Safe In Sound, is an exciting new initiative working to provide a safe space for underrepresented voices in the Northern Irish music sector.
Our vision:
'A safe, strong, connected creative sector founded on equality, diversity and respect.'
Our mission:
'We will promote equality and understanding by providing an encouraging and supportive platform for underrepresented voices and safe spaces to listen, learn and share. As agents of meaningful change we will work together to eliminate barriers to opportunity and empower, elevate and connect our creative community both locally and globally.'
Our values:
‘At Safe In Sound we aim to promote a safe space led by inclusion and do not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia or any other type of descrimination towards a person(s) for their identity, ethnicity or sexual
orientation.’
Team
Katie Richardson (She/her) - Chair/Strategic Development Lead
Katie is a musician, composer, producer and facilitator who currently makes her own music under the name Hex Hue.
Katie has worked with many theatre and film companies across Ireland including Oscar nominated and Bafta award-winning Out of Orbit Films. In 2020 she was selected as one of Prime Cut's 'Reveal Artists' and curated the Creative Hub for TedX Stormont. As a passionate creative facilitator she believes in promoting inclusion and encouraging growth, expression and change through the arts and creative industries.
Jo Wright
- Vice-Chair, Organisations & Partnership Lead
Jo Wright is an artist manager at Citizen Music Ireland and a music consultant at Cross County Lines. Jo has been working in the music sector for 20 years, starting as a session brass player and a recording and live sound engineer. Jo graduated with a BSc in Music Technology before moving into artist management, development and consultancy. She currently manages Junior Johnson. In addition she is a music development officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Francesca O'Connor - Secretary/Events Coordinator
Francesca is an artist manager and music publicist from Belfast. In 2020, Francesca set up her own practice, Make Waves Management, providing services in management, PR and artist development for Irish artists. She is the NI Champion for Association of Independent Music UK.
Aine Cronin-McCartney - Publicity and Communications Lead/Events Lead
Aine Cronin-McCartney is freelance music journalist, broadcaster and artist manager. She can be regularly heard on shows across Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle. In December 2019, Aine presented BBC Music Introducing on BBC Radio One and dedicated the show to celebrating upcoming NI/Irish artists on a national platform. In May 2019, Aine launched her own management company, Flux Music Management where she works with Derry-based Indie-pop artist Reevah and is committed to helping artists further build their brand and lead successful campaigns.
Hannah Richardson
- Social Media & Ambassador Coordinator
Hannah Richardson is a musician from Derry and is known mostly for her role as guitarist and singer for indie band CHERYM. In 2018 CHERYM had their song Take it Back nominated for Best Single at the NI Music Prize Awards, in 2019 CHERYM took home the Oh Yeah Contender award and in 2020 had their song Abigail nominated for Best Single. In February 2021 the band signed to Alcopop! Records, an award winning independent record label based in Oxford.
Ciara King
Ciara is a Belfast musician, performing in Problem Patterns and Big Daisy. She has been actively involved in the local scene since she was a teenager, in various outputs, including work with Scratch My Progress, Go Girl, and Chordblossom. In 2020 she created the Bangers ’N’ Mash Ups compilation series alongside Problem Patterns, raising money for She Sells Sanctuary, which supports those affected by domestic violence. She is an advocate for inclusion and safety within the music community.
Contributors
Ciara McMullan
Photos
Ciara took most of the brilliant photos used on our website. She is a music photographer, with a degree in Broadcasting. While completing her degree, Ciara was highly commended in the NME Music Photography Awards. Since then, she has gone on to shoot in venues and arenas all across Ireland, UK and Europe and is the official tour photographer for ASIWYFA and Roe
Jacky Sheridan Illustration
Logo Design
Jacky Sheridan is an illustrator who uses her unique humour and a high contrast illustrative style to create expressive, fun bold and engaging work across a broad range of commercial and personal clients.
She is also a typographer, part time lecturer, activist, podcast and IRL creative speaker, fantastic hypeman, stereotypical Irishwoman, dog meme lord, and most importantly what some would describe as 'an absolute weapon'. Represented by UsFolk in the UK and Ireland