IMX and Music Nova Scotia have a mutual vision
Anna Hildur MD of Iceland Music Export attended Nova Scotia Music Week last week along with Kari Sturluson promoter and manager and Eldar Asthorsson director of Kraumur music fund and promoter.
The invite to the festival came after Jonny Stevens and Brian Doherty participated in a trade mission from Nova Scotia to Iceland end of September this year. Kari and Eldar both agree that there are connections in the music scene and exciting talent that would work perfectly with the Icelandic scene. Some of the highlights of what they saw include: Ghost Bees www.myspace.com/ghostbees, Sleepless Nights www.myspace.com/sleeplessnights, Share www.myspace.com/andrewsisk, Tanya Davis www.tanyadavis.ca, I see Rowboats www.myspace.com/iseerowboats, Bette and Wallet www.bette-wallet.com/english.html, Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts www.justfriends.ca/peek/, Rebekah Higgs www.rebekahhiggs.com, TFC www.myspace.com/tfcmusic and Andrew White www.andrewwhitemusic.com The Songwriting circle was also inspiring.
Music Nova Scotia was a great partner for Icelandic musician Mugison www.mugison.com when he toured Canada recently and Kari Sturluson has secured many friends for the singer/songwriter Lay Low www.laylow.is, that he manages and hopes to have her touring in Nova Scotia and Canada in 2009.
Jonny Stevens from Music Nova Scotia said. “In a global economy it is important to partner with like-minded people and Music Nova Scotia has found that in our Icelandic partners. During our recent trip to Iceland we made great contacts, got a sense of the Icelandic music market and made friends with our future partners in an effort to further strengthen the exportability of Nova Scotia and Icelandic artists.”
The Icelanders attending NSMW agree that there are opportunities for Nova Scotia artists to break into Europe through collaborations in Iceland and for Icelandic Artists to break into Canada and US through Nova Scotia. “We are inspired and enthusiastic about the opportunities there are and we know we have found strong strategic partners in Nova Scotia. There is an understanding and will to establish events which can bring the collaboration in front of buyers and media in Europe as well as in Canada and US. We are also convinced that more connections between Nova Scotia and Icelandic artists will lead to exciting cultural collaborations,” says Anna Hildur
IMX and Nova Scotia Music week aim at announcing the first call to action in their collaboration in December.
