Experience

TRUE Africa

• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Editor-at-large

  • Apr 2016 - Present



Grand Piano Embassy

• Greater New York City Area + London, United Kingdom

• Founder/Creative Ambassador

  • 2008 - Present

  Founder of an independent creative and brand communications outfit specializing in creative conceptualization, music curating/programming, experiential marketing and content strategy. Past and present clients/collaborators include Givenchy, Adidas, Martell, Epic Records, Diesel, G-Star, GOOD Music | Pusha-T, Capitol Records, Grooveshark, Sony Pictures Classics, Smirnoff and LVMH. Founder of an independent creative and brand communications outfit specializing in creative conceptualization, music curating/programming, experiential marketing and content strategy. Past and present clients/collaborators include Givenchy, Adidas, Martell, Epic Records, Diesel, G-Star, GOOD Music | Pusha-T, Capitol Records, Grooveshark, Sony Pictures Classics, Smirnoff and LVMH.



Bang & Olufsen

• Denmark
• Computers and Electronics Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consulting Producer | Copy Writer

  • 2014 - 2014



Diesel

• Apparel & Fashion
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consulting Producer, Music & Integration

  • 2008 - 2011

  Directed and produced the music agenda for Diesel's 2008 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Swim Week runway show. This involved designing a genre-busting runway soundtrack and securing Star Trak artists Teyana Taylor for her modeling debut and Chester French for a live performance. Conceptualized and executed the music production and booking for xXx: Rock-N-Roll Circus, a live music event celebrating the brand’s 30-year history. Event included unique pairings of performances between Chaka Khan and London electro outfit Hot Chip; rapper T.I. teaming up with Franz Ferdinand; and the eclectic M.I.A. with N.E.R.D. Brokered and supervised music video integration deals with musicians M.I.A. and Rye Rye. Show less



Virgin Records | Capitol Records

• Greater New York City Area + Greater Los Angeles Area

• Consultant, Brand Direction/Artist Development

  • 2006 - 2009

  Led efforts on artists’ image creation and maintenance. Oversaw promotion materials including photos, press releases, brand identity and artwork. Also wrote or edited biographies for artists that included Raekwon, Joss Stone, Boniface, Che’Nelle, Letoya Luckett, Priscilla Renea and Lenny Kravitz. Led efforts on artists’ image creation and maintenance. Oversaw promotion materials including photos, press releases, brand identity and artwork. Also wrote or edited biographies for artists that included Raekwon, Joss Stone, Boniface, Che’Nelle, Letoya Luckett, Priscilla Renea and Lenny Kravitz.



Interview Magazine

• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Contributing Writer

  • 2006 - 2009

  Contributed music and lifestyle feature stories. Contributed music and lifestyle feature stories.



Sony Pictures Classics

• Greater New York City Area

• Marketing & Music Consultant

  • 2008 - 2008

  Created, organized and executed a marketing campaign for the Sundance award-winning film, "The Wackness," starring Ben Kingsley and Famke Janssen. Brokered an alliance with Diesel that included a co-branded event/film screening, promotional materials available in Diesel stores and a bespoke collectible mixtape featuring music inspired by the film. The mixtape was distributed at events and available on Diesel’s U:Music Web site. Created, organized and executed a marketing campaign for the Sundance award-winning film, "The Wackness," starring Ben Kingsley and Famke Janssen. Brokered an alliance with Diesel that included a co-branded event/film screening, promotional materials available in Diesel stores and a bespoke collectible mixtape featuring music inspired by the film. The mixtape was distributed at events and available on Diesel’s U:Music Web site.



HSBC

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Copy Writer

  • 2007 - 2007

  Played a key role in developing HSBC’s 2008 brand book by contributing inspiring text, helping select supporting images and advising on the overall direction. Played a key role in developing HSBC’s 2008 brand book by contributing inspiring text, helping select supporting images and advising on the overall direction.



Hardy Amies London

• United Kingdom
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Brand/Creative Consultant

  • 2006 - 2007

  Hired by Hardy Amies, a Saville Row, British-based fashion house that specializes in modern luxury wear to conceive, manage and execute their 2006/2007 brand book. The purpose of the brand book was to create a cohesive and creative expression that emphasized their brand DNA through imaginative art/creative direction and illustration. Hired by Hardy Amies, a Saville Row, British-based fashion house that specializes in modern luxury wear to conceive, manage and execute their 2006/2007 brand book. The purpose of the brand book was to create a cohesive and creative expression that emphasized their brand DNA through imaginative art/creative direction and illustration.



TRACE Magazine

• Greater New York City Area

• Music Editor

  • 2002 - 2006

  Conceived, set and oversaw the overall tone for music content in the magazine. Generated ideas and wrote cover stories and feature articles on artists including Kanye West, Erykah Badu, The RZA, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige. Oversaw the layout, content and appearance of both music and lifestyle pieces, working closely with the photo department to ensure quality photos for each piece. Liaised with record labels, press managers and management to secure music talent for magazine. Conceived, set and oversaw the overall tone for music content in the magazine. Generated ideas and wrote cover stories and feature articles on artists including Kanye West, Erykah Badu, The RZA, 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige. Oversaw the layout, content and appearance of both music and lifestyle pieces, working closely with the photo department to ensure quality photos for each piece. Liaised with record labels, press managers and management to secure music talent for magazine.



Grand Marnier

• Greater New York City Area

• Brand/Music Consultant

  • 2004 - 2005

  Developed and executed music marketing campaign for Grand Marnier Navan’s launch, which included an Outkast-hosted event during the 2004 MTV Awards in Miami and a bespoke music compilation based on their “What happens when cultures join together” campaign. Featured artists included NERD, Dizzee Rascal and Jadakiss. Music was disseminated online and at Navan-sponsored events. Developed and executed music marketing campaign for Grand Marnier Navan’s launch, which included an Outkast-hosted event during the 2004 MTV Awards in Miami and a bespoke music compilation based on their “What happens when cultures join together” campaign. Featured artists included NERD, Dizzee Rascal and Jadakiss. Music was disseminated online and at Navan-sponsored events.