Steve White - Man of Drums

Hi everyone,

For the few of you out there who don't know who Steve White is, he is (in my opinion!) one of the greatest drummers around. After a long drumming career playing for the likes of The Style Council and then Paul Weller as a solo artist, The Who and Ian Dury to name but a few, he decided it was time for a change and began managing young music artists, Sam Gray and Abi Phillips. Steve very kindly gave us a little interview about his experiences and also a few handy tips for those of you looking to get into music or managing. Check out the websites for Sam and Abi by clicking on their names, and you'll be able to listen to some great tunes while you're there.


So Steve, Why did you start playing the drums?

I was nine years of age and I just saw a Boys Brigade band Marching down the road, I was so impressed I just had to take up the drums, from then on in was hooked!

How did you manage to break into the music industry and become a professional drummer?

I used to go to auditions of every kind, never turned the opportunity down to play, joined every band I could and just pestered people. 


Did you always have the intention of making a career out of playing the drums or was it just a hobby to begin with?

It was never a hobby, from the first time I ever picked up a pair of sticks i knew thats what i was going to do for a living. 


Why did you did you decide, after many years of drumming, to start managing Sam and Abi?

I came from working with one artist for 25 years and when I met Sam i just fell in love with his songs, I knew that he could make great records so I set about making it happen, Abi came along later, she was only 15 when I first met her, she has a staggering voice and I think she will follow in the lines of Ellie Goulding and hopefully Adele. 


How are you finding the experience?  

It's hard, the industry is changing so much and so quickly, the major labels are less and less relevant and its about compiling incomes from as many sources as possible, the gloves are off. 


Do you have any advice that you could give to anyone wanting to get into the music industry whether it be as an artist or a manager?

Tenacity, patience, endless practice, remove the word "can't" from you vocabulary, be nice to people, but dont be ingenuine, and remember the music business is nothing at all without the song, no production, gadget or gizmo can cover up the fact that a song isn't good, be original and learn as quickly as possible to smell the smell of bullshit and NEVER sign anything without a lawyer, also remember Music and Business are two very different words, dont let the business taint your love of music!  

Thanks Steve for a really intersting interview, it's great to hear from somebody with a long lasting passion for the industry and all it stands for. Keep up to date with Steve White and his music ventures at his website.


Abi is super talented, not only is she becoming a sound recording artist, but she also appears in the soap Hollyoaks as the bubbly character Liberty. After writing the song 'Missing You' for the show, and an audition for the part, the producers picked up on her talent and cast her in the role.
Check iTunes for Abi's single 'Missing You' NOW!

And click on the link below to hear a clip of Sam's single 'Cartwheel Queen' which will be out in July. Head to The Enterprise in Camden on 31st May 2011 to watch him play live.
http://soundcloud.com/nottinghillmusic/sets/sam-gray-brighter-day-album

Hope you've enjoyed reading everyone, keep on rocking in the free world

Olivia xxx