whiskas (Sam Nicholls)

Director / Founder

Samuel Nicholls or whiskas as he is mainly known in the music industry, is a Senior Lecturer in Music at Leeds Beckett University, founding the BA Music Industries Management course. He initiated the Music:Leeds project in 2017, before establishing the emerging talent programme Launchpad and building Music:Local as a vehicle to connect and support local music sectors more broadly. Previously, whiskas has run a music venue and live promotions company, founded the Dance To The Radio record label, was guitarist in the band ¡Forward, Russia! and has worked as an appointed advisor for organisations such as Yorkshire Festival, Leeds 2023 Artistic Programme, PRS Foundation and Yorkshire Sound Women Network.

Lins Wilson

Project Operations Manager

Lins has written, recorded and toured internationally for many bands. Her band, Magick Mountain, have received support from Festival Republic/PRSf’s ‘ReBalance’, Help Musicians ‘Do It Differently’, ‘Launchpad’ and ‘Launchpad+’. Having co-founded arts collective Buffalo, she creates immersive audio-visual installations and composes cello-led soundscapes in collaboration with Jon Foulger. She was awarded ACE’s ‘Developing Your Creative Practise’ fund in 2020 and continues to develop her non-traditional cello music. To support her artistic career, Lins works as a creative producer/project coordinator, having delivered large-scale events and projects for Music:Leeds/Music Local, Lord Whitney and Transform theatre festival; plus production work on music videos for Nikki Minaj, Corinne Bailey Rae, Will Young and Pulled Apart By Horses.

Claire Hamilton

Project Coordinator

Claire is a newer face to the local industry. She grew up in North Yorkshire and started her journey with NYMAZ, helping to organise their Make Music Day festival, Rural Fest. With a background in radio presenting, music journalism, communications and events, she has since gone on to co-found Bloom Sessions, a youth-led not for profit which aims to encourage and celebrate underrepresented creatives in Yorkshire. With funding from the likes of Youth Music and Leeds Inspired, they’ve been able to host online sessions as well as in person gigs, and have thus far supported at least 16 creatives since October 2020. She’s looking forward to building on this experience and further contributing to the diverse creative landscape int’ North.

Jon Foulger

Project Coordinator

Jon (he/him) has nearly 20 years experience as a recording and touring artist in Europe and the US as well as experience as a producer and co-producer alongside the likes of James Ford (Gorillaz, Arctic Monkeys), Jim Abbiss (Adele) and James Kenosha (Pulled Apart By Horses, Dinosaur Pile Up).

Jon is passionate about the craft and discipline of songwriting and creative technique and has written music for TV and film, including original material for campaigns by Walter Presents, BBC, Channel 4 and EA Sports. He has guest lectured in songwriting at Leeds Beckett University and has written with a variety of artists.

Jon currently works as a sound installation designer and has completed projects in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, Selina Thompson Ltd. (an interdisciplinary company creating installations, theatre shows, workshops and radio work), Purple Patch Arts (specialists in innovative, inclusive, creative learning experiences for people with learning disabilities and the professionals who support them), Leeds City Council, Lord Whitney (an innovative artist-led studio creating immersive experiences), and artist and early years specialist Stephanie Jefferies.

At Music Local Jon co-ordinates the Launchpad application and reviewing process and links selected artists and projects up with relevant advisors and funding support.

Kieron Ferries

Project Coordinator

After moving to Leeds from Newcastle in 2020, Kieron has had an exciting introduction to the local music scene. After completing a degree in Music Industries Management at Leeds Beckett University, he becomes the team's newest member.

Outside of studying, Kieron has integrated within the local music scene and is Involved in hosting various events through an organisation he co-founded, OddBod Events. 

At Music Local Kieron has worked on numerous events throughout Yorkshire and the surrounding areas, and looks forward to developing a career in the music industry, supporting artists and giving a platform to those who may be underrepresented in the industry.

Aisling Doherty

Leeds Jazz Festival Coordinator

Currently the Festival Manager of Leeds Jazz Festival and Programming Administrator at Serious, Ash has worked extensively in live events and festivals; including Glastonbury, End of the Road, Bluedot and Manchester Jazz Festival and venues such as Wembley Arena, Drumsheds, Brudenell Social Club, Howard Assembly Room and Belgrave Music Hall. Building from performing in and managing bands, Ash has also worked at The Leaf Label, Music:Leeds and hosted shows on JazzFM.

Simon Rix

Launchpad Plus

Simon Rix has been in Kaiser Chiefs since they began in 2003. Throughout their career Kaiser Chiefs have achieved two number one albums, a number one single, and countless top ten credits. The band have achieved many accolades including 3 Brit awards and a prestigious Ivor Novello for debut album Employment. Before that he was involved in the Leeds Music Scene working in various bars and venues in the city as well as playing in other local bands. Since 2003 as well as Kaiser Chiefs. Simon has released records by other musicians via his label Chewing Gum records and more recently with Launchpad Plus. He now manages and mentors a number of emerging acts including Youth Sector and Treeboy Arc under his management company, Holy Moly. Simon works with Amnesty international on various projects as part of his role as an ambassador. He supports Leeds United, is president of the Leeds United Trust and produces about podcast about the team.

Stanam Galsian

Youth Progression Coordinator

Satnam is a British Asian folk singer. She currently performs with her band Kinaara as well as working with a diverse range of multidisciplinary artists creatively exploring the interplay of North Indian and Western music traditions. Satnam was awarded the EFDSS Alan James Creative Bursary 2023 in collaboration with fellow Leeds artist Maddie Morris to research and explore gender-based violence in Punjabi and English Folk songs. She is a recipient of the Opera North Resonance Residency 2024 for a project challenging pre-conceived notions about women’s roles in Punjabi folklore through a feminist retelling of Mirza-Sahiban, a tragic love story from the Indian subcontinent. As well as performing both in a solo and collaborative capacity, Satnam delivers music and wellbeing workshops in schools and community venues.

MusicLocal Board Members

Sarah Wall

Senior Events and Marketing Manager

Sarah is Senior Events and Marketing Manager at PPL (the UK's music licensing company for over 140,000 performers and record labels), leading on a repertoire of events and industry partnerships both across the UK and further afield. Another aspect of her role is working with PRS Foundation to provide support for artists at crucial tipping points via the PPL Momentum Fund, International Showcase Fund, and Talent Development Partner network. Sarah’s 20-year career in music has covered artist management, A&R, tour management, design and marketing. Before joining PPL, Sarah spent a decade building artists’ careers as an artist manager at a frontline international management company, developing artists from bedroom demos to radio playlists and stadium tours. Prior to this, Sarah started out as a graphic designer, creating record sleeves at a small NYC design studio.

Oliver Morris

Director of Education & Skills

Oliver has been with UK Music since 2015. Before this he was a tutor, researcher, community worker, musician and composer. His PhD thesis explored ‘The Educational and Economic Aspirations of Young People in Wales’. He sits on the MU’s Education Committee, advisory board for Live Music Exchange, steering group for Make Music Day UK, advisory group for London Music Fund’s Amplify London Programme, advisory board for Music: Local, and is a member of Anthem that was set up to deliver the Welsh Government’s new Music Endowment Fund for Wales. He has worked in a broad range of educational settings, formal and informal, with a variety of learners since 2001 encompassing: widening access to HE programmes; undergraduate tutoring; community education; schools, and; youth work with a creative focus (as musician, composer, deviser, and performer).

Auriel Majumdar

Creative Coach and Consultant

Auriel Majumdar is a Creative Coach, Supervisor, Consultant and Educator with more than 25 years’ experience as leader, strategist and change maker. Auriel specialises in leadership, team and personal development in the creative, and cultural sector. Her coaching, mentoring, facilitation and teaching practices have an emphasis on the use of creative techniques to challenge individuals and teams to reflect on their experiences so they can continuously learn and develop.

Chris Madden

Psychotherapy - Chris Madden Therapy

I am an experienced senior psychotherapist with a specific focus of working with people from the music industries. I am a member of MITC (Music Industry Therapist Collective- a global reach therapy organisation) and an approved senior psychotherapist/service provider for UK charities including BAPAM (British Association for Performing Arts Medicine), Help Musicians, Music Support, Universal Music Group and Royal Society for Musicians. I lecture in counselling and psychotherapy at Leeds Beckett University, am an accredited Mental Health First Aid (England) Instructor and previously held the position Chair of Trustees with Leeds based MAP Charity.

Prior to therapy training, I worked in music for 20+ years which gave me an in-depth understanding of the challenges that can arise from working in this amazing industry. I have a special interest and experience of working with ADHD.

Simon Palmer

Accountant

RocknRollaccountant currently working as a Partner in a top 10 firm of accountants based in Leeds. Love music and going to gigs.