Rebecca Pickles.

What were you doing before you came to Spirit Studios?

I began working as a venue manager and promoter/booker when I left The Pipettes, starting at The Hope (now The Hope and Ruin), in Brighton. Then moved to Manchester working at the Ruby Lounge and Soup Kitchen, before moving into Festivals such as Parklife, Kendal Calling, Festival Number 6, Y Not Festival, and Manchester International Festival.

I continue to work with Factory International, most recently as producer for Festival Square MIF25.

How did you get into what you teach?

I was the Course Leader of the Event Management single honours and joint honours Music Business and Event Management and Music Production and Event Management degrees, having worked as a lecturer since 2014.

Any areas of special interest?

Personally – feminism, film, art, and girl bands.

Professionally – EDI, sustainability, and crowd psychology.

I have worked in the music industry for over 20 years, as an artist with The Pipettes and See Thru Hands, and as a backing vocalist with Jesca Hoop and Dr Syntax.

What’s your proudest career achievement?

My proudest career achievement was playing the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, supporting the band that made me want to be in a band – Sleater Kinney.

What do you get up to outside of teaching?

Watching films and keeping active such as going on hikes, body pump, swimming, and surfing.

Tell us something people may not know about you?

I can tap dance.

What are some of your career credits or any notable people you may have worked with?

Playing with Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse and Bryan Ferry.

What’s your favourite album/artist? and why?

Sleater Kinney -Dig Me Out. I loved this record, and listened to it on repeat. I got to see them on my 18th birthday and they made me want to be in a band, I thought Carrie Brownstein was amazing.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

Glastonbury Festival 2000

What’s your musical guilty pleasure?

I don’t have guilty pleasures, I happily listen to all sorts.

Want to learn from Rebecca?

Rebecca is a tutor at Spirit Studios that teaches on our Music Production courses our Music Business courses.