Matthew Francey

NCTJ accredited Journalist Multi-skilled Content Creator Website Manager LOVIE Award Winner

[matthewfrancey]

MINISTRY OF SOUND

I currently work as Head of Content at Ministry of Sound.

I joined the company in 2014 as Online Editor and was tasked with revamping ministryofsound.com by pioneering an editorial offering - developing a digital strategy, tone of voice and building an editorial team.

Over the years I have got more involved in our video production and digital marketing offering. I now have oversight over all original content production - editorial, video and audio - content marketing, and brand communications across all Ministry-owned businesses.

I have worked with all aspects of the business including club, touring events, record label, radio, home audio, fitness and brand and charity partnerships.

  www.ministryofsound.com

[matthewfrancey]

Echo Location Talent

From May 2018 - November 2019 I worked as Website Manager and Content Creator for Echo Location Talent. 

Echo Location is a global talent agency that prides itself on not just representing, but also developing artists from right across the musical spectrum to ensure they reach their potential.

I created unique, engaging, editorial content around their roster of top-tier talent from dance, grime, hip-hop and pop. Working directly with the management teams of over 160 artists including headline acts such as Diplo, Marshmello and Chase & Status I kept the website bursting with information about releases, tour dates, awards and media appearances.

  “I found Matt to be reliable, pro-active and creative whilst always appreciating his meticulous eye for detail.

I would love to work together on something again in the future.”

- Ryan Hughes

Brand Partnership Manager | Echo Location Talent

  www.echolocationtalent.com

[matthewfrancey]

Dimension Is Confirmed For An Essential Mix On Radio 1

The most exciting artist in Drum & Bass takes on the Essential Mix.

Echo Location Talent

After selling out his debut LIVE show at Electric Brixton on the 5th October, Dimension is confirmed for an Essential Mix on Radio 1! Listen to it here.

The mix will be broadcast 26th October and marks the end to an emphatic year.

We announced the tracklist to socials yesterday.

Also if you missed it, we posted video footage from the LIVE show this week. Watch here.

[matthewfrancey]

Welcome Stonebwoy!

Ghanaian afro-pop and dancehall king, Stonebwoy joins Echo Location Talent.

Echo Location Talent

Ghanaian afro-pop and dancehall king, Stonebwoy joins Echo Location Talent. The prodigious talent had his first radio hit, “Makuma (My Heart)” while he was still in High School!

His two albums Grade #1 and Necessary Evil are captivating debuts that herald the arrival of a gifted and significant artist, marking his territory.

The meteoric rise has attracted the attention of many exciting international acts and collaborations have been coming in thick and fast from the likes of Sean Paul, Kranium and Burna Boy.

[matthewfrancey]

Sub Focus And Wilkinson Drop Official Tour Video For ‘Illuminate'

Drum & bass pioneers Sub Focus and Wilkinson have unveiled the official tour video for their smash hit ‘Illuminate’, which came out October 18th.

Echo Location Talent

An epic montage giving viewers a glimpse of life on the road for two of D&B’s most adored figures, the video for ‘Illuminate’ is a perfect visual representation of summer 2019’s hottest dance track. The single has already hit the ground running, generating 2 million global streams, topping the UK iTunes Electronic charts and also reaching #1 in the Cool Cuts Chart.

One of D&B’s true pioneers, Sub Focus is best known for his state-of-the-art live shows and diverse back-catalogue, including ‘Tidal Wave’ and ‘Rock It’. A regular at the likes of Creamfields, SW4 and a resident at Amnesia Ibiza, he has twice headlined and sold out Brixton’s iconic O2 Academy. Sub Focus opened the year with his single ‘Desire’, a collaboration with fellow UK artist Dimension that spent a number of weeks on the BBC Radio 1 A-list and has gone on to pick up over 50 million global streams. His July double-single release of ‘Solar System’ and ‘Siren’ saw Sub Focus receive widespread support and close off his current series of releases. On the gig front, he has spent the summer performing at the likes of Glastonbury (three sets which included Arcadia), Love Saves The Day and Dour Festival.

Wilkinson has established his place as one of electronic music’s top talents. The London artist is best known for 2013 smash ‘Afterglow’, a track that topped the UK Dance charts and has amassed 170 million global streams. Four years later, he again hit #1 on the UK Dance charts, this time with sophomore album Hypnotic. Wilkinson has also built a stellar reputation around his live performances with his band, selling out the iconic Brixton Academy, the Roundhouse, four UK tours and headlining festival stages around the globe that including SW4, Reading & Leeds Festival and Creamfields. This continued into 2019 with performances at Glastonbury, EDC Las Vegas, and the BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend this summer, as well as an Ibiza residency.

Arguably the two biggest names in contemporary D&B, the official tour video for Sub Focus & Wilkinson’s ‘Illuminate’ is typically epic.

  Illuminate is out now. Stream here.

  For more information on Sub Focus, click here

[matthewfrancey]

Kranium’S “Nobody Has To Know” Goes Gold

“Kranium has secured his first gold-certified song with “Nobody Has To Know,” a truly remarkable and well-deserved feat!

Echo Location Talent

“Nobody Has to Know,” which features rapper Ty Dolla Sign has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000. The certification was announced on September 27, and Kranium took to both his Twitter and Instagram accounts to share his excitement. He tweeted:

“Thanks to all the cheaters that made this record go GOLD in the USA #NobodyHasToKnow @LmrPro @tydollasign #JamaicaQueensNY#FromMobayToNYC #Dancehall.”

In other Kranium news, the rapper is to be featured in Rihanna’s forthcoming album, you can read more about that on Complex, here.

[matthewfrancey]

Wizkid Praised In The Guardian

“A magnetic performance, including a surprise appearance by Burna Boy, is thrilling proof that Wizkid deserves his spot at the top.”

Echo Location Talent

Wizkid’s explosive headline set at the soldout O2 Arena has received rave reviews across the board, but none more glowing than in The Guardian.

A set that was full of surprises, saw Wizkid bring out a barrage of musical guests; including rising UK afrobeats star, Afro B, Naira Marley, and Burna Boy.

“With energy at a high point, Wizkid brings the curtain down with Ojuelegba, the enchanting drums and biographical lyrics leading the crowd into “Sermon”, topping a night that epitomizes both his and Afrobeats’ continued ascent into the mainstream.” – The Guardian

  You can read the review in full here.

[matthewfrancey]

TENI WINS BIG AT THE HEADIES

Lagos superstar, TENI made history this week at the Headie Awards.

Echo Location Talent

Lagos superstar, TENI made history this week at the Headie Awards. The rapper became the first female to take home four trophies at the prestigious African award show.

TENI racked up wins for  The Viewer’s Choice Award, Best Vocal Performance (Female), Best Pop Song and Recording of the year all for her explosive track “UYO MEYO”.

After making history, TENI capped off the night by performing “Case” alongside Big Brother Naija star, Mike Edwards.

[matthewfrancey]

Kranium Drops New Single “In Charge"

The video has been premiered by The Fader.

Echo Location Talent

The first single from Kranium’s upcoming project Midnight Sparks, dropping next month, has been released with a brand new visual. The single is titled In Charge and was produced by Sketch.

Read the full article on The Fader here

[matthewfrancey]

Heartless Crew Take Over 1Xtra

Listen back to the 2-hour takeover here.

Echo Location Talent

Heartless Crew have just dropped two hours of massive tunes on BBC Radio 1Xtra. The kings of UKG were joined by Deno and Big Zeeks in the studio.

The Heartless boys will be on your radio every Sunday from 19:00.

You can listen back to the show here.

[matthewfrancey]

Ocean Wisdom Drops Big Talk VOL. 1 Mixtape

Ocean Wisdom has finally dropped his long-awaited Nig Talk Vol.1 mixtape.

Echo Location Talent

Ocean Wisdom has finally dropped his long-awaited Big Talk Vol.1 mixtape. The release sees Ocean work with a who’s who of the UK music scene, including tracks with Ghetts, Dizzee Rascal, P Money, Fatboy Slim, Freddie Gibbs, LD and Akala.

Ocean is gearing up to take Big Talk on the road with a huge UK and EU tour kicking off later this month. The Big Talk Tour will take in Paris, Zurich, Milan, Vienna, and many more EU cities plus big dates across the UK.

  You can get tickets to the Big Talk Tour here.

[matthewfrancey]

Rema’s Bad Commando Hyped By Pitchfork

Rema's latest EP has been selected as essential listening by Pitchfork.

Echo Location Talent

Rema’s latest EP, Bad Commando, has been selected as essential listening by Pitchfork. You can read what Pitchfork had to say in full below and listen to the mixtape here.

“On Rema’s third EP of the year, Bad Commando, the 19-year-old Nigerian’s versatility continues to shine. “Lady” is lovestruck afropop; “Spaceship Jocelyn” features high-pitched crooning that could make Swae Lee jealous; “Rewind” is a funky ballad. But the standout of the four-track EP is “Bad Commando.” Rema’s best singles like “Dumebi” and “Iron Man” capture his youthful energy and elevate his soft melody. “Bad Commando” is the perfect vehicle for both, as he gets to flex his vocals over a smooth guitar and drums that sound made for after school dance circles. Rema doesn’t even have to say real words, he can surround his lyrics with hums. Any song on the EP could be his next hit, that’s the point of the dartboard approach, but “Bad Commando” is why so many have crowned Rema as Nigeria’s next star.” – Pitchfork

[matthewfrancey]

Buju Banton's Til Shiloh Goes Gold 24 Years After Release

Released in 1995, Til Shiloh ha snow sold over 1/2 million copies.

Echo Location Talent

Buju Banton’s album Til Shiloh was recently certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) 24 years after the album release.

Til Shiloh was released in 1995 and features some of Banton’s best work to date including tracks like “Untold Stories”, “‘Til I’m Laid to Rest”, and “Wanna Be Loved”. On September 27, 2019, the RIAA certified the album as “gold”, having sold half a million records.

[matthewfrancey]

Mixmag Get To Know Anz

Inspired beatmaker, Anz, is profiled in the latest issue of Mixmag.

Echo Location Talent

Inspired beatmaker Anz is profiled in the latest issue of Mixmag. The 27-year-old talks to the magazine about her rise through the underground of Manchester and London.

She recently won the crown at Red Bull’s Riddim Academy – a competition that sees UK producers tasked to create three beats in three hours. She’s now dropped two well-received Boiler Room’s and has just released on 2 B REAL

  You can read the feature in full now.

  Mixmag · Premiere: Anz 'Helps Your Two Hips Move'

[matthewfrancey]

Kano Brings Out D Double E

Grime veteran D Double E joined Kano for a visceral performance at Royal Albert Hall.

Echo Location Talent

Kano has brought out Grime veteran, D Double E for a visceral performance, which was the highlight of his Royal Albert Hall show last week. The show was the culmination of Kano’s hyped Hoodies All Summer tour, and K-A new who to bring out for that apex moment.

“On a night of highs, the apex is undoubtedly Hoodies’ old-school “Class of Deja” – a nod to pirate radio station Déjà vu FM – where Kano brings out fellow grime veterans D Double E and a typically hyper Ghetts.” – Roisin O’Connor, The Independent

[matthewfrancey]

Watch: ALISHA Talks To Size?

Get to know fast-rising DJ, Alisha, in this video interview with Size? 

Echo Location Talent

Recorded ahead of her opening set at Warehouse project: Kaluki Presents, where she will share the bill with Loco Dice, Joseph Capriati, Skream and Richy Ahmed.

The interview covers her introduction to music, inspirations and her journey through clubland and is the perfect primer to the future superstar.

[matthewfrancey]

Sam Tompkins Releases New EP

From My Sleeve To Yours is his first release on Island Records.

Echo Location Talent

Sam Tompkins has just dropped his first release on his new label, Island Records. The 5-track EP, From My Sleeve To The World, features some huge songs including “You Broke My Heart So Gently”, “Follow Suit” and “Gently”

Next single “Faded” features Jaykae and will be premiered tonight on Mistajam’s BBC Radio 1 Xtra show, while the video will drop on YouTube at 8PM tonight. You can watch the video once it goes live above.

The talented 22-year old announced a headline UK tour last month, with most dates selling out in only a few days. You can cop the EP’s artwork and tracklist below, and listen to it in full here.