INDUSTRY INSIDER | BEHIND THE SCENES WITH DAVID JOHN BLAIR

What do you do in the Scottish Music Scene?

I play in and help to manage Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 and have my own 23 Music Management company for organising and promoting gigs (when we could) and with an artist roster of John Rush, The Rain Experiment, White Novels, Cutchy Cash, Mayah Herlihy, SILVI and Becci Wallace. We have had to pivot what we do on the events and promotions side due to the current restrictions and have started Immersive TV gigs which uses their state-of-the-art studio in Room 2 to broadcast fully interactive and live streamed gigs with professional audio and video recording.

What made you want to get involved?

My unquenchable passion for music and a desire to help musicians I love and respect have a platform to share their music with more people.

What’s the best thing about the Scottish Music Scene?

I think the best thing about it is the community we have and how much people help and support one another. I often describe the Scottish music scene as like a street as most people know one another.

Did anybody help you get started in the Scottish Music Scene?

At the very beginning, my best pal John McAlinden AKA Colonel John Thomas McMustard, who first asked me to jump onstage with Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5. All the musical doors opened thereafter, with some gentle nudging. I’ll be forever indebted to him for that. Tom Joyes at the Barrowland Ballroom is someone who I massively respect and has been a great mentor and support for me over the years. So many people have helped me in so many ways – they will know who they are – and even any negative experiences help you learn not to make the same mistakes again. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way.

Who inspires you in the Scottish Music Scene?

I am inspired by so many people in the Scottish Music Scene. Everyone doing their own thing and being brave enough to share their art is inspiring in and of itself. Also, everyone still trying to make things happen in terms of creating something that music lovers can still engage with throughout lockdowns, be that online or whatever, has been inspiring to hear about and see and gives me added motivation to try and do the same.

Who’s your favourite Scottish Artist?

I think I’d have to say Primal Scream. They have lived the rock ‘n’ roll life to the maximum, they’ve released amazing albums, have reinvented their sound time and again and every festival and gig I’ve ever attended of theirs has always been a massive party and a joyous celebration of music. A vibe Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 try to distil and recreate whenever we play live. We had the pleasure of partying with them after we both played the main stage at Electric Fields in 2016 and they were amazing company. Just as I hoped they would be. Legends.

What advice would you give to somebody wanting to get involved?

Be comfortable networking, be prepared to work hard, long hours, sometimes for little reward and create the opportunities for yourself and others. I like the Japanese philosophy of ikigai. A concept meaning ‘a reason for being’. Find out what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, what you are good at and make that your passion, mission, vocation and profession. It’s a venn diagram so you need to have it all in balance for it to play out most positively.

Things to avoid doing when starting out in the music industry?

Avoid people who try to take advantage of you, have no concern for your best interests and/or wellbeing and don’t burn yourself out.

The best bit of advice you’ve received?

Probably from Detroit techno Legend Juan Atkins at a music seminar who said the best of advice he had ever received was, “ALWAYS take risks.” You never know what lies on the other side of something, until you find out.