Managing Mauvais Sang: How it started.

'I'm also a band manager, I manage a noise-pop French band called Mauvais Sang.

- Oh! How did you end up doing this?'

I often get asked how I got to manage Mauvais Sang . And then comes the: What do I do? How do I manage all the many adventures? How do I find opportunities? How do I know if they should do something or not? So I thought I'd say a bit more about it all.

It all started with a casual drink in North London in Autumn 2021, where I got introduced to Mathis Saunier by a common friend. I was in London to meet up with some work friends at the Royal Albert Hall and catch up with my beloved international London friends. At a typical London pub, enjoying a rare sunny spell, when the conversation turned to their band called Mauvais Sang. Their music was a unique mix of rock, noise-pop and classical harp. The name 'Mauvais Sang', literally translated 'bad blood' (also known as The Night Is Young), was a tribute to a French film by Leos Carax which had the particularity of mixing many genres and uniting them in the most gorgeous and magical way.

I was instantly intrigued, and just fell in love with it quite instantly. The project was at its start of being 'professional', and they were about to release their first album. Emerging talents - my absolute favourite. I believe there's nothing more exciting than the excitement of watching a band find its sound and its place in the industry is unmatched, and it's even more exciting when you see them grow from the inside. So many people idealise the big stars playing in big arenas, but I genuinely think the best time is the 'before', when a band has the right to explore anything, the beautiful process of growing and being excited just to think of the future and its meriad of possibilities.

Having worked in the event and music industry for a few years, I offered to give a pair of fresh eyes on their press kit (EPK) to see if they matched all the key criterias. I received the file and started to go through it. In there, you could find details such as the bassist's passion for videogames and all sorts of lovely funny likings, and I found it so sweet. I edited the document - quite a bit - and met with them online. They were even better than I imagined- I discovered the kindest, funniest and most ambitious group of people. After a few meetings, I was hooked not just on their music but on the whole vibe of the band.

Later, I told them that I was eager to get more involved as I truly believed in them, in their music and its potential. That's when I started as a consultant, helping out with whatever I could. Eventually, I took on more responsibilities, leading to me becoming their manager. Creating itineraries, dealing with all the admin side and contracts, networking, checking the different stategic plans, organising the logistics of our diverse projects, overseeing the merchandising and all the finances, managing crisis, providing support and advocacy, ensuring everyone's wellbeing, without forgetting the cherry on the top: being part of the creative process. However, do not believe I am doing all the work all by myself. Everyone chips in. From sorting out bookings to designing graphics to brainstorming social media content, it's a team effort all the way. Léo Simond is helping - and helping me especially - with all administrative and booking aspects, Mathis Saunier is the composer but also helps with tech and design, Antoine Vercellotti is the graphic designer who created most of our music videos, and everybody is part of the creative process, travelling quite a lot for rehearsals, concerts and recordings... without forgetting always trying to make marketing material for our social media. It's non-stop, and there's a real sense of purpose driving us forward.

Today, Mauvais Sang is one of the most exciting parts of my life. Every day it brings me its lot of joys and frustrations, it makes me feel alive. It allowed me to find friends, a family and my most devouring passion. And despite all the challenges, I could not imagine a future without being part of this adventure.

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