Features

Perspective: Greg Graham

Greg Graham
Partner
Afreex
London UK


Job History
Detroit (Hometown No. 1)
-Lemonade hustler
-Grocery errand dude for neighborhood senior citizens on weekends
-Long hot a-- summers cutting the grass
-House party, neighborhood jam DJ
-Stockperson/Cashier and Pizza Flipper at Little Caesar's Pizza
-Youth Sports Coordinator, Ann Arbor Summer Youth Camp
-Food Runner, Mosher Jordan Food Services, Univ of Michigan
-Peer Counselor, University of Michigan's Career Planning & Placement Center
-Cashier/Burger Hustler at McDonalds
-On-air Mix show DJ/ Personality WCBN
-Cashier/Sales dude at the Gap
-Temp Admin Assistant at Michigan National Bank
-Cashier/Stockperson, Sav-On Drugs

Orlando (Hometown No. 2)
-Door Host, Mannequins Night Club, Pleasure Island, Disneyworld, Orlando
-Club DJ at various indoor and outdoor events, Orlando
-Coordinator, Greater Orlando Summer Youth Programs
-Judge for Hawaiian Tropic Miss Florida Beach Pageants
-Quarterfinals/Semi-Finals Judge for Ron Jon Summa Smash Pageant
-Traveling Sports Masseur
-Co-Director, Street Promotions Team Death Row Records/Interscope for Central Florida region
-Remixer, DEA Productions
-Monthly guest mix show DJ slot WJHM Orlando
-Office Assistant at Promo Only Orlando
-Customer Service Rep, Promo Only
-Sales Staffer, Promo Only
-Studio Assistant, Promo Only
-Urban Music Assistant Programmer, Promo Only
-Urban Music Programmer, Promo Only

New York (Hometown No. 3)
-National Radio Mix Show Promotions Director, Promo Only New York
-Music Producer/Remixer, U Be U Productions
-Club DJ part-time, special events
-Active involvement in Mentor/Mentee programs

London (Hometown No. 4)
-Urban Music Programmer, Promo Only London
-Media Relations Director, Promo Only
-Club DJ part time
-Creator/Host of Coppernob Network's "The Foundation" radio show
-Correspondent for Promo Only Magazine, SoulPurpose.com
-Food Critic/Author, soon-to-be-released guidebook on the greatest places to eat in London
-Participant/Presenter for London Arts Council Music Industry Info Seminars
-Producer/Remixer in Afreex music production team
-Partner/Director of Promotions in Chewatribe (pronounced Chay-wa-tribe) Productions

What are you currently working on?

As one half of the production duo Afreex, we write, produce and remix music for various major labels and independent clients. Out of the gate, we are working with rap phenoms MDK and the alluring Italiack (half Italian, half Black) chanteuse Couture exclusively, developing their albums and creating an initial buzz with the streets and the media here in the UK. Also look out for the skinny yet mad soulful dude, Boneyframe as well as the street/pop fusion of fiery singer Klio and the energetic vocals of Swedish delight, Lollo. More info and song clips can be found at Chewatribe.com

In addition to the music everyone knows that I am at one with food. After realizing that, Pete, Tim and Jim at Promo Only suggested that I should write down my favourite spots to eat. So far I have had 181 visitors since I moved to London in 2000. I've dined with vegans, vegetarians, carnivores and all preferences in between. At that point, the food critic in me was born. After attending over 400 restaurants and cafes in the Greater London area, I have written a book highlighting my favourites based on value for money, decor and most importantly, taste. Currently I am looking for the right book publisher, Stateside, who shares my vision for making this an international success.

Recently I have connected with South Carolina-raised, London-based director, James Lilliemore to co-create a TV comedy series. We have been working on ideas and scheduling to finish shooting the pilot episode for the unnamed show.

Your day-to-day responsibilities?

Being a partner in a company requires that I'm down to do what is necessary for the progress of the team. I've gotta be sharp with my Instant Messenger skills yet I'm also mean with a broom and dustrag. Developing and creating new music ideas alongside Kelv Avon (my Afreex production potna) for our remixes and original music is a major part of the day. In addition to making music for our artists we source other producers to work on their projects too so I'm on the phone or IMing people in Continental Europe, North America, Asia and South America on the daily. Going to see club and pirate radio DJs to hit them off with our latest work also comes up at least twice a week.

I also head our Promotions division of the company. That includes not only promoting the acts and artists whose songs we have remixed but also working with Fire Media's Akosua Annobil Dodoo on creating ways to heighten people's awareness of who we are and what we do. Between us both we maintain relationships with many radio, TV and Web people here in the UK as well as in other places around the planet.

What inspires/motivates you?

All of God's gifts, especially Great Music. Great People. Great Food.

How do you balance your personal and professional life?

I don't do a great job at it. In fact I'm terrible at it. I would really like to learn how to do that effectively. Many of my relationships have become "profersonal" yet I am very grateful for those people's presence in my life.

What career achievement are you most proud of?

There's no time like the present so I have to include today's work and everything associated with it even the routine and unglamorous. I've always wanted to make music and meet people so that's what's up now.

If I have to select an actual event or award it would be when I was National Mix Show Promotions Director at Promo Only. I was honored by the DJs across the country and voted as Favorite National Mix Show Promoter at the '99 Winter Music Conference in Miami. That was cool to know that all of the phone calls, emails, two-way blasts and requests for homemade macaroni & cheese were well-received by my DJ brethren. Another great byproduct of this experience was that it taught me how to work well within different time zones.

Guiding principles?

I try more and more each day to think in the present. Oftentimes because of my work I can be quite future-driven. Thinking in the present helps me to plot a course toward the future.

What's it like as an American living in the UK?

It's a trade off in many ways. In some instances it's very cool because I am learning something new about the culture here every day. There's mad slang, cultural icons and names of cities that we didn't learn about back in the US. London and New York are so similar that making the transition from NY to LO wasn't as crazy as it could have been if I came like straight from Orlando. Florida is cheap living compared to NY. NY is cheap compared to London. For real!

There's mad hilarity found in the customer (dis)service here and annoying a-- train delays too. One thing that surprised me though is that for years everyone would talk about how the food sucks over here. After living here for a minute now I discovered that the food does actually suck--in the tourist areas! It taught me that people just weren't hitting the right spots in the city. Nobody eats in Times Square do they? Well, OK maybe except for me because I do like my Dallas BBQ on 43rd and Broadway right by Virgil's. If you're at a loss for where to eat in London holla at me. We'll hit the spots where the British pound won't pound the dollar too hard.

Birthday? Where you grew up? Where you went to school?

Grew up in The D(Detroit), attended Hampton Elementary (now called something else), Gesu School, U of D High and then darted off to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan where I earned a Bachelor's degree in History.

Message Greg Graham and tell him what you think

Ray Tamarra

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