A group of students from City College Norwich are at the heart of a new independent record label which on Thursday 2nd December launches Blank Canvas, the exciting debut album from C.O.L.L.
The Interim Records label is the brainchild of 21 year old Business Computing student Joel Siwale. Starting from a recording studio set up in his own bedroom, Joel has worked with fellow students Collins Matsika (C.O.L.L.), Teele Killing, David Kosta Joe Phiri and Vicky Karabilo to bring C.O.L.L. to the attention of thousands of music fans.
The enterprise shown by the students and the outstanding quality of their music and videos has so impressed Principal Dick Palmer that he has asked Interim Records to act as ambassadors for the College. As well as providing practical support and sponsorship, the College has given the group a room on campus to work from.
In a little over five months, the students have produced C.O.L.L.’s mix tape, Blank Canvas, promoting the artist and the label through their web site, numerous events and performances, YouTube videos and even developing their own clothing range.
Last month C.O.L.L. – which stands for Creative, Original, Lyrical, Legend – came runner up in Future Radio’s Next Big Thing competition. C.O.L.L.’s Monster video has had over 5,000 YouTube views in 3 months and his latest video, Nicotine Love, featuring Danny Peril, has had nearly 2,000 hits on YouTube in just one week.
Collins Matsika, 18, from Costessey, said: “Blank Canvas is about introducing myself as the artist C.O.L.L. to the public, painting a picture of who C.O.L.L. is”.
Dick Palmer, Principal, City College Norwich said: “As well as their clear musical talents, the students behind Interim Records have shown a huge amount of enterprise, skill and commitment in developing the label and C.O.L.L.’s album. We want to support more students to start up their own enterprises and Interim Records is a great example of what can be achieved.”
To mark the launch of Blank Canvas, C.O.L.L. will be performing outside The Forum on Thursday 2nd December, from 3pm-5pm, alongside Slim Joe, Nash Makuve, Remo Skilla, Soldier A and Jno-B. C.O.L.L. will be on BBC Radio Norfolk on Friday 3rd December, and will also be performing next week at the Mustard Lounge on December 9th and Bar X on December 10th.
Blank Canvas is available to download on i-tunes, Spotify and from Amazon from Thursday 2nd December.
For more information on Interim Records and to view C.O.L.L.’s latest videos visit www.interimrecords.co.uk.
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