Manager Spotlight offers a small insight into the heads of incredible managers. This week in the spotlight is Amber Chen of Atlas Artists.

How long have you worked in Management? 
I’ve worked professionally in management for a year and a half now. But I’ve been managing friends bands here and there since I was 16!

Who do you manage now?
I work across Celeste, Rachel Chinouriri, newfamiliar, Kam-BU and Gabriels.

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?
My first ever management experience was with a band I went to uni with and I was just eager to gain experience in the industry! I went on a UK tour with them and it was so hectic but gave me a whole new perspective on the live industry. I learned a lot from them even though it didn’t work out in the end. They were a really creative fun band and that’s what inspired me to take them on.

What’s a good/bad day at work look like for you?
A good day at work for me is when I’ve got all my ducks in a row for the next week and I know exactly where my artists need to be and when. But saying that the industry is very unpredictable and we can’t always plan for when things come up. Being able to adapt quickly and problem solve is something I’ve had to get really good at!

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?
I’m really lucky to have had some great moments so far but one of my career highlights has been working on the ‘Plain Jane’ video with Rachel. It was really wholesome and inspiring to be working with so many young creatives and seeing the vision come to life was really special. Celeste’s ‘Not Your Muse’ album going to number 1 is definitely another one which I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of. During such a hard time of year too it really lifted us up.

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2021?
Covid is definitely still a big challenge for managers in 2021, being able to work around all of this has been difficult. Being able to keep spirits high during a year in which we’ve lost a whole part of the music industry (live music) has been a challenge. However we have learned so much and now that we’ve gone through all of this it makes me feel like we can face any challenge that comes our way!

What music are you currently listening to? I’ve always been a big fan of Brockhampton so their new album ‘Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine’ has been on repeat for me. I’m also loving Deb Never, 070 Shake and Japanese Breakfast.