Eskimoh, the 23-year-old music producer on her time with Music:Leeds

How did you first get involved with Launchpad?

I went to Leeds Beckett University to study music production and Whiskas [founder of Music:Leeds] did some lectures where he mentioned it. I met him in first year and he was my mentor in third year so that’s how I got to know him. He built up my confidence actually because he knows more than anyone that I have mega-bad imposter syndrome. So, even getting onto Launchpad boosted my confidence.

Did you make music before getting involved in Launchpad?

I had a lot of Soundcloud stuff that I made throughout the years of college, but when I was at uni, I hit a point where everyone around me was making really good music and, especially being one of the only girls, I wasn’t sure if my music was as good as everyone else, so I went back into my shell a little bit. But yeah, I was releasing stuff and that was all dance music like drum ’n' bass - I still love making that, but I now realise I also love ambient stuff. 

What happens at a typical Launchpad session?

I applied for mentoring and I've had two meetings now with Scott Lewis [Come Play With Me’s label runner]. He’s so good - he knows what he's talking about. We spoke about release plans because, with me, if I've made a tune and got to a point where I'm happy with it, I have no idea what to do with it, so it’s just sat on my computer. The first mentoring session was about a release strategy for Untitled the EP, and also about growing my social media skills and how important that is. 

They also provide loads of opportunities as well; I was asked to play for the virtual Salemango Festival and I did my Untitled EP with a short film. It was four tracks alongside visuals that were made by my friend Sara Lopez - that video was also played at Live in the Virtual Square. Launchpad has opened up doors to collaborations with other musicians in Leeds as well; there are talks about a collaboration with Sim Walker who does really beautiful classical piano, and I also recently did a remix for Night Giants that's being released at the end of September.

What are your favourite experiences as part of Launchpad?

My favourite in the way that I feel like it has helped me the most is the mentoring sessions, but my favourite in the way that it's built my confidence as an artist and pushed me is doing the video for Salamango because I had to get that done in time, and I wanted it to be really good, to do the music and Sara’s videos justice. I'd say that was probably my favourite thing to watch back that I’ve done through Music:Leeds Launchpad. I was like, yeah, that actually looks sick. I wouldn't have done that if it wasn't for Launchpad. I wouldn't have got it finished and I definitely wouldn't have put it into a continuous 25-minute film.

How has Launchpad helped your musical skills?

It’s helped my planning; I'm a bit like a scrambled egg when it comes to planning! I didn't know what phrases like ‘press release’ meant, but now I know how to make a press release. Planning a release is like 50% of being a musician; anyone can make a tune but getting it heard is a completely different story, it's really hard. Going to uni, you learn a lot of things but you don't know what real life is like as an artist in the massive pool of artists. So, in that way, it’s helped me massively.

How has Launchpad helped you personally and socially?

Personally it’s helped my confidence. In our last meeting, I said to Scott, I feel like I should have done more by now and he was like, look, this is where you're at, you're doing amazing. I was like, actually, yeah Jessie, you're doing great! I feel like that's a huge thing for me; just having people listen to my music at first was daunting, but now I'm past that I want everyone to hear it. Even getting on to Music:Leeds Launchpad alongside really talented artists, it made me feel like I must be alright.