Andy Ross - Ex-Head of Food Records, Autumn 1999
By: Toby L
Walking up a narrow, dark street. On a cold, October morning. In Camden. The common experience of that strange lady under the bus-shelter on the high street, or the sight that people wake up to behold after a night out on the tiles. However, unlike these tales, this one had a mission and a purpose: to find out more about the music-industry, and we were asking the equivalent of the ace of hearts to a card game - Food Records boss, Andy Ross.
Notorious amongst all followers of Blur (including those who consider themselves even the most casual of fans), Andy Ross was responsible for signing Blur to Food, offering the legendary comment a while after seeing them live, 'They were crap, but entertaining,' (a comment Mogwai fans would only half agree with). However, behind the shadow that Blur's huge success naturally casts on Food's other signings, there are many treasures to be discovered on the label. For instance, Fungus: a heavy-rock band that features catchy hooks, and choruses to match, maybe get their talents from the well-known Scandinavian ability for writing great pop tunes. Liz Horsman and Matthew Jay are hidden gems that blend rock, indie, pop and folk into a sound not only pleasurable to listen to, but also credible. Finally, Idlewild, a punk-rock act that have gained a loyal fan-base after their two years of heavy touring, who have celebrated top-30 singles and rave reviews from the press. The unique thing about Food, one may have guessed, is that they focus on just a selected few, preferring to deal with quality, rather than quantity, in order to develop the artists to their full potential.
Walking up that road again, a door was entered, some tasteful orange/yellow stairs were climbed and another door was opened. A blast of loud music was there to greet, along with a crowded, bright room with its walls covered in posters, magazine-covers and the most elaborate promotional items imaginable. It was exactly how you'd want to picture the perfect record-label's workplace; demos piled up high on windowsills; CDs and tapes scattered all over the place; and plenty of computers for messing about with. It was as if work never existed. Having sat for just two minutes, a tall, thin man, dressed in trendy, black clothing, approaches us, and the minute amount of sun coming through the clouds via the windows shone on his slicked-back, gelled hair. A new room was introduced, and the record-label boss pushed two chairs opposite each other. The room was virtually black, apart from the murky, grey light from outside, yet - somehow - Ross' facial appearance was a lot clearer. Although tidy and clean, you could see a face that yearned for a break, and a face that since 21 years of age had experienced the music-world in a way most never will. He was in two bands at university, Club Tango and the Disco Zombies.
What music influenced you, back then?
'The whole punk rock thing, really. People always seemed to be in bands then when they were around 14 years old. I mean, historically, I don't see why more bands can't start at a younger age, like Ash. Idlewild were quite young, they were about 19, but Fungus started out when they were about 11 or 12. Someone like Peter Frampton was on Top of the Pops when he was around 16, and Stevie Winwood was again, something like 16 when he was having no-1 records in the Spencer Davis Group in the 60's. I don't see why people under 18 can't do great things, but we're in a time where you have to be a certain age to be musically competent.'
Obviously, for Andy, however, a career in performing music wasn't calling him.
'I packed in playing music because I found it boring, but I liked writing the songs and putting out records. I had my own little record label, but then everyone had their own record label in 1978!'
The quality music (ahem) of pop and the current Ibiza club 'anthems' in the UK at the moment, gave Andy something he was more than willing to talk about.
What do think of the current charts, and what music do you listen to now?
'The charts are terrible this year. I mean, I listen to the radio and say, 'What's this crap,' usually. I don't listen to much anymore, but I'll listen to something like Beck, who's good and consistent. I don't listen to any Blur music.'
Who can blame him? Surrounded by it ALL the time could even test a fan's loyalty to their music. He soon went on to say he had to listen to the whole 10th anniversary box-set very attentively to check for any mistakes, which is eight hours in length.
Andy then seemed to get annoyed about how artists call making music 'work'.
Damon claims to work an 18-hour day...
'Well, I always tend to nickname Damon, 'Add a Nought-Albarn!' He does tend to exaggerate, but if he does work that amount of time a day, I think you'll find it's purely out of choice because he's had plenty of time off this year, and he's chosen to work on soundtracks. I'd say getting up at 5 in the morning emptying dustbins is work. There were some musicians that recently came up to me, who weren't getting support from their record company and they said, 'Do you want us to become road-sweepers, then?' and I replied, 'Actually, Camden's got enough musicians, I could do with more road-sweepers!' All these whinging musicians are spoilt, most of them.'
What do you think will be the next brand of popular music in this country, and would you say it's helpful to have a varied taste of music when working in the industry?
'You never know about the future sound, because with something like drum and bass a few years ago, it didn't last long. I don't think there's any harm with having a varied taste, but it depends what kind of role you want to fulfil and if you're going into management, sometimes it's not even necessary to understand or like the kind of music of the artist you're working with. What you'd be doing with that artist is to find the best contacts for them and generally when it comes to the musical side of things, that's what you have A&R men for. Quite often, managers come to a band, but sometimes you sign an act without a manager and then you've got to look for good management and quite frankly, it's poor. Anyone can say they're a manager, but to be actually good...'
Can you provide any tips for getting into music-management?
'One of the major credentials is just to be organised and also having a fairly even temperament, so you don't get flustered. Certain things worth investigating, in management, are contracts or the legal side of things, which I shied away from for a long time, because I was a bit intimidated by them. There's about under 10 law-firms that specialise in the music-industry and so you have to be comfortable with that, or at least know some of the names (involved). Talking principally about alternative/rock, there are about 5 or 6 big agencies who have to deal with booking gigs and things, like Helter Skelter, who Blur's agent works for.'
The topic of drugs loomed and there were no problems answering questions about the more hedonistic side of the industry.
In the media, there are constant references to the music world's drug-world - is it really as fierce as these sources suggest, or are they highly exaggerated?
'I don't know if it's any worse than life in general, really, but I do think you'll find the people in the city get up to it more than others. It's all about lifestyle and there's a lot of peer pressure. I wouldn't be talking so readily if I was a cokehead, as it's something that doesn't appeal to me. There are drugs if you want them, but that applies to most places; it's a personal choice for everybody.'
Finally, Food have received a lot of criticism for the way the Supernaturals were dropped without any news or story surrounding it at all. Andy revealed there was no choice because EMI fund the label so it's their money, thus their decision. It sounds like a mistake, as they've celebrated numerous hits in the last few years, and recently their top-20 single 'Smile' has been featured in the Co-operative Bank's advert for its online banking service on www.smile.co.uk. However, when bands leave Food Records, Andy makes sure there are no hard feelings.
'It's not like we refuse to talk to people once they're dropped; we're all human-beings, sometimes things don't work out. Some people lose their jobs, but it doesn't mean you have to hate (the people involved). They're talented and they don't stop being talented overnight, it just gives them more experience.'
To end the day, a few photos were taken (Me: 'Do you want them to be taken somewhere in particular?' Andy: 'Just take the bloody things!'), and as I left the building, I was comfortable in knowing more light had been shed an industry which so many people want to get into. There was light outside too... the sun had finally come out.
Since this article, Andy has left working alongside EMI. He is now managing new band, The Candys, and rumours are abound that he's planning a comeback label, Bossmusic.
Artists in this article: Andy Ross