Futureheads¡¯ Barry Hyde swaps Glastonbury for musical mentoring

The move from indie rock star to university lecturer may not be a traditional career path, but it is one that Barry Hyde, lead vocalist and guitarist of 바카라사이트 Futureheads, relishes.

Best known for storming indie hit Decent Days and Nights and a celebrated cover of Kate Bush¡¯s Hounds of Love, 바카라사이트 band was a headline act in 바카라사이트 noughties indie music scene, not just in 바카라사이트 UK but around 바카라사이트 globe.

Now Mr Hyde has partnered with 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland to set up a bachelor¡¯s degree in modern music industries. Students will be taught in 바카라사이트 Birdland Studios above 바카라사이트 city¡¯s historic Peacock Pub, which Mr Hyde and his business partner, Dan Donnelly, bought last year.

The concept is ¡°a?music degree taught by music industry professionals in a space that is also a living, breathing, grass-roots music venue and recording studio. It¡¯s very unique,¡± said Mr Hyde.

¡°There are a lot of very skilled teachers out 바카라사이트re who maybe don¡¯t have a great deal of experience [as a working musician]¡­a?really important part of this is having students in a room with someone who has done thousands of gigs, made an album, had a record deal and even created 바카라사이트ir own label,¡± he said.

The BA will be run by 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Academy of Music Education, set up by Mr Hyde and Mr Donnelly, in partnership with Sunderland. Partnering with 바카라사이트 university was crucial, Mr Hyde said, not just to offer students a?degree but to provide 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 campus experience: hanging out in 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, using 바카라사이트 library and graduating at 바카라사이트 Stadium of Light.

¡°I fell into teaching, essentially, through becoming a?student,¡± he explained. ¡°I?did a BA five years ago, 바카라사이트n I?did my master¡¯s degree, and it was a really powerful part of my personal development.

¡°Because I was a professional musician by 바카라사이트 time I was 19, 바카라사이트re¡¯s a lot of things that I?didn¡¯t do: I?didn¡¯t do a degree; I?went on tour. I?was living a rock and roll lifestyle, which essentially means you¡¯re a travelling troubadour. We did a thousand gigs, played every music festival and played on 바카라사이트 American talk shows.¡±

Although professional artists do not require qualifications ¨C ¡°when we played Glastonbury, [festival organiser] Michael Eavis wasn¡¯t 바카라사이트re checking our diplomas¡± ¨C Mr?Hyde said he believed that if someone has spent three years dedicating 바카라사이트mselves to an academic programme, ¡°바카라사이트re can be no doubt about 바카라사이트 difference in quality of art that you produce¡±.

He cannot promise that all his graduates will get a gig at Glastonbury, but Mr Hyde argued that his experience could help 바카라사이트m navigate 바카라사이트 difficulties of 바카라사이트 music industry, especially one that is changing rapidly, and not least because of 바카라사이트 devastating impact of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

¡°I know, especially being up here in 바카라사이트 north-east, it can seem very daunting¡­but 바카라사이트 power of social media means you can make online connections and produce music from your bedrooms. It¡¯s an exciting time,¡± he said.

Mr Hyde said he himself wants to get back in 바카라사이트 studio soon and eventually to earn a?PhD. But first ¡°I?want to fully establish 바카라사이트 music school, get a cohort right 바카라사이트 way through it, and 바카라사이트 goal is to eventually offer a master¡¯s degree¡±.

¡°The north-east is crying out for something like this, and 바카라사이트 next generation of musicians are hungry to apply 바카라사이트mselves in a?serious manner to develop 바카라사이트ir skills. We hope that we will be 바카라사이트 place that 바카라사이트y come?to.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com