Triple Threat Mgmt is a full-service music management and services company. They support the careers of a diverse roster of developing through to established and heritage artists, across the spectrum of electronic music in the UK and internationally. They represent up-and-coming UK producers as well as Grammy Award winning superstars. Additionally, they provide PR services to artists and record labels as well as gig and logistics services to artists touring around the world and various consultancy services to businesses in the music and entertainment industry.

Here's our recent chat with Bella and Neil from Triple Threat Mgmt to discuss their favourite recent campaigns and talk about the overlaps between visual creativity and music.

It’s crazy really. There’s no live (roll on summer 2021 though!), yet we’re busier than ever! New releases, remixes, music videos, artist albums, brand collabs, publishing and sponsorship deals, press campaigns… it’s all go!  We’re so proud as well to have launched our Music Industry Diversity Initiative in 2020 with 22 of our peers – we recently kicked off a mentorship scheme for black individuals either in or looking to get into the industry and we’re providing training on important subjects like access for those with disabilities and mental health. As part of our development programme, we are also working with a fantastic young black singer-song writer, IMVN, on a pro-bono basis and about to announce her debut project.

WE'RE LOVING

Creatively at the moment we're loving the fact that, despite lockdown decimating the live industry, our artists have remained positive and are finding new and innovative outlets for their creativity. Whether it's through art, songwriting, collaboration, education or new technologies, we're so proud of how everyone has come together to raise the bar over this last year.

FAVOURITE VIDEO 

Neil - I was so into hip hop in the early 90's, so my all-time favourite music video has got to be 2Pac Feat. Dr. Dre California Love - Tupac x Dre x Mad Max, what's not to like!

Bella - For me, it’s got to be Kendrick Lamar’s Humble - it’s cinematic and striking. There’s a powerful visual narrative that subverts classical and religious images with black symbolism. With Dave Meyers and The Little Homies directing there’s so many unforgettable shots – the recreation of The Last Supper, faces wrapped in burning rope, cycling around a spinning town – visually breath taking!

BEST ARTWORK

Neil - I’ve always loved the album art for... Lock down your aerial... Original Pirate Material The Streets.  It’s just so simple yet so evocative. 

Bella - Pink Floyd’s Ummagumma (designed by Hipgnosis) just blows my mind! It’s only when you look at the image closely, that you see it shows four versions of the same image with the band rotating a position in each version. Surreal…just like the music!

FRESHEST CAMPAIGN

Neil - I appreciate you only asked me for one campaign but…. What Moses Boyd and his team did around his album Dark Matter and how they capitalised on the Mercury Prize nomination was impressive. Digital marketing and social media at its best. Shout out the immense use of lockdown (and Zoom in particular) by Charli XCX for her album How I’m Feeling Now. Disclosure’s live stream with Cercle had over 1 million viewers in under 6 hours and I’ve also got to mention Bicep and Ninja Tune’s recent success with Isles.  

Bella - I couldn’t add to that!

BEST COLLABORATION

Neil - The most recent brand collab that caught my eye was our very own LCY x Fila – it hit the right notes, discussing how LCY “found her freedom” despite the unprecedented and difficult times and was a great additional activation to the promo around LCY’s single Garden of E10.

Bella - For me, Ikea x D Double E. Ikea’s Christmas advert bringing grime music to the masses – no one saw that coming! You’ve just got to love the comedic lyrics combined with animated household objects. Silence The Critics!

VIDEO OF THE YEAR 

Neil - I don't think you can look much further than Arca's video for Non-Binary.

Bella - For me the most creative and original music video of the past year is Bad Bunny’s Yo Perra Sola. Pushing gender stereotype boundaries and calling respect for woman and the LGBTQ+ community. I love the ending - ‘if she doesn’t want to dance with you, respect her, she twerks alone’.

LOGO LOVE

Neil - The logo I wish I had designed is not something I ever think about to be honest! If you’re going to have a logo, then make it cool and make it different from anyone else!

Bella - For me the logo I wish I had designed has got to be Nirvana’s smiley face logo. Part moody, part playful. The story goes that it was inspired by the sign at The Lusty Lady strip club in Seattle, and represents the expression that Nirvana fans had on their faces at shows. The symbol of grunge!

GO FOLLOW

Neil - Is it ok that I kinda hate social media?!  Too many people worrying about what they look like and what other people think.  A necessary evil these days though but definitely something I recommend not taking too seriously. 

Bella - The one artist you should follow on Instagram is Elderbrook. During the first lockdown, I loved his covers from the cabin - vibes!

ICONIC

Neil - There are so many iconic photographs! If we’re talking truly iconic then Danny Clinch's portrait of Tupac or anything by Jim Marshall (especially the classics - Jimmy Hendrix burning his guitar or Johnny Cash flipping the bird!)

Bella - Yes, Johnny Cash flipping the bird to the wardens at San Quintin State Prison in 1969 (Jim Marshall) has got to be up there as one of the most influential and famous music photographs of all time!

Creative Corner, in association with The MMF