Freelance music writer based in Manchester, with editorial, PR, bio, profile, feature, and extensive review experience
Editor-in-chief @ The Phonograph, Co-editor-in-chief @ Bittersweet Press
Bylines in The Line of Best Fit, Clash Magazine, DIY, DORK +
And the backstory… I studied English Literature and then Creative Writing at Leeds, where I started my career in music with Kerrang! alumni JC (Johnny K), who mentored me at student review site Sound of Pen. I took on editorial responsibility and eventually started mentoring younger journalists alongside JC prior to the dissolution of the site (which has now taken an even more educational direction!).
After SoP closed, I founded online indie magazine The Phonograph, and Bittersweet Press, a more rock-focused publication. Having built both from the ground up, I’ve developed skills well beyond the writing that got me into it, from social media to web design, communications to digital marketing – which is what I currently do alongside writing.
After spending some time focusing on my own publications and building relationships across the music world, I branched into freelancing with plenty more publications, taking on a fab lot of commissions and pushing myself out of my genre comfort zones (and finding my new favourites that way!!). Alongside reviews, features, and live write-ups, I’ve also worked on profiles, artist bios, and press releases – if it’s got words and it’s about music, I’ve spun it at some point.
As well as my music writing, I’m always scribbling away at something – creative essays, poems, short fiction, I’ll try anything! My creative portfolio is available here.