2inspire Network Inspirational Man: Lindsay Wesker

Lindsay Wesker is Music Editor for MTV Base and is a man that we really wanted to feature on our Men’s special Profile on the 2inspire Network blog not just because of his philanthropic work but also because he has been a mover and shaker in the music industry in the UK for over two decades. Read this great interview from Lindsay which gives a great insight into his career.

Before joining the music industry, Lindsay wrote two episodes of BBC TV series ‘Angels’, then a radio play for Capital Radio. He then wrote three plays for the Black Theatre Co-Operative, all performed at Royal Court Theatre Upstairs. Since joining the music industry in 1981, he has worked as journalist at Black Echoes, a radio broadcaster, co-written a black music encyclopaedia, worked at 5 different record labels, created free! magazine (later re-named Touch), and helped radio station Kiss FM earn a legal licence. Whilst working at Kiss (86-94), he presented shows and was Head Of Music between 1990-94. Since 1999, Lindsay has worked at MTV. He was initially employed by MTV to create R&B and hip hop TV station MTV Base, and then went on to launch MTV Hits and MTV Dance in 2001. Lindsay still works at MTV, programming music videos. Lindsay has also self-published a novel (about the music industry) and, in 2012, self-published a ‘stocking filler’ book entitled ‘The Crap Husband’s Guide To A Successful Marriage’. In 2013, Every Generation Media published ‘Masters Of The Airwaves’, written by Lindsay and co-author Dave VJ, which is a history of British black music radio.

Please tell us about typical working day for you?

I wake up at 6.00am, walk to work (6.1 miles) and start work at 8.30. I’ve been walking to work for about four years. I like to finish at 5.00 but, if all my daily tasks are not completed, I work until they are complete. That could be 6.00? 7.00? Or 8.00?

What made you enter this line of work?

I joined MTV in 1999. They wanted to create an urban music TV station and they knew I’d created the music policy at Kiss FM, so I launched MTV Base in 1999. MTV has been an essential part of my life since it launched in 1981, so it was a really honour to start working there.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in your career so far?

My greatest accomplishments in business have been the things I’ve helped to create and launch: free! magazine in 1989 (later re-named Touch), Kiss 100 FM in 1990, MTV Base in 1999, and MTV Hits and MTV Dance in 2001.

What has been your biggest challenge in the business so far?

The perpetual challenge in business is to maintain your market share. I love being No. 1 but I prefer being No. 1 all year long!

What are your future career plans?

My future plans are to maintain and grow the TV channels I work on.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every experience, even the traumatic ones, have been educational. Every mistake I made taught me a good lesson!

What’s the best compliment you could receive in your line of work?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I love it when people copy me. I’m a creative person and some people in the creative industries are not, so they are always reliant on ideas people like me!

Why is it so important to inspire the next generation to follow their dreams?

It is VITAL to educate and inspire the next generation; important to give them good habits and principles. Whether they listen is down to them! Kids always think they know it all!

Lindsay delivering a talk & educating the 2inspire Academy: Young, Gifted & Talented Group

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
I would always advise anyone to know what they’re talking about. Knowledge is power. Serious people only want to deal with serious people. A business expert can spot a phony a mile off!

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I’m always inspired by people who believe 200% in what they’re doing and have the drive and determination to see it through. Lots of people have dreams and make plans and talk about doing things but never make them happen, let alone see them through! Success takes courage and mental strength.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

My favourite quote is something I always say in my talks and lectures: “Be nice!” Good manners and a cheerful disposition go a long way. Good people would rather deal with good people. If you can converse and find common ground with someone, you can create a business relationship and maybe even a friendship?

You can catch Lindsay on his weekly radio show on www.mi-soul.com (and DAB all over London), ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’ (Saturdays 1.00pm.)

Twitter: @LindsayWesker

Tumblr: http://lindsaywesker.tumblr.com/

Help us to make it happen for the 2inspire Academy: Young, Gifted and Talented Compilation Album Project

Help us to make it happen for the 2inspire Academy: Young, Gifted and Talented Compilation Album Project.

2inspire Academy is a personal development community project for young people run by young people, in 2014 they launched a project titled Young, Gifted and Talented. It is a music development project which was developed for young artists that displayed amazing talent in areas such as song writing, vocals and performance. The Artists involved were all hand-picked via an audition process.

In order to fund the project 2inspire Academy have now launched a crowd funding campaign titled the Young, Gifted and Talented music compilation album project.

The aim of this crowd funding appeal is to raise enough funds to provide the artists with the opportunity to access a recording studio in order to; produce a compilation album, get experience, work with professionals, gain exposure, and develop their own individual projects.

More information on the ideology behind the project and what the funds raised will be used for can be found on the Indiegogo campaign page. This is where you can also watch the amazing video put together by the Young people of the Academy.

 CLICK HERE TO VIEW CAMPAIGN & VIDEO

On Friday 6th February 2015, 2inspire Academy will be hosting a showcase for  the Young, Gifted and Talented artists to raise awareness of
their fundraising campaign and to provide another opportunity for them to showcase their talents.

The showcase is from 8pm-10.30pm and will be FREE ENTRY to all. Registration is not necessary but if you register your attendance on the link below you can claim a free cocktail at the event:

TO CLAIM YOUR FREE COCKTAIL & REGISTER ON-LINE - CLICK HERE

We would like to thank all those who have supported the Academy and helped us with the campaign to date. On the back of the promotion for the campaign, doors have been opened for the Young, Gifted and Talented team to get advice and knowledge from key figures at Radio 1Xtra and MTV, these developments alone are so amazing as they are providing the artists with genuine opportunities to support their progression and to develop as artists. We appreciate that not every one can contribute but would really appreciate your support by helping us to spread the word about the campaign and share the link on social media platforms.  

For more information on the Academy and the work it does:  2inspire Academy Project Review

2Inspire Profile Interview: Rajdulari

"Take Ella Fitzgerald’s clear vocal tone, Jill Scott’s spunk and Chaka’s Funk and you have New Jazz Vocalist Rajdulari.

New York-based Jazz vocalist Rajdulari inspires an engaging listening experience for music lovers. Her buoyant voice vibrates with a clear and honest joyfulness; no doubt the result of her choral upbringing in the church. Although her family relocated often, she has always found a home in music. Jazz opened up an entirely new world to an adolescent Rajdulari, when she heard Sarah Vaughan’s “Shullie A Bop” and Ella Fitzgerald’s “Lemon Drop” for the first time. She became fascinated, and wanted to know every nuance of each solo, scat, and harmony. At seventeen she was offered her first gig at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge and found performing to be a sensation she couldn’t abandon or ignore. While attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Rajdulari shared a stage with the renowned Bobby McFerrin. In 2010 she moved to New York City and started her own solo project. Her ensemble was nominated for, and won, Best Jazz Band at the New England Urban Music Awards in 2011, and their debut release – Honeywine – remains among Amazon.com’s Top 100 Most Downloaded Mp3s. In 2012, Rajdulari was selected by Visions Beauty Distributors to write and perform the theme song for their first annual Natural Hair and Health Expo. The single – entitled “Natural” – is featured on her upcoming sophomore album, Journey Of A Woman. As a member of the Boston-based, all female World Music Band, Zili Misik, Rajdulari won Boston Music Awards 2007 & 2008 for “Outstanding International Music”, Boston Phoenix Award and WFNX’s “Best World Music Band”-two years in a row; and was 2007 Winner of ROCKRGRL’s and Berklee College of Music’s “Battle of the All-Female Bands”. For Rajdulari singing is a healing and soothing activity. Her ability to share uplifting messages of confidence, empowerment, love, and hope – through song – is the most gratifying gift she can exchange."

Please tell us what is a typical day for you?

In addition to running my business, I also currently work a full-time day job, so I wear many hats. A typical day for me is starting my morning off at my job, then leaving for meetings or rehearsals for upcoming shows. If I don’t have a show, then I’m usually at home conducting interviews, scheduling my social media marketing for the week, or speaking with promoters and venues to schedule upcoming gigs, etc. As an Independent Artist and Band Leader, there’s always something that needs to be taken care of, so I’m multi-tasking all of the time.

How did you get started in singing/ performing?

I was raised in the Baptist Church. My grandfather was a pastor, my mother a choir director. So, I’ve been singing since I was three. My mom used to stand me up on a milk crate and I would sing the lead. So music has always been an integral part of my life. However, I started singing professionally when I was 17.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment to date?

So far, my greatest accomplishment has been winning the “Best Jazz Band” at the New England Urban Music Awards for my debut album “HoneyWine”. I’ve also been nominated this year as a musician for a “Black Celebration Award” here in New York City. For just coming on to the music scene just three years ago, I’m excited to be making progress and getting my music out there. I’ll be attending the ceremony on Saturday, September 21st.

What has been your biggest challenge in your career so far?

As an Independent Artist, you spend a lot of your own capital investing in marketing, materials, recording costs, etc. Basically everything that a record label would pay for, you have to invest on your own. So, my biggest challenge is always generating enough money to help support my art and to help grow my business and my fanbase. Being a musician is easy, performing and being on stage feels so wonderful, I don’t consider that challenging at all! But, generating the revenue to do everything I want, and to really grow my business? That’s always my focus as a business owner.

What are your future plans ?

My number 1 ultimate goal is to win a Grammy! To be recognized for my art, and for all of the hard work I’ve put into my career over the years. I WILL win a Grammy. I call my career my “Journey 2 The Grammys” for that specific reason! I’d also like to travel the world and share my music and my desire to uplift and empower women all over the globe. As a Jazz Vocalist, I would love to perform with a Symphony Orchestra (one of my biggest dreams!). How much time have you got? My wishlist goes on and on! 

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would start my career much earlier. I would never have a day job, and I would just sing and travel the world and build my career from the bottom up. I’m in my 30s now, and while I still have plenty of time, I would have liked to have started my career a little earlier in life. Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing, I’m truly happy for all that we’ve been able to accomplish so far.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Our society spends a great deal of time and money in advertising to shape what we THINK we NEED and who we THINK we ARE.

There are a lot of messages out there for young girls, telling them what size they should be, how they should think, how they should feel, what type of women they SHOULD want to be. So many of our young women simply don’t have the support and encouragement that they need to really find out who THEY are and love themselves and their individuality, despite whatever society may think.

When I was younger (based on the images I saw in the media and on TV), I thought you had to grow up, be a certain size, get a stable job, maybe get married, have some kids, etc. But I had this burning desire to roam the globe and be a musician! I wanted the freedom to really branch out and explore the world and figure out what makes me unique.

Thankfully, I made the choice to pursue my dreams and to not take “no” for an answer when it came to my music. But, I truly believe that more young girls need to be encouraged and supported to find their own path. They alone can decide what career they choose, how to celebrate and embrace their curvy bodies, how they decide to express themselves, everything.

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start out in your industry?

Never EVER take “no” for an answer. If being a musician is what you want to do, and you believe in the bottom of your heart that this is where you belong? Don’t take “no” for an answer and NEVER EVER EVER GIVE UP!

What or who inspires you in business/life/creatively and why?

I really admire amazing Female Entrepreneurs like Oprah, Queen Latifah, Ellen Degeneres, etc. In my opinion, these women personify the ideal vision of a “Successful Businesswoman”. I love how they are very diverse in their talents, and how their careers started in one direction, but then grew exponentially over time. For example, I love being a musician, but that’s not all of who I am. I want to be a spokesperson for positive organizations, or be the face of a fashion or cosmetic line. I’d also like to work in Film & Television, etc, so these women inspire me a great deal. I would love to follow in their footsteps someday soon!

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“Be afraid, but do it anyway”….that quote reminds me that it’s ok to be afraid of your dreams. They are awesome and grand and scary, absolutely! But don’t let the fear stop you from moving forward, use it as your FUEL to keep going.

So, that’s my motto. Anytime I get nervous about taking another risk in my career, I just stand at the edge of that imaginary cliff, harness my fear, and jump! It’s a mindset that serves me well and keeps me headed in the right direction J.

For more information on Rajdulari: www.rajdulari.com