B.
On the day of the concert, Amy Winehouse and Steve Sutherland will take part in an exclusive Q+A session and HUGO URBAN RULES participants will enjoy unprecedented access to their musical heroes who will discuss the music and media industry. In addition, participants will enjoy a series of masterclasses on subjects like vocal coaching, choreography and the music business. Flexy Stu of the dance group The Funkstylerz who worked with Madonna will lead the dance session.
A judging panel will nominate one winner from the auditions and masterclasses to enjoy an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch their career. This jury will include Touch Magazine Contributing Editor Lawrence Lartey and Amy Winehouse herself. The winner will get to:
1) Perform on stage at a concert in Birmingham warming up for Amy Winehouse and Jay Sean
2) Record a track with a professional producer in a top studio
3) Have one of their tracks included on a CD ram-packed with hit urban music tracks to be given away with HUGO Fragrances in Spring 2007, and if that wasn’t enough you will also appear on MTV and MTV Base.
So if you are a budding urban music artist or group, or think you have the talent to win, get involved! To participate, musicians need to upload music to the website, www.hugofragrances.com or they can post in a demo to: HUGO URBAN RULES, PO Box 51757, London NW1 8SQ. The closing date for entries is 6th February 2007. An expert panel will shortlist the most promising bands and artists to attend the Birmingham auditions and masterclasses and it’s not just performers who benefit from HUGO URBAN RULES. Music fans can also apply on the website for complimentary tickets to the exclusive concert, where you will see all the exclusive performances. You can register at www.hugofragrances.com for a chance to win those tickets but you better do it quick because they are disappearing faster than gold dust!
By: Michelle Adabra
