Tuesday 4th October

Can't believe I'm writing this, but!! Tuesday the 4th October I attended a meeting in the SONY Music Building with Daren Dixon and it was arranged so that Daren could give his expertes on brand partnerships and also to try and give an input on the next stages of a new r&b girl bands career.

It's amazing to be interning for someone who has such an influence on upcoming and established artists in the industry and to see him talk in such detail about development and trends because it's such an inspiration for me.

Also, being able to say I attended a meeting about MO Music will I'm sure be a talking point in a couple of years when they're as big as they are sure to be.

Tuesday 4th November / Lunch date

Headed straight from Oxford Road to an incredible Mexican tapas restaurant to a dinner date with The Sternberg Sisters who I am completely in awe of! They are so stunning and incredibly graceful and remind me of downton abbey in such an effortlessly chic way. They both act and have featured in Dove adverts along with other national appearances, but both wanted to go into dramatic acting; Daren was telling them to pack up and book a flight to LA for a few weeks to attend castings and make a name for themselves out there and if nothing was gained but experience then they could come back and try again. That's one thing that completely amazes me about the people in London, they are fearless and ruthless and so completely business driven. It's hard to stop until I come home to Sheffield and slow the pace! I can't believe that there are meetings like this, ever. Blackened salmon and a side of LA, YES PLEASE. 

Tuesday 4th November

I have the worst luck with chargers and ended having to buy my second snazzy portable one, that's the one thing about being here. I constantly want to take pictures because I absolutely LOVE the thrive of the city and the hustle and bustle of everyone in it. 

I met Daren outside NikeTown and we headed straight to Starbucks on Oxford Road (I now know why all Londoners are obsessed, chargers in every plug socket) to meet up with Mallie, an extremely gorgeous eccentric singer who is looking to get into acting for commercials. She has just come back from LA no less, networking with other actors out there and it was great to listen to Daren giving advice on her upping her social network and creating a vlog and a blog in order to generate more interest and show more of her personality to her fans. 

Be sure to give Mallie a follow http://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.twitter.com%2Fmalliemusic&h=2AQHEXyt1&s=1

Under the Bridge / 3rd November /

Met my friend Christina at Victoria station and jumped to the other side of the station to head to CHELSEA.

Didn't see any MIC cast, slightly disappointing but then it was 9pm! We went to a venue under Chelsea F.C called Under the Bridge and watched an evening of unsigned talent including Charlie from T
he Risk along with other well known artists. 

Had a few celeb spots aswell including Jay from that modelling programme on E4 that I cannot remember for the life of me. Also, Frazer Campbell who's name I only know due to my welsh friend who supports Cardiff City. I hate football. 

Monday 3rd November

Felt like a typical Londoner getting the train straight to St. Pancras with my big bag and headed directly for Starbucks. (Ice tea a plug socket and wifi was a Godsend) 

I had to do a bit of work for my casting the following Friday so I was scouting online for sheffield models, then I headed back on the tube (fearless) to Loughborough junction, apparently that was a daring move for a non Londoner and rightly so!! 

My battery ended up dying and I ended up heading into the first Internet cafe I have EVER come across apart from Zante 2011. I spent 30p and an hour trying to charge my phone on a PC older than myself before i had enough battery to find out where I was heading. You'll start to see a pattern occurring here..

Then I headed for Nandos to meet Daren Dixon and Anna Nightingale who head up the acting and commercial sector of aboveandbeyond and had a talk with them about talent scouting for the North

Yessss big up the north! 

#buskthebox Shoreditch - BoxPark Sunday 2nd November

Found my second home in London today 😍 I helped out at Busk the Box in Shoreditch where they had the most amazing set up of boutiques and trendy little pop up restaurants with the most incredible smelling pulled pork sandwiches!! 

BoxPark is literally a load of shipping containers that have been pieced together to create a quirky indoor market type thing for all the Shoreditch hipsters, myself included now! Might even dig my Levi jeans out for next time 

One of the containers opened at the front and doubled as a stage where set performers came to showcase their talent and their own material to passers by and also people who chose to stay and take a seat. One of the bands who played were De'vide, they appeared on The Voice in 2013 and did a few mash ups that are on my Instagram page (emmamerchant_xo) 

I will be returning to Shoreditch in a few weeks to see some more and post full blog posts about each singer 

JB Gill 17/12/14

Finally got to meet JB Gill yesterday, the JLS star who is backing the course i am currently studying at college.

It was great to discuss his experience both working and performing in the industry. It still surprises me how completely humble and down to earth the people i have met so far have been.

Jay took the time to discuss my internship at above and beyond and also my future prospects in the industry. He also shared his knowledge from his own experience in songwriting, copyright and touring.

Can't wait to catch up with him again in the new year and to look back on my progress.

Saturday 1st November

After the shoot I lugged around my massive suitcase from the shoot to a dinner with Daren at this amazing buffet place that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it 🙈

I caught the tube to Watford Junction where I was staying at a friends house and ordered the biggest Chinese evereeeerrr 

Saturday 1st November

Travelled to London to work with @theseekersofthesun campaign today! Naseema the company owner worked with Daren a few years ago as an intern, now she fronts her own range of temporary henna tattoos which have been featured in Cosmo and company magazine! 

I brought along Olivia Vardy, a model from sheffield who I had scouted for the campaign, she was incredible! 

I also got to meet Stephanie, an actress with above and beyond, and top beauty blogger @littlemissplumful and it was honestly great to be on set with this brand.

I absolutely LOVED  the temporary tattoos and even used them myself for a makeshift halloween event where I went as a Hindu bride. 

Tuesday 14th October

In Brixton I had a coffee date with Jackie Eyewe, Jackie is 21 and is the head of brand marketing for Bauer Promotions!

She was truly inspiring, it's crazy to see how many opportunities are available in London and how advanced everyone is there in terms of careers.

I chatted to Jackie about how people who are from London somehow feel they have to work harder because everything is more expensive there and they have no back up plan.

"It's either make it or scrape it."

Tuesday 14th October

🙈Used my first Oyster card woooo 

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not the most organised person in the world so travelling on the tube is a biiiig deal for me 😂

I managed to make it to Brixton where I had a look in the little markets and exotic food shops to see if I could get some fancy juice drinks, and bought too many 

Tuesday 14th October

Finally getting round to updating my blog after a busy couple of months 😁😁😁 

So the 14th October, where it all began for me interning with above and beyond!!

I travelled down to London, arriving at Homerton - a small town near Hackney, where I was helping on location for a promo shoot. 

@IAMZILO was collaborating on a single and the shoot was part of the artwork for the debut. 

Here are a few pictures from the shoot 

Loving this Sheffield Make up Blogger

Monday blues are optional

Frazer || 4.10.14 || The Rocking Chair

The new kids on the block *Frazer* played a set at The Rocking Chair in Sheffield on Saturday. These guys really should be playing at festivals, their music is so advanced already they really can only get better. 

Go check out their music on sound cloud *FrazerOfficial* and follow them on twitter *FrazerUK*

Sheffield in the Autumn time

The Leathernecks || 3.10.14

Friday night, I had the pleasure of meeting the Leathernecks at their show in Sheffield. The band have just released their E.P and it is now available to download online. Visit their twitter; TheLeathernecks, and find out about their upcoming shows in Sheffield.

Daren Dixon - The Above and Beyond Group

Our masterclass at College with the incredibly motivating Daren Dixon, Daren worked as an intern at the beginning of his career, working for Columbia Records managing Destiny's Child, Kasabian, Kelly Rowland and more. He now owns his own company The Above and Beyond Group where he deals with high end established talent, and nurtures new upcoming talent. I will be working with Daren, talent scouting for Models, Musicians and Actors in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Follow my journey on Instagram; emmajade_xo

The more you learn, the higher you get.