Joe Staniforth is a second year BA (Hons) Music Performance and Production student. Outside of his studies, he’s the lead singer in the band ‘The Kites’, who have recently performed at venues across Leeds, featured on national BBC radio and are due to play at Leeds Festival in summer 2024. In this blog, Joe shares how his course helps him with his flourishing career in music.

Course: BA (Hons) Music Performance and Production

Tell us a bit about yourself, why you chose to study your course and what interests you the most about the subject area? 

I’m Joe and I am a self-taught musician and vocalist. I have just completed my second year of studying Music Performance and Production. I love my music and studied A levels in music, music production and media studies. I was looking for a degree that would allow me to write, record, perform and promote popular music as I wanted to prepare myself for a career in the music industry and study modules that would give me an insight into the business of music, as well as the creative and performance elements. 

I am in a band, and I knew I needed to be in a large city with a buzzing music scene with plenty of live music venues. When I visited the new Leeds School of Arts building, I was blown away by the facilities and equipment that would be available to me. The studios are brilliant and the equipment and spaces available for students are state of the art.

Tell us about your life outside of university and the band you’re part of? 

I’m in a band called The Kites. Part of the reason for choosing the course was so I could study music while continuing to work on creating new music and performing with the band in Leeds. During my first year as a student, we released our debut EP ‘Postcode’. We then promoted the music across the city at local gigs and headlining a sell-out show at The Key Club. The support from lecturers and students was incredible. We had film students helping to capture video of the performance, a music production student friend managing the stage, sound and set up – who now stage manages all our gigs! It really was a team effort to help put on the gig. 

Since then we have gathered momentum and started to carve out our sound. We have been championed by BBC Introducing Yorkshire and Leeds radio, and have had plays on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 6.  At the end of my first year we played our debut festival slot on the DORK stage at Live at Leeds in the Park 2023. We are set to release our new EP ‘Headlights’ which we are looking forward to performing when we open Leeds Festival this summer on the Festival Republic Stage.

How does your course at Leeds Beckett help you with your developing music career? 

The course encourages you to write and produce music and to perform it. It is a great opportunity to collaborate with other students, develop your musicianship and performance skills. Gigging in the city and sharing your music enables you to develop as an artist and kickstart your music career. You are not studying and waiting to graduate before becoming a professional musician – you are doing it alongside your studies.

You can gain a broad understanding of the industry by choosing course modules that suit your particular area of interest. I’ve studied podcasting to help me with interview techniques and copyright and law to support publishing the band’s music. Learning to navigate the legal side of releasing music and learning how to collect revenue from streaming platforms and radio plays. The team who deliver the course are heavily tapped into the local music scene and have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the music industry. 

What are your plans for when you complete the course?

I am passionate about composition and song writing. Any spare time I have I am writing new music and would love to be recognised for my songwriting. With two EPs released I’m aiming to have our first album recorded and distributed by the time I graduate. We are hoping our music, live performances and social media following will attract a record label. I’d love to sign a recording contract, tour with the band and really build a career within the industry. When I graduate I would love to be able to do a Master’s degree alongside the band’s development.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about studying the course? 

If you are thinking about studying the course I’d come and take a look at the facilities and have a chat to the lecturers. It is a friendly community of like-minded people. It is a modern music course, and take time to look at the modules as there is plenty to get stuck into.

I would recommend you get involved in the local Leeds music scene. There really is something for all music genres. Be prepared to share ideas and collaborate with fellow students across the course and the school. The course has lots to offer and the facilities are outstanding – it really is up to you to make the most of your time and get as much out of the experience as possible.