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A Week With PINS

Five days of music creation and industry insights for young musicians, led by Manchester post-punk trio PINS.

The band PINS stand on stage. They are surrounded by the participants from the project. Everyone is looking at the camera, some are smiling and some are holding instruments.
Date
24 November 2022
Category
Past Projects

Our first in-person music project since the pandemic, in July 2021 we brought together 15 young musicians from across the North West to work with PINS.

Together they learnt about the band’s artistic process - from initial ideas to onstage transformation - wrote and recorded an EP of new songs, and performed live at award-winning music venue The Met in Bury.

About the project

On day one this talented group of artists, all aged between 16-21, met for the first time. With the support of PINS they began to collaborate, creating 7 original tracks inspired by the theme 'Transformation'.

Alongside the music making, the group took part in workshops about press, publishing, band management and artist wellbeing. This gave them a valuable insight into different aspects of the music industry. Bassist Lala found the talk about mental health particularly helpful. “It’s given me a larger awareness of what to expect as a musician,” she said. Bradley added “I didn’t know anything about sync tracks before. I now feel far more confident about finding a manager and getting my music out there.”

On day three the group quite literally 'transformed' with the help (and wardrobe) of sustainable fashion company Manchester Fashion Movement, as they took part in a photoshoot with music photographer Debbie Ellis. This helped them to think about artist image in a way that felt authentic. Multi-instrumentalist Trees.R.Good said “I have a clearer idea of who I want to be portrayed as, as an artist. The press shots helped cement this vision!”

After laying down their tracks in the studio, on day five the group took to the stage to perform to a packed audience of invited guests, even adding their own artistic flair to PINS' own tunes. For some, this was their first time performing live. “It was incredible, I won’t forget it. Playing live has given me a new perspective on performing for others”, said guitarist Etienne.

“It was genuinely a life changing experience. I feel so much more confident, motivated and sure of who I am as a person.”

Maisie

  • PINS' lead singer Faith playing on stage with musicians playing saxophone, guitars and vocals.

  • A participant sat by a microphone looking off to the right.

  • A participant performing on stage dressed in a vest and shouting into the microphone with their eyes shut.

  • Three participants singing into microphones during rehearsals.

  • A participant playing guitar on stage wearing a denim jacket and sunglasses that reflect the stage.

  • The rehearsal room. Most of the room is in darkness except a bassist in the centre lit by the  sunlight seeping in through ceiling window.

  • A saxophonist playing on stage dressed in a vintage green coat.

  • A participant playing keyboard and smiling broadly into a microphone.

  • A participant wearing a beanie over their long red hair looking down whilst facing a microphone.

  • Participants and PINS cheering, laughing, smiling and clapping together backstage.

Want to hear more?

Press play on the music from A Week With PINS.

Credits

A huge thanks and congratulations to the artists:

Ambrose, Benedicte, Bradley, Etienne, Imi, K.Czupkowski, Lala, Maddie, Maisie, Matt, Mia, Oliver, Sam, Sonny and Trees.R.Good.

With thanks to:

Faith, Lois, Kyoko, Ailis, Abbi and Elisa (PINS)
Mary Davenport (Ninja Tune/Just Isn’t Music)
Rachel Jepson (Counselling for Musicians)
Edwin Street Recording Studio

Photoshoot photos by Asupremeshot (Debbie Ellis). Styling by Manchester Fashion Movement.

Project and performance photos by Rachel Bywater. Film by TripleDotMakers.

A Week With PINS was kindly supported by The Met, Manchester City Council, GMCA and Youth Music.

Credits

A huge thanks and congratulations to the artists:

Ambrose, Benedicte, Bradley, Etienne, Imi, K.Czupkowski, Lala, Maddie, Maisie, Matt, Mia, Oliver, Sam, Sonny and Trees.R.Good.

With thanks to:

Faith, Lois, Kyoko, Ailis, Abbi and Elisa (PINS)
Mary Davenport (Ninja Tune/Just Isn’t Music)
Rachel Jepson (Counselling for Musicians)
Edwin Street Recording Studio

Photoshoot photos by Asupremeshot (Debbie Ellis). Styling by Manchester Fashion Movement.

Project and performance photos by Rachel Bywater. Film by TripleDotMakers.

A Week With PINS was kindly supported by The Met, Manchester City Council, GMCA and Youth Music.

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