Oliver M A KnowlesI am, and always have been, very much obsessed with music. I began learning vi-olin and piano at the age of five. From there, I taught myself guitar by listening to my favourite records on repeat. I have started bands and played on tour before using my expertise and passion to work within the industry professionally.

I love being creative as part of a team, either in a practice room or at a meeting table. I am extremely passionate about what I do. I love getting to know the clients and artists I’m working with to be able to provide a service that’s truly be-spoke to them. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a successful campaign have a direct impact on a satisfied artist.

Current EmploymentJanuary 2014 – Present

Fierce Panda Records – ‘Singles’ Project Manager / Online PR and Radio Working with bands including: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Surfer Blood, Pile, Fake Laugh, The Crookes, Desperate Journalist, Pesky!, Mates Of State, and a number of new/developing artists. My responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• The launch and operation of the Fierce Panda Singles Club

• All digital marketing support for single launch and campaigns, including creative planning newsletters, social media content, event pages

• Sole responsibility for online PR and radio promotion for the singles and some of the label’s lower priority releases

• Contribution to planning and execution of all campaigns across the label, from singles to priority campaigns

• Client relationship management and development. Building and develop-ing relationships with established and emerging artists, and all involved in their teams including management, booking agents and publicists

• Ensuring smooth running of operations between department such as dis-tribution/manufacturing by providing essential information such as press/radio results

• Utilising contacts to build teams for new and emerging artists in campaign planning

• Confidently handling multiple campaigns in their different stages at all times

• Measure and analysis of results against campaign objectives. Gather data by monitoring sales, press and radio coverage, ticket sales and venue growth. Give insights throughout campaign to improve performance as well as offer final measure of success

• Client retention. This is especially important as Fierce Panda operate on a one-off release basis. It is imperative that we impress our artists and their teams if we want to work together in the future

• A&R across the label. I successfully brought in Surfer Blood and Pile for al-bum campaigns and the bulk of the artists in the Singles Club

• Stock management

• Tracking industry trends and competitor activity to identify new opportuni-ties and keep artists at the forefront of the industry

• Representing Fierce Panda at shows and work related social events

Previous EmploymentNovember 2013 – December 2014: Brace Yourself PR - Freelance Music PRAt Brace Yourself I was solely responsible for all print, online and radio for No Sleep Records as well as individual campaigns for labels such as Wichitah Record-ings, Sub Pop, and Secretly Canadian. Here I secured reviews and features in pub-lications such as NME, Kerrang!, Rock Sound, and coordinated exclusive pre-mieres on Noisey, Dazed Digital, DIY and more….

• Coordinating bespoke PR campaigns for releases, touring and any event that could help to gain exposure in print and online platforms

• Write all press releases and biographies for each client

• Maintaining good relationships with not only journalists, but our clients, band’s and their teams.

• Providing weekly reports to label and management that include corre-spondence with journalists, targets and  results for both print and online.

November 2010 – October 2013Trail of Press/Full Time Hobby

My responsibilities here were the same as at Brace Yourself working on the Hassle Records roster and some external acts. These included Cancer Bats, Marmozets, We Are The Ocean, DZ Deathrays and more. I also assisted with label administra-tion such as logging payment orders and A&R for both Trail of Press and Hassle Records.

Further Employment History

2006 -2010: Support Worker for Adults with Learning Disabilities at The Frances Taylor Foundation - St Mary's Roehampton and Brighton Homecare .2005-2006: Bar Manager at The Three Tuns, Guildford.2002 - 2004: Bar supervisor and chef at Pews Wine Bar, Guildford2001 - 2003: Store Manager at Campus 1 Clothing, Friary Centre, Guildford.

Education and Achievements

Frensham Heights SchoolA Levels: Music: B, English Literature: C, Business Studies: EGCSE’s: 1 x A, 5 x B, 3 x C

University College of Creative Arts – FarnhamArt Foundation Diploma (Film) – Passed with Merits

Music Certificates

Grade 5 Piano – Passed With MeritsGrade 6 Violin – Passed With DistinctionGrade 5 Music Theory – Passed

Other InterestsMy main interests outside of work are basically music! I’ve always played in one or more bands and currently play in Snow Ghosts. Although we all work full time, we still find time to write/record/release records and tour. Our music has been re-cently used in cinematic trailers and television programs.

I also compose and produce music and last year I wrote the title music for a cBee-bies animation called Hey Duggee! Listen here!

Finding events and gigs to go to is a daily activity for me and I sometimes review shows for London In Stereo. I’ve had features included in their monthly print edi-tions and you can find some online reviews here.

I love film and TV, particularly Sci-Fi and Horror, but always have time for an over the top blockbuster or an indy arthouse flick.

I am very enthusiastic about food and drink, the cooking part too, and I’ve re-cently become a keen runner, which allows me to indulge in the other activities far more!

Where to find me10 Northwold Road, London, n16 7hr07731 948612Email: oliaxel@gmail.comD.O.B: 11/07/1982