If you are a musician wanting to make it in the UK market (OK so that means everybody right!) you could be interested in UK-based Kelvin Hayes Media and his new music consultancy service.

Kelvin is a Welsh/Kiwi writer with a stong writing portfolio. For many years Hayes freelanced for All Music Guide as a reviews writer covering among others: Dave Dobbyn, Stellar and Anika Moa.

www.collective.co.uk/equivocal If you are a musician wanting to make it in the UK market (OK so that means everybody right!) you could be interested in UK-based Kelvin Hayes Media and his new music consultancy service.

Kelvin is a Welsh/Kiwi writer with a stong writing portfolio. For many years Hayes freelanced for All Music Guide as a reviews writer covering among others: Dave Dobbyn, Stellar and Anika Moa.

www.collective.co.uk/equivocal Hayes has a fervent desire to help Kiwi artists break into the lucrative UK market. But there is a big problem at hand. Music Video. "If ever there was a country that the medium of video was invented for, New Zealand is it. Because it's so isolated. But many I saw were pretty bad. When I returned in 2001 for the first time in twenty years and switched on music tv, it felt like I was watching videos that old! Granted there isn't the money in NZ but with talent like Lee Tamahori, Pete Jackson and Jane Campion, you'd think someone could direct a decent video!"

Kelvin Hayes small press equivocal is hoping to expand into Media by capturing a pr and music clientele. The Kiwi-Welsh writer and artist whose own book Returning/Repeating is out now is setting up a music consultancy that will be an advice centre on music promotion issues ranging from which imagery to use and album co-ordination. "I've always been good at the more articulate jobs." He says. "There are so many albums that have been ruined for ill thought out running orders."

Hayes has a fervent desire to help Kiwi artists break into the lucrative UK market. But there is a big problem at hand. Music Video. "If ever there was a country that the medium of video was invented for, New Zealand is it. Because it's so isolated. But many I saw were pretty bad. When I returned in 2001 for the first time in twenty years and switched on music tv, it felt like I was watching videos that old! Granted there isn't the money in NZ but with talent like Lee Tamahori, Pete Jackson and Jane Campion, you'd think someone could direct a decent video!"

"The music and album covers have got better but it's all got to be good in the UK. It's one of the main markets, they don't care if a band is from NZ or not, if it doesn't look or sound professional it's bye bye."

He has been impressed by the merits of recent Kiwi success in the UK though. "It takes a lot of balls to come all the way from NZ and do it. The Datsuns and D4 are hardly my favourites but at least they got off their arses and did it. Even the majors haven't done that."

For details of the new services clients can view the website:
www.collective.co.uk/equivocal

Also new to the site is a revamped portfolio and a client reading room, only accessible through the portfolio covering some of Hayes journalistic merits.

Talk to Kelvin Hayes - equivocal_enquiries@yahoo.co.uk