Meet the Change the Record cohort

Omolola Oyedele, known professionally as DufflebagtheDJ, is a multi-talented DJ, music producer, and entertainment lawyer with a strong focus on Afrobeats, Afropop, Amapiano, and Baile Funk. Her career highlights include completing the Reform Radio DJ course and going on to perform at prestigious events such as the CPLP Festival and the renowned 'Band on the Wall' venue in Manchester. Omolola’s DJ sets are known for their vibrant mix of global sounds, creating unique and engaging musical experiences.

In addition to her creative work, Omolola has leveraged her legal expertise to support artists in the music industry, specialising in music publishing, rights management, and entertainment law. She has played a pivotal role in helping artists protect their intellectual property, negotiate fair contracts, and maximise their revenue.

Omolola’s passion for fostering young talent came full circle when she became an assistant facilitator for the 2024 Reform Radio DJ course, mentoring aspiring DJs. Her blend of creative and legal experience makes her a valuable asset to any project, and she is committed to empowering the next generation of creatives through her work.

Sarah began her music industry journey as a songwriter and performer before shifting her interest to the industry side while studying music at college. After just turning 18, she started as an unpaid intern with a regional promoter, gaining hands-on experience in gig promotion, event coordination, artist liaison, and ticket management. This early start not only provided valuable insight into the industry but also revealed areas where change was needed.

Sarah later held multiple roles at a local talent development agency. Her expertise in events coordination and creative input allowed her to work with artists and industry professionals through workshops, masterclasses, and live events. Now a freelancer, she juggles artist liaison and administration for Durham Brass Festival, reps shows for various promoters and manages box office operations. 

Recently, she co-founded Index Music Ltd, alongside two other freelance women working in music in the North East. Index will be a no-faff online platform providing the North East music community with essential contacts, resources, and opportunities, all in one place.

Sophie joined The Met as Programme Coordinator and Venue Administrator, with a focus on streamlining the administration and coordination of the organisation, as well as the development and growth of private, event and regular building hires.

Her role has since developed to Programme Manager. She continues to maximise all hire events within The Met and works closely with the wider team to ensure all opportunities and projects across programming, development, education and the recording studio are fully optimised. Sophie programmes The Met’s monthly Emerging Showcase events and further supports emerging Greater Manchester artists through tailored artist development schemes. Additional industry experience includes grassroots event promotions, artist management, and festival programming and site logistics.

Amina Hussain is Principal Flute and Resident Music Therapist of the Manchester Camerata. Amina has led an extensive freelance playing career working with many major orchestras across the UK and abroad over the last 25 years, playing everything from BBC Proms, Wigmore Hall, Glastonbury and Isle of Wight Festivals, and numerous recordings and live broadcasts for radio and television, in both classical and pop. 

Alongside her career as a stage performer, Amina’s experience of working in community and education, developed into a love for working with people living with dementia through Manchester Camerata’s Music in Mind programme. This led Amina to study music therapy with Nordoff-Robbins, and in 2019, she gained a Masters in Music Therapy (NR-MMT). As a registered therapist, Amina specialises in dementia, older adult mental health and adult learning disability, and has trained many other musicians, arts facilitators and carers around the world in music-making workshops.

Amina is Co-Director of her own organisation String of Hearts CIC, which is passionate about connecting isolated older adults, through live group music-making and via the Telephone Music Hotline. And she is also a Trustee for Carrot Productions, who specialise in bringing adapted, bespoke artistic experiences to SEN schools, and pursue the advancement of education across UK Arts and Culture.

Laura is the producer and co-founder of Baby Rock Sampler. She champions high quality, live music events outside the summer festival season for families in Manchester and beyond, reaching folks who struggle to access live music at night. She’s a music obsessive, with lots of experience in events management, marketing and working in the public sector.

Johanna Leung is a freelance producer with a focus on contemporary music projects. As Project Director and Producer of the Reimagined City Festival, a collaborative arts and music event funded by Arts Council England, she fosters social cohesion in metropolitan areas by bridging the understanding between migrant and local cultures.

Her diverse production portfolio includes UnHeard SOS and IMPROV Introducing Subito Ensemble, a multimedia collaboration featuring dancers, poets, painters, filmmakers, photographers, lighting designers, actors, and AI in an interactive improvisational performance. She has also produced the Gey Teal Music Festival, the Gey Teal Girls' Choir’s music theatre piece Perished Blossom, and managed award-winning composer FLOWERS Sam Tannenbaum.

Johanna Leung is also an active clarinettist based in Manchester. She is a classically trained musician and cross-disciplinary art practitioner, specialising in classical contemporary and experimental music along with advanced clarinet playing technique. She graduated with a Master of Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2021. As a classically trained musician, she has achieved HelpMusician Postgraduate Awards in 2020, Buffet Crampon Clarinet Competition senior solo first runner up in 2019 and RNCM Scholarship. Her compositions have been featured in MIF23 Festival Square Performance, radio drama by Thomas Carter Project, Peace and Mind UK: Peace Festival 2024 and esea contemporary.

Kat has over 15 years experience working at festivals, events and has it built in her bones due to following her family's footsteps. She heads up the freelance recruitment for Engine No.4 as well as working on delivering projects such as Parklife, Kendal Calling, Warehouse Project and Block9 at Glastonbury.

Amy is a co-founding member of self-produced alt dream-indie band, Sunflower Thieves. Sunflower Thieves have received national radio support (Radio 1, 6Music, Radio X), alongside heavy support from BBC Introducing in West Yorkshire and the East Midlands, and have supported the likes of Flyte, Say She She, Hailey Blais, Lewis Watson, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Dan Croll and more. Their debut EP, ‘Someone To Be There For’ has surpassed 1.2 million streams.

Amy is an Artist Marketing Consultant for independent record label, sevenfoursevensix (Matilda Mann, Lexie Carroll, tinyumbrellas) and freelances as Project Manager for Leeds’ newest venue, The Attic.

Amy has several years’ experience across event, stage, venue and project management, with organisations such as Sofar Sounds, Leeds BID and Leeds 2023, promoters, venues and festivals including Brudenell Social Club and We Out Here Festival, and has experience running her own venue and promoter projects, including Mill Hill Presents. 

Additionally, Amy has experience in music PR and social media, and has made numerous speaking appearances at industry events, including Abbey Road’s Equalise 2024, the Launchpad Talent Development Conference and Come Play With Me’s ‘I Know A Place’. 

She is a member of the FAC Artist Council and an advisor for Launchpad.

Coming from an Arabic background and having lived within the Arabic community in Swansea, music for Reyan Murtadha was seen more as a hobby than a career. No one else in Reyan’s family was musical, so when she decided to pursue music, there was some backlash from family members and people in her community. Reyan wanted to show the other young people in the community that it is possible to pursue a career in the arts.

She studied at RNCM where she performed with The Women of the World Orchestra. Since graduating, Reyan has thrown herself into performing and opportunities around music. She’s now performing with a few different quartets in Manchester in events from concerts to weddings, working very closely with The Untold Orchestra both as a cellist, and on the administrative team.

Reyan has also worked with professional orchestras across the country such as Southbank Sinfonia, Ulster Orchestra, and have worked closely with Black Lives in Music.

Currently working as a project coordinator for Leeds-based Launchpad+, Cumbrian born Claire started out in events and programming, co-founding Bloom Sessions, a not-for-profit aiming to encourage and celebrate underrepresented creatives and create warm inclusive spaces in Yorkshire. Now, she finds herself in label services, and day-to-day sees her supporting artists, managers and labels to release their music effectively and maximise their royalty collection. Even so far this year, from January - November 2023, Launchpad+ has worked with 51 artists on over 115 releases.

Career highlights for Tilly Tillz include:

• Being the executive producer and host of the viral Pie Radio Talent Hunt where she’s created a platform for young people to showcase their talent
• Hosting and production of the Ultimate Seminar by Cre8ing Vision where executives and music industry professionals spend the day in Manchester having panel and one-on-one discussions about the music business
• Interviewing major musical artists on Pie Radio and at their various live shows, including Davido, Tiwa Savage, Omah lay, Adekunle Gold, Angelique Kidjo and many more

Baz, also known as BazThePlug, is a creative powerhouse specialising in the triple Ps—producing, presenting, and promoting. With experience working with major brands like Pepsi Max, PlayStation, Adidas and Nike, Baz has brought her expertise to the forefront of the industry. Most recently she hosted for Boiler Room at The Warehouse Project. She has produced for the BBC's 1Xtra and 6 Music, presented on radio, and hosted events with flair. 

Baz has a keen ear for talent and a proven track record in promoting diverse voices on large festival stages with her company Plug One. She has worked with Kendal Calling, Parklife, We Out Here, MIF, and many more. The future is bright, with exciting collaborations on the horizon for Manchester’s finest plug.