Manager Spotlight offers a small insight into the heads of incredible managers. This week in the spotlight is Henry Walton!

How long have you worked in Management? 
Coming up to 4 years now though I had been involved on the artist side for a lot longer…

Who do you manage now?
Sarathy Korwar (Leaf Label, Gearbox / Metropolis Songs), Soccer96 (Moshi Moshi / BMG), Danalogue (Total Refreshment Centre / BMG). We’ve also just taken on Ash Koosha and AI artist Yona who creates all her music through AI. This is a really exciting step for us as Yona is at the forefront of virtual artist technology. We’re always going to be focused on the human element but it’s absolutely the right time for us to be investing in new tech that challenges the status quo.

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?
I was listening to a lot of Alice Coltrane & Pharaoh Sanders when I met Sarathy. He played me Bismillah and told me he’d just won the Steve Reid Innovation Award and his album was coming out on Ninja Tune but had no team and needed some help…

What’s a good/bad day at work look like for you? 
The best day is always receiving new music or bringing a new project on. I am always 100% convinced it’s the best thing in the world. Obviously! Worst days are when I forgot to adhere to the processes we’ve set up to help manage the work load. I’m pretty unforgiving with myself when I forgot to work the way I want to.

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?
WinterJazz in NYC this year was great. Maybe the launch of ISN’T IT ODD late last year with my business partner Will Daunt. But probably each time I’ve started work with a new artist.

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in the current COVID-19 situation?
The challenges are obvious but the paid opportunities less so… We’re looking at revenue streams for our artists that are a little outside of music such as book deals and exploring tech including virtual artists like Yona. Content generation is so important right now to keep your fan base engaged and conversation moving forward and for a lot of people, it’s very hard to do that. Artists that are able to do this, with teams that can support them are going to be in the best position they can be once the curtain lifts.

What music are you currently listening to?
Keeley Forsyth on The Leaf Label is great. Alabaster dePlume’s To Cy & Lee is pretty special and he’s got an album out with our Danalogue later in the year which is heavy. Lunch Money Life’s album Immersion Chamber which Dan produced and mixed is real good with some great assets as well, as are Snapped Ankles who he also produced. He’s a busy man! The Expansions… Only just realised they’re current! Not new but Carlos Niño & Lil’ Sci’s Love, Hugs and Hip Hop Soul is such a good track and I keep coming back to it.