AWAL has renewed its deal with Scottish singer-songwriter Joesef.
The deal with Kobalt’s recordings division was first revealed in Music Week.
Joesef has 851,422 monthly listeners on Spotify. He recently collaborated with Loyle Carner on I Wonder Why.
“We've been working with him since day one, and now we're ready to announce a longer term partnership,” said AWAL president Paul Hitchman. “We think he's one of the most exciting new artists in the UK, he’ll go all the way.”
The Glaswegian artist has booked a UK tour for May 2021.
Joesef said: "I’ve been working with the team at AWAL for just over a year now. I’m quite protective when it comes to my work but I’ve trusted them wholeheartedly with each decision we’ve made together. It’s pretty strange going from working in a pub last year to signing a record deal and my head's still spinning a bit, but I’m fucking buzzing to be able to work with a team who understands what’s important to me, and all while still owning my own rights. I count my life in albums and I can’t wait for the day I get to release my own together with the family at AWAL and tManana Music Management. Movin’ on up, here we fucking go.”
Senior director, A&R, Will Hunt, added: “Joesef has had to adapt from being discovered in a bar by his manager to selling thousands of tickets in his home town in a year. He’s a uniquely talented songwriter and producer who is working towards what will be a special debut record. We’re all so excited to be going on the journey with him.”
Following the label’s global success with Lauv, AWAL now has ambitions for Joesef.
Lauv had the biggest debut album from an international artist during the first six months of the year, according to the Official Charts Company. How I’m Feeling, which peaked at No.9, has sales to date of 30,329.
“It was the objective from day one to work with him and his team to be the world’s biggest independent artist, and we achieved that aim,” said Hitchman. “It’s now looking at what comes next. He’s very prolific and very creative, it’s about us keeping up with him in a way and making sure that we’re maximising the opportunities.”
Hitchman said AWAL is attracting new and emerging artists to its growing roster.
“Girl In Red has been a phenomenal success for us in recent months,” he added.
AWAL is nominated at the Music Week Awards for Label/Artist Services Company and Artist Marketing Campaign for Little Simz.
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