Sarah Weller is a multi-talented drive within the music scene, each on and off stage. Final 12 months, she took up the submit of Head of Music at Ronnie Scott’s. Interview for Worldwide Ladies’s Day by Kai Hoffman.

Together with her huge data of the jazz musicians and bands who’re at the moment touring the globe, Sarah Weller was made Head of Music at Ronnie Scott’s Membership in October, 2023. There are few positions within the UK music trade to equal the authority of her place on the oldest jazz membership on the continent. 

With a multi-faceted profession, spanning quite a few musical genres, Weller was busy and profitable as a touring singer and DJ within the soul, blues, and rock world earlier than coming again to jazz, becoming a member of the music staff at Ronnie Scott’s in 2009. Her singing work noticed her supporting artists equivalent to Chaka Khan at Hammersmith Apollo (with the City Dwellers) and Limp Bizkit at Brixton Academy (with The Tarantinos), and she or he had a report performed on Pete Tong’s Radio 1 present. As a DJ, Weller has carried out for the MOBO awards, Hed Kandi and Jazz FM’s on-line station ejazz.fm. 

Weller had “by no means thought of the opportunity of working at Ronnie’s behind the scenes, though I clearly dreamed of singing there. I noticed so many inspiring ladies after I was beginning out as a singer within the 90s, equivalent to Betty Carter, Flora Purim and Claire Martin. I all the time cherished singing jazz however my vocal work took me elsewhere, and my day-to-day jobs, while all the time in music, weren’t in jazz till I began working at Jazz FM in 1998, the place I labored within the Enterprise Division, releasing jazz and Hed Kandi compilations.” 

“Being a part of the music staff was like a dream job alternative,” she continues. “Expertise is one of the best factor concerning the job. Seeing artists doing unbelievable issues. They elevate your life above the extraordinary. There have been so many musical highlights through the years however seeing a few of my heroes at such shut proximity will all the time be particular: George Benson, Marlena Shaw, Terence Blanchard, Wayne Kranz and getting Herb Alpert for per week in 2023.  It took so a few years I simply couldn’t consider it when it lastly occurred. To listen to him play ‘Rise,’ and sing ‘This Man’s in Love With You’… wow. I’ll bear in mind it without end. It’s not solely the massive stars however seeing folks at the beginning of their careers, placing all their vitality into creating one thing contemporary and new. The UK scene could be very thrilling.  A terrific present for me is one thing that makes me really feel energised and excited after I depart. It takes an enormous staff of individuals to get exhibits to the stage. All of us have our half to play and everybody works their hardest to realize it. Ronnie Scott’s continues to be what it’s due to these people who find themselves dedicated to music and the historical past of the membership.”

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No doubt, Weller could have seen 1000’s of artist demos over the previous fifteen years at Ronnie Scott’s. With that in thoughts, she says: “The flexibility to explain and promote your self is essential. There are all the time so many artists that current fantastic proposals however a very good EPK [Electronic Press Kit] will definitely assist to be taken severely. Concise data that helps us perceive them as an artist is paramount.  I might recommend the next for anybody attempting to get a gig: an image of the band, hyperlinks to music, a hyperlink to a reside YouTube video, present launch plan, hyperlinks to socials, the line-up they’re proposing however most significantly what music are they taking part in? What makes you stand out from the gang? No matter it’s, then ensure you get that throughout in your e-mail.” 

Alongside her busy schedule at Ronnie’s, Weller loves DJing and is a passionate collector of music. “If I’m not listening to music, I need to be dancing to it,” she says. “My first album was a George Benson album and it has been fixed since then – three 12” vinyls arrived via the submit right this moment.  I can’t bear in mind after I began DJing.  I had a daily slot on the Bug Bar in Brixton supporting the band with one other DJ, Leslie Love. I did extra after I began at Jazz FM, together with exhibits for the newly launched ejazz.fm. I really like sharing new music that I’ve ‘discovered’ and hope that like minded folks get pleasure from my decisions. I’m fortunate to DJ as soon as a month at Ronnie’s and we run an evening in Herne Bay, Kent known as Soul by the Sea. I really like dancing so I really like going to different DJ nights as nicely.”

When requested about her tackle Worldwide Ladies’s Day, Weller responds: “It’s good to rejoice IWD, particularly if it helps ladies have the arrogance to say ‘I’m good, I needs to be taking part in, I’ve one thing distinctive to say and I’m going to say it.’ All of us want somebody to encourage us and provides us hope. Once I was younger, I listened to a number of radio and cherished listening to Rating Miss P on Radio 1. Once I began out in music there weren’t many ladies in music firms, particularly in A&R (artists and repertoire). I did no matter job I may. Being surrounded by different, like-minded, passionate folks helps.  I by no means imagined that someday I might be head of music at Ronnie’s (and I thank MD Fred Nash for the chance and perception in me). If I may give recommendation to somebody who would need my job then I might say, be ready to work onerous and be captivated with what you do.  You must be single minded concerning the stuff you love. I’m by no means not at work – I’m all the time linked. I really feel privileged to be a part of the continued historical past of Ronnie’s, though it seems like an enormous accountability at instances!”