0:00:02 > 0:00:09This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Every September, hundreds of new students come here
0:00:20 > 0:00:23to the Academy of Contemporary Music with a dream.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Each of them hopes to achieve stardom
0:00:27 > 0:00:29and success in the music industry.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Many will make it, but there are hundreds that won't.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37It's not a secret society, the music industry.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Anybody can join it, but it's hard work.
0:00:40 > 0:00:4418-year-old vocalist Henrietta wants to hit the big time.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46World domination.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48That's my dream.
0:00:48 > 0:00:49I'm being serious.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51World domination.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54At just 19, Ella's only got a year to make it
0:00:54 > 0:00:57and she's already feeling the clock ticking.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00They say that if you're over the age of 20, you're less likely to
0:01:00 > 0:01:02make it as an artist because you're old.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Budding producer James is back at college
0:01:06 > 0:01:08after his music career failed to take off.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13It was terrible. It was... You're up there and then just kind of dropped.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Do you know what I mean?
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Student band MassMatiks are set for super stardom
0:01:18 > 0:01:21until things start going badly wrong.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Just a nightmare, to be honest. It sucks.
0:01:25 > 0:01:30This film follows students of rock over the first term of the year -
0:01:30 > 0:01:33from the music lessons to late-night sessions,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37there's everything to play for at The School That Rocks.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50Let's face it, there are lots of decent singers out there.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56There are tens of thousands of amazing guitarists.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00And more talented drummers than you could shake a stick at.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09At this college, there are over 1,200 gifted students
0:02:09 > 0:02:12who have been handpicked from thousands of applicants.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16All of them have a dream to become stars in the music business.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19But only a few will get the lucky break they need.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25The Academy of Contemporary Music is only one of a few colleges
0:02:25 > 0:02:28that trains performers, producers and artist managers
0:02:28 > 0:02:31for jobs in one incredibly competitive industry.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36It's the start of a new academic year
0:02:36 > 0:02:39and, like all universities, term kicks off with freshers' week.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44For these students, that means seven days of drinking,
0:02:44 > 0:02:48checking out the new talent and wall-to-wall live music.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51# Play your tunes... #
0:02:51 > 0:02:55# I hear her voice... #
0:02:55 > 0:02:58# I'm no longer suffering... #
0:02:58 > 0:03:01# Smile with the rising sun
0:03:01 > 0:03:04# And three little birds... #
0:03:04 > 0:03:07INDISTINCT LYRICS
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Meeting a load of female vocalists and stuff was really good.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Definitely a good place to network though, definitely.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I've never been so busy, ever.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18In, like, a whole week, I've never been so busy.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20And we haven't even started lectures.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25CHEERING
0:03:25 > 0:03:29- Jamming sessions. We've gone to each other's houses.- Song writing.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32We've gone out for drinks to get to know each other. Everything, yeah.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Lectures start tomorrow,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36but it doesn't look like anyone has remembered.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50After a late night, some students have made it in for the first
0:03:50 > 0:03:54day of term, including 18-year-old fresher Henrietta Adewole.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59She was always the person picked out at school for her singing voice.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Big congratulations for making it on to the degree.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Really fantastic to have you as a part of this programme.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08It's a big two years we've got ahead of us.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09I got the confidence to start singing
0:04:09 > 0:04:12when I was about maybe 14, 13.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14I was just singing gospel, really.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15I didn't really have a voice.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18Then I got a few vocal teachers, and doing pub gigs
0:04:18 > 0:04:22and little gigs at events and stuff. That's why I'm so confident now.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25I could sing in front of anyone and I wouldn't be nervous,
0:04:25 > 0:04:26sort of thing.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29I guess, yeah, it's all built me up to who I am today.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32We call this module Applied Technical Studies.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34But it's basically how to sing.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37But Henrietta knows she needs more than just raw talent
0:04:37 > 0:04:40if she's to become a successful artist.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I want to be able to do everything from pop to rock,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44from techno to drum and bass.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47That's why I've come here, to be honest -
0:04:47 > 0:04:49to, like, get better at things like that.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52She wants to turn her talent for gospel singing
0:04:52 > 0:04:53into a career in pop music.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Her tutor for this year is Jono McNeil,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00a successful session singer and vocal coach.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01This is your first trimester,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05where we try to put down some real foundations.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Over the next two trimesters, you'll be learning all about reading
0:05:08 > 0:05:11and you'll be learning about your voices and how to make them
0:05:11 > 0:05:13really, really good, basically.
0:05:13 > 0:05:19Hi. I'm Henrietta. I think my strength is, like, my belt.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I love belting. It's fun.
0:05:22 > 0:05:27But I think my weakness is, like, I'm not very strong in my head voice
0:05:27 > 0:05:31and my breathing, so I'm not very good at breathing.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34A random fact - I have an afro.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35LAUGHTER
0:05:36 > 0:05:37Yes, you do.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40The students' first homework assignment is to prepare
0:05:40 > 0:05:43a song to sing in front of the class next week.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Henrietta may be used to performing, but it will be the first time her
0:05:47 > 0:05:51vocal ability will be judged by an audience of other talented singers.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53What song are you thinking of doing?
0:05:53 > 0:05:57I'm thinking of Amy Winehouse, I Heard Love Is Blind,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00cos it's kind of short but not too long.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01OK, yeah.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- What about you? - I don't know. I'm thinking...
0:06:04 > 0:06:05Mmm...
0:06:05 > 0:06:08- Jazmine Sullivan, have you ever heard of her?- I haven't.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11She's like an R&B singer. It's called In Love With Another Man.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15But I don't know. I might sing some Tina Turner.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16I don't know.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Another fresher starting this week is Ella Barber,
0:06:24 > 0:06:26a 19-year-old singer from Southampton.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31# Dreamer... #
0:06:31 > 0:06:33She lives with her boyfriend Sonny,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35but they don't always see eye to eye.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38We met at college on a music course.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40We didn't like each other at first.
0:06:40 > 0:06:46Well, we did. We got on really well. Then at Christmas time we fell out.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Then we got back together again.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53We've literally been joined at the hip for the last two years.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57HE SINGS A HIGH-PITCHED RUN
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- There you are.- Yeah, but you'd change it every time, I bet.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01- No, I don't.- I bet you do.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04There's no way you'd do that every time.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07HIGH-PITCHED RUN: # You know. #
0:07:07 > 0:07:08No, no, that was different.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10MAN LAUGHS
0:07:10 > 0:07:14# You know
0:07:14 > 0:07:16# Yes, I do, I do
0:07:16 > 0:07:18# You know... #
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Although she sings in a soul band with Sonny,
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Ella's dream is to be an artist in her own right.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27I want to be the next Beyonce or the next Whitney.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28She's come to ACM to find fame
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and to collaborate with like-minded students.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I want to be known as the person that can sing, that can not just go
0:07:35 > 0:07:38and flaunt around the stage, it's like, bam.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41I'm the next Ella, it's the next big thing.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45# You know. #
0:07:45 > 0:07:50- I know that that sounds so silly, but it's every girl's dream.- Mm.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52Every vocalist's dream.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53Yeah, why not?
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Being able to belt out a great tune is only
0:07:57 > 0:07:59one of the things that the students here must master
0:07:59 > 0:08:02if they want to make it in the music business.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Having a strong image and plenty of attitude will make them stand out.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11And today, Ella's class is getting the opportunity to learn just
0:08:11 > 0:08:14what that involves with their very own photoshoot.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17This is the chance for the students to project the image
0:08:17 > 0:08:20they'd like to see on their album cover.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22They need to describe the kind of artist they want to be
0:08:22 > 0:08:24so Chris the photographer can take a picture
0:08:24 > 0:08:26that will get their unique image across.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31All right, guys, what have you got?
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Ella is a 19-year-old soul singer-songwriter
0:08:33 > 0:08:34with a powerful set of lungs.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37She has high-class experience and front-woman confidence,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39she wants to fill a gap in the industry
0:08:39 > 0:08:41with a modern and edgy soul-funk band.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Cool. All right, I get it.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Not an easy ask, then. But Ella hasn't quite finished.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Almost like Amy Winehouse without the drugs.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- Right, clean Amy Winehouse.- Yeah.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Hey! Book me for your wedding.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03If Ella is to project the kind of image she wants,
0:09:03 > 0:09:06she's going to need plenty of attitude.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09It's left to Chris to explain how that can be done.
0:09:09 > 0:09:14I like that. I think that sort of... you're beyond, it in a way.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15You're like, "Yes, I'm in a photoshoot,
0:09:15 > 0:09:17"but while you're taking pictures of me,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19"I've got more important things to be thinking about.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23"Because photoshoots are functional. Yeah, OK, promotional.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25"Fine, I have to do it, I get it.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28"But it's a function that I have to go through
0:09:28 > 0:09:30"in order to achieve the important thing."
0:09:30 > 0:09:33Chris has to take Ella out of her comfort zone
0:09:33 > 0:09:35to get the shot he wants.
0:09:35 > 0:09:36Oh, God.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Now, how do you feel now? Do you feel less...?
0:09:38 > 0:09:43I feel like I literally want to frown and die in a little dark hole.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Ella's survived the photoshoot, but she knows she has to take
0:09:47 > 0:09:51every opportunity that comes her way if she's going to make it.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54They say that if you're over the age of 20, you're less likely
0:09:54 > 0:09:57to make it as an artist, so I am going for just about everything.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01I'm attending every single class, every single audition,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04just in hope that one day someone will notice
0:10:04 > 0:10:06or the lucky break will happen.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11You may now go. Nice to meet you all.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14Chris will be back next week to reveal the final photos.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22HENRIETTA DOES VOCAL EXERCISES
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Henrietta has been preparing all week for the all-important
0:10:27 > 0:10:30opportunity to sing in front of the class,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34which involves a complete hair transformation.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36# Blossom on the tree
0:10:36 > 0:10:39# You know how I feel
0:10:39 > 0:10:40# It's a new dawn It's a new day
0:10:40 > 0:10:42# It's a new life for me
0:10:42 > 0:10:43# And I'm feeling good... #
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Today, she'll be trying to impress a group of people who,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49like her, have dedicated their lives to singing.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52If she hits one flat note, they'll know about it.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55Because I'm in a cast of musicians, they're going to judge you
0:10:55 > 0:10:56whether you like it or not.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59They're going to be like, "Oh, that didn't sound good,"
0:10:59 > 0:11:02or, "That weren't right," or "This song is wrong for her,"
0:11:02 > 0:11:03you know?
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Henrietta comes from a close-knit family in Essex,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11and ACM is her first taste of independence.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13A little bit worried about how she's going to feed herself.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19- Because she would rather go to McDonald's than cook.- I can cook.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Yeah. Like, my mum teaches me,
0:11:22 > 0:11:26but I can only cook if she's there supervising.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29We do worry though that we've kept her quite, you know,
0:11:29 > 0:11:33coddled up within our family quite a lot, so...
0:11:33 > 0:11:34Big bad world out there.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Like all mums, Carole knows her daughter's strengths,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39but she knows her weaknesses too.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42She likes school but she's not academic.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44She is not academic at all.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46If she has to learn something, Henrietta goes,
0:11:46 > 0:11:49"Oh, Mum, I've got to learn this." I say, "Yeah, you have to."
0:11:49 > 0:11:51Knowledge is power, you have to.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53But when it comes to performing, when it comes to acting,
0:11:53 > 0:11:56she's just naturally good.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Despite years of practice, Henrietta didn't always want to be a singer.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01I used to do athletics.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05I was running for my county and I was running for South of England.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I did pretty well in it, but I had a car accident.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12The car actually went off the road, hit her on the pavement,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15lifted her up, bounced her off the pavement,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19went over the hedge of the bush and crashed into a house.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25The ambulance came, police came. It was like a scene from The Bill.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27I just got really depressed.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Music sort of brought me out of that, you know?
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It just helped motivate me to want to live again and have fun
0:12:33 > 0:12:37and, like, aspire to be something.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41# My God is awesome... #
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Up until now, most of Henrietta's singing
0:12:43 > 0:12:46has been in the gospel choir of her local church.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51But singing in front of her class
0:12:51 > 0:12:54feels like a whole different challenge.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Everyone in this room went through a rigorous selection process
0:12:57 > 0:12:59before they were chosen for the course,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01and today, they have the opportunity to show
0:13:01 > 0:13:03they are worthy of their place.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07# Set me free
0:13:07 > 0:13:09# Leave me be... #
0:13:09 > 0:13:11# Now we're face to face
0:13:11 > 0:13:13# And I wanna take you away
0:13:13 > 0:13:16# Let's escape into the music... #
0:13:16 > 0:13:19# Soon we believe... #
0:13:20 > 0:13:21The pressure is on
0:13:21 > 0:13:24for Henrietta to prove she is as good as the rest of them.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Let's get Henrietta out.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29CHEERING
0:13:29 > 0:13:31# Fish in the sea
0:13:31 > 0:13:34# You know how I feel
0:13:35 > 0:13:38# River runnin' free
0:13:38 > 0:13:41# You know how I feel
0:13:41 > 0:13:44# Blossom on the tree
0:13:44 > 0:13:47# You know how I feel
0:13:47 > 0:13:48# It's a new dawn
0:13:48 > 0:13:49# It's a new... #
0:13:49 > 0:13:50I'm messing it up.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53# ..A new life
0:13:53 > 0:13:55# For me
0:13:59 > 0:14:00# And I'm feel
0:14:00 > 0:14:02# Feel
0:14:02 > 0:14:05# And I'm feeling good
0:14:05 > 0:14:06# Oh-oh-oh
0:14:06 > 0:14:10# I'm feeling good
0:14:10 > 0:14:12# Yeah
0:14:12 > 0:14:17# I know I'm feeling good. #
0:14:17 > 0:14:19- LOW PITCHED:- Eh. Eh.
0:14:19 > 0:14:20THEY LAUGH
0:14:20 > 0:14:23CHEERING
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I really, really enjoyed that performance.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Really quite adventurous approach to vocal sounds,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30which is really exciting.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33So we had an issue with the structure halfway through there.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35One, I would ask how you learn your songs
0:14:35 > 0:14:38and if you're counting bars, etc.
0:14:38 > 0:14:42But on the other side of things, you've done what we call,
0:14:42 > 0:14:46in the business, corpsing, where you tell us, "I've messed up."
0:14:46 > 0:14:48That's a huge, huge no-no.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52For me, Henrietta, you've got a large personality,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56you've got a large voice, but what you haven't yet become
0:14:56 > 0:14:57is a performer.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01What you need to now do is learn how to put the audience first.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04You need to kind of bring some finesse to what you do.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11I just feel like I really messed up.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14It's just frustrating.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18The first time that everyone hears me sing, it's not my best, you know?
0:15:27 > 0:15:31The biggest opportunity for all the students at college this term
0:15:31 > 0:15:33is the chance to take part in a special event -
0:15:33 > 0:15:36the Industry Performance Showcase.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41We have our student bands, artists, play two original songs in front of
0:15:41 > 0:15:43an industry A&R panel,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46and they get constructive feedback from that panel.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Amazing exposure. The key to it is, it's constructive.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54It's about trying to develop them and improve what they're doing.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58And there's an exclusive prize up for grabs for the best
0:15:58 > 0:15:59act on the day.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01They'll win the chance to cut a record
0:16:01 > 0:16:04at the world-famous Metropolis Studios in London,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08where some of the most iconic acts of all time have recorded,
0:16:08 > 0:16:10including Led Zeppelin, Amy Winehouse and Adele.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14For the winning act, this prize will put them
0:16:14 > 0:16:16light years ahead of the competition.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20Having vinyl to send out should make the record labels
0:16:20 > 0:16:21sit up and take notice.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24The best acts at college are taking part,
0:16:24 > 0:16:27all hoping to attract the attention of the industry judges.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33One of the hottest bands at college to enter the showcase
0:16:33 > 0:16:36is indie rock outfit MassMatiks.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42They've been together for three years
0:16:42 > 0:16:45with big dreams of signing their first record deal.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Hi, we're MassMatiks.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50But with guitarist Joe and lead singer George
0:16:50 > 0:16:53due to complete their degrees at the end of the year,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56performing at the showcase could be the band's last chance
0:16:56 > 0:16:57to get their big break.
0:17:01 > 0:17:0421-year-old Martin formed the band with lead singer
0:17:04 > 0:17:06and guitarist George.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08We've been doing it for, like, three years now.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I think motivation probably slipped once.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13There was probably one point over the last three years where
0:17:13 > 0:17:16I was just like, "Oh, I can't be arsed any more."
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Then, shortly after that, Joe and Josh joined and over the last
0:17:19 > 0:17:23eight months, there's never really been a dull moment.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26I met them at a gig. We just started hanging out.
0:17:26 > 0:17:32Martin and George sort of showed me how to party really hard.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34THEY SING
0:17:38 > 0:17:43Then, one day they said, "Look, we're getting a new drummer,
0:17:43 > 0:17:44"do you want to drum for us?"
0:17:44 > 0:17:47You know, us four literally are four best mates.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50It sounds cheesy. Everyone says, "Bands. Four best mates."
0:17:50 > 0:17:52But literally, the four of us are best mates.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56I live in a room with Joe. I've lived in a house with George.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00I've always said that
0:18:00 > 0:18:02if we ever get to the Alternative Stage at Reading,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04packed out the Alternative Stage,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06that is, you know, that's goal complete for me.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Anything above that is just a bonus.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Determined to come out on top at the Industry Showcase,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15the band need to gig as much as possible,
0:18:15 > 0:18:18starting with a packed house at local venue, the Boileroom.
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Cheers. We've been MassMatiks. Come and talk to us. Thank you.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31CHEERING
0:18:34 > 0:18:38So good. MassMatiks - spot on, man.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Oh, God. I'm going to be...
0:18:40 > 0:18:44It's going to be a good night ahead of us for the rest of it.
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Yeah, man. Sick.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52Best response I've ever had at a gig. It was so good.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Hot, tired, need a beer.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57Need to go back home and get drunk and party.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01With their set over, everyone's heading back
0:19:01 > 0:19:03to the MassMatiks' house to get a good night's sleep.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11After a big gig, like all rock stars in training,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13it's important to rehydrate.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15CHEERING
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- Go on, Linchers.- Beautiful. - Go on, Linchers.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- He's got it, he's got it. - CHEERING
0:19:21 > 0:19:23- Get down.- Get down, boy.- Below it.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25The fact it's college tomorrow doesn't seem
0:19:25 > 0:19:27to be bothering guitarist Joe.
0:19:27 > 0:19:32This is our first housewarming party, post-gig coming in,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36all the mates, everyone. Lectures tomorrow. I think they're at 11.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38All day, three lectures.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40But it's part of the lifestyle, innit?
0:19:40 > 0:19:42You've got to get your balance right.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44It's actually our cupboard.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46I jumped off the side and it got caught in my belt.
0:19:46 > 0:19:47Not ideal.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Someone's certainly not going to be too happy in the morning.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04It's 10.30am, and at the MassMatiks' house,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07no-one's in a hurry to get out of bed.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09ALARM BUZZES
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Joe and Martin have a cosy arrangement in their shared room.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28Can't help a bit of moisturising in the morning.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31People think, like, it's so weird that you share with another guy.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34It's fine, cos we literally just take the mickey
0:20:34 > 0:20:36out of each other all the time anyway.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Fart in each other's faces
0:20:37 > 0:20:40when he comes out of the toilet in the morning.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42That's an example for today.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Despite the heavy drinking,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48George is a surprising fan of healthy living.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49This is my breakfast every day.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Supplement drink.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56I've always been quite healthy, to be fair, apart from drinking.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01I've been kickboxing for 18 years.
0:21:01 > 0:21:02Since I was five.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06My dad does it, my mum did it, my brother did it and I do it.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09I love it. It's my life.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11That and music is all I ever do, really.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Then when the boys are going out partying,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17I usually go kickboxing first and prefer it, so...
0:21:20 > 0:21:22So they'll be going out, getting drunk,
0:21:22 > 0:21:25and I'll be going to training, and then come back and get drunk.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30Martin's girlfriend Jill seems happy to take the band's
0:21:30 > 0:21:32lifestyle in her stride.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35It's entertaining. There's never a dull moment.
0:21:35 > 0:21:36I love being here, though.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38I hate going home, cos it's so fun.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46Sorry, mate.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Henrietta's daily journey from Essex to ACM can take two hours.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00After her disappointing performance in class,
0:22:00 > 0:22:01she planned to redeem herself
0:22:01 > 0:22:04by booking in a one-on-one with vocal tutor Jono.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10But at the mercy of the trains, she's missed her tutorial.
0:22:10 > 0:22:11JONO SIGHS
0:22:11 > 0:22:13I know. I'm so sorry I didn't warn you.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- So what was it? A train issue?- Yeah.- OK.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I understand, circumstances happen. They always happen.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24There's always an excuse, there's always going to be something.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26It's almost about putting the precautions in
0:22:26 > 0:22:28that's going to make you always in a place
0:22:28 > 0:22:32where people just know you as being an extremely professional person.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- Hmm.- Reliable, those kind of things.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Now we've got to find another time and my time's all full.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40So we've got to look at how we can make that work.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42Perhaps an opportunity missed.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46- Yeah.- But, anyway, these things happen.- Well, I'll see you soon.
0:22:46 > 0:22:47All right. Bye.
0:22:54 > 0:22:59Being told off by Jono just adds to the pressure Henrietta's feeling.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01After her disastrous singing performance at the beginning
0:23:01 > 0:23:06of term, she's also been struggling with her more academic classes -
0:23:06 > 0:23:07music theory in particular.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10How was that, Henrietta?
0:23:10 > 0:23:14It just wasn't good at all. I just didn't like it.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16It's just...he's so fast
0:23:16 > 0:23:19and I can't understand some of the things he does.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Then I'm just sitting there and I just feel really stupid.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Like, I just feel like I don't know what I'm doing
0:23:23 > 0:23:27half of the time and I don't understand what he's talking about.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Time to get Mum on the phone.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37- SHE SOBS - I just feel like I don't know what I'm doing.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41It's not even that hard, I just feel like...
0:23:41 > 0:23:43I feel like I'm rubbish. I don't know.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47- Oh, Mum. - SHE SOBS
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Like, I think for a while I've just been feeling quite overwhelmed.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57Like, I just think... I just think everything just builds up.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59I think I just put a lot of pressure on myself.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I feel like I need to know certain things
0:24:03 > 0:24:06and I feel like I should know how to do certain things or
0:24:06 > 0:24:09I should understand, and things like that, and I just don't.
0:24:11 > 0:24:12It's just a bit frustrating.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25It's a week since Ella and her class got their photos taken by Chris.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29He's come back in to show the students their head shots.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32He's joined by business tutor Julia Martin.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35So the whole rationale behind this was
0:24:35 > 0:24:40so that you get some physical stuff that you can begin to use,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and that you realise that you guys need to take control of your image,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46and begin to get you, as we move towards Christmas, to having
0:24:46 > 0:24:50a portfolio of materials, as artists, that you need
0:24:50 > 0:24:54that send a message out there to your audience
0:24:54 > 0:24:56and to your prospective audience.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Time to see what message the students' pictures
0:24:58 > 0:25:02are getting across and whether any of them could be album covers.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05I think that's more indie at the moment.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07I like that.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08My view, right.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14- Do you like it?- It looks a bit weird, but maybe I will like it.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17If Ella didn't like getting her picture taken,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19what will she think of the result?
0:25:19 > 0:25:21It looks like that.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Oh, my God!
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Yeah. Look at that, look at the hate.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I don't think I've blushed so much in my life,
0:25:31 > 0:25:37having a room full of my classmates look at an awful photo of me.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41I just did not like that one at all.
0:25:41 > 0:25:42It just made my face look really wide.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46I look like I've got a fat face.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49And you're not that person. You don't look... You do not look...
0:25:49 > 0:25:51That doesn't even look like Ella, does it?
0:25:51 > 0:25:52No.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55That, to me, says punk, 100%.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59You're punk, indie, quite hard-edged.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01I wouldn't want to interview you. I'd be scared of you.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05You'd probably say something very, very feminist and right on.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08I think you're more pop than that and more current.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11You're far more current than that communicates.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Well, other photographs I've had taken before that,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16they definitely didn't look like that. So...
0:26:18 > 0:26:19..maybe it was a bad day.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Maybe.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Behind every great recording artist is an even greater producer,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32which is why they are some of the most powerful
0:26:32 > 0:26:33people in the music industry.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Splitting them out, we've only got 24 channels here,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38so if you've got 48 channels of audio in your DAW,
0:26:38 > 0:26:40we're going to have to do some submixing.
0:26:40 > 0:26:4227-year-old James Craise is starting
0:26:42 > 0:26:46the two-year contemporary production degree.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48But it's not his first time at ACM.
0:26:48 > 0:26:54I've been at ACM three times over a period of about eight or nine years.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55After his second time at the college,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59he was signed by a major management company and, for a while,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02it looked as if he was on his way to becoming a successful artist.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05It was a massive lifestyle change.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08You're walking into the studio, Gary Barlow over there.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11There could be Madonna walking in through over there.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14You're backstage at the BRITs and you're getting all the perks.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15You're doing some amazing gigs
0:27:15 > 0:27:18and you're working with some incredible musicians.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24But it wasn't meant to be.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Despite being ready to record several songs,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29a record deal failed to materialise.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31It was really quite abrupt.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34I was out of there within a month.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39With his music career in tatters, James spent a year on the dole
0:27:39 > 0:27:42and was forced to move back in with his mum.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43It was terrible.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46It was, you're up there and then just, kind of, dropped.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Do you know what I mean?
0:27:48 > 0:27:52I've, kind of, you know, fallen from my pedestal, so to speak.
0:27:52 > 0:27:56Now he's decided to dust himself off and take a different path.
0:27:56 > 0:27:57For many years,
0:27:57 > 0:28:00I was always the guy in the vocal booth recording the song.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04Now, I want to take control of the situation
0:28:04 > 0:28:07and I want to be the guy writing the track and producing it.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15At ACM, first-time producers are encouraged by the college to
0:28:15 > 0:28:17work with up-and-coming artists.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21James has decided to grab the bull by the horns
0:28:21 > 0:28:24and find a singer he can collaborate with.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Having heard that first year Ella is looking for new opportunities,
0:28:29 > 0:28:33- he's arranged a meeting to check out her vocal abilities.- Hi.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Just don't ask to take her photo.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37- How's it going?- Good, thank you.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39- How are you? - Yeah, yeah, not too bad.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43# All along, it was a fever
0:28:46 > 0:28:51# A cold sweat, hot-headed believer
0:28:54 > 0:28:59# I threw my hands in the air and said, "Show me something"
0:28:59 > 0:29:03# Not really sure how to feel about it
0:29:03 > 0:29:06# It's something in the way you move... #
0:29:06 > 0:29:07Go for it, come on.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11# Makes me feel like I can't live without you
0:29:11 > 0:29:15# It takes me all the way
0:29:15 > 0:29:21# I want you to stay
0:29:23 > 0:29:26# I want you to stay. #
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Sweet. That's good.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35It's good, I like it. It's a good place for your voice.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37You can do more with it. So, what do you want to do?
0:29:37 > 0:29:39What have you come to ACM for?
0:29:40 > 0:29:43- I'd like to be out of my comfort zone.- All right, sweet.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46I think, for me, what's most important is a song
0:29:46 > 0:29:48and is the lyric in the song and a melody.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51If you've got a great melody and a great lyric, you're a winner,
0:29:51 > 0:29:56and it's just interesting production that will make that the best thing.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00And if you've got a great vocalist with a unique tone, brilliant.
0:30:00 > 0:30:01So far, so good.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Ella wants to find a style of music that will suit her voice and image
0:30:04 > 0:30:07and James may be just the person to help.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09Let's exchange Facebooks and things.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11I want you to send me
0:30:11 > 0:30:15what you really like at the moment that's new.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18- I don't want to influence you too much.- OK.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21Because otherwise, you'll start fulfilling the role.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- What I want you to do is be the role.- OK.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26If I start going, "Here, look at this,"
0:30:26 > 0:30:29you'll go, "Yeah, I can put myself into that."
0:30:29 > 0:30:32You're a singer, a good singer, so you can deal with those things.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36What we need to do is get the identity to really start
0:30:36 > 0:30:39coming from you and then we can shape it and mould it
0:30:39 > 0:30:42and kind of distil it down a little bit.
0:30:42 > 0:30:43- Do you know what I mean?- Yeah.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45'She's the sort of person that I'd want to work with.'
0:30:45 > 0:30:49I think there's a character there, there's a little spark there
0:30:49 > 0:30:52so it's like, "OK, what can we do with this?" Do you know what I mean?
0:30:52 > 0:30:55What we'll do is we'll incorporate that into the song
0:30:55 > 0:30:58- and we'll make it into something. - OK.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01- OK.- Cool?- Yeah.
0:31:01 > 0:31:06James has definitely made me think a lot tonight about me
0:31:06 > 0:31:09as an artist, about what I'm writing.
0:31:09 > 0:31:10And it was actually quite nice
0:31:10 > 0:31:13and refreshing to have someone that has that opinion that will
0:31:13 > 0:31:19probably...not mould me, but will push me in the right direction.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- Wicked.- Thank you very much.- Lovely to meet you.- Nice to meet you.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34With the industry performance showcase just round the corner,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38there's been a disastrous development for MassMatiks.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42Lead singer and guitarist George is taken into hospital.
0:31:42 > 0:31:43An injury he sustained
0:31:43 > 0:31:48while kickboxing has suddenly flared up and he needs an operation.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Bye, George, good luck.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59He's sent home to recuperate at his dad's house.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01But his injury has now placed the band's
0:32:01 > 0:32:05chances of playing at the industry showcase in serious jeopardy.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08I thought it was sprained
0:32:08 > 0:32:11and I even played the gig at the Boileroom with it.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14Dad told me I should go to A&E to get it checked.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16Got there and it turned out it was quite serious
0:32:16 > 0:32:20and I'm out, no playing any guitar or anything for about...two months,
0:32:20 > 0:32:24I think, maybe three months, which is causing a lot of problems.
0:32:24 > 0:32:25We had to cancel a gig on Thursday.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28The operation went on for like an hour and 40 minutes
0:32:28 > 0:32:32and then I was in recovery for two hours and then, yeah,
0:32:32 > 0:32:34I woke up and I was in loads of pain.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37We'll have to probably take a couple of weeks off to teach
0:32:37 > 0:32:40a session guitarist the guitar parts.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45Usually, I can push through any mini-injury or sprain or bruise,
0:32:45 > 0:32:48I can usually see through the pain, whereas this is kind of a serious
0:32:48 > 0:32:53injury that can end my guitar-playing if I didn't get it sorted.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58It's just a nightmare to be honest. It sucks.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02It's halfway through term
0:33:02 > 0:33:05and Henrietta's still struggling to cope with the academic
0:33:05 > 0:33:09demands of her course and her confidence has taken a hard knock
0:33:09 > 0:33:12so she decides to visit the college mentor.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16If she hopes to hear that raw talent is enough to get her through,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18she's in for a shock.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Hello, come and sit down.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22So, fire away, really.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25Basically, I just feel like I'm really struggling.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27I just feel like in lessons, I'm not...
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Everything's like 100%, speed, speed, speed
0:33:30 > 0:33:31and I don't know what's going on.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34So, what's your structure on a Monday? What lessons do you have?
0:33:34 > 0:33:35I have Levels on a Monday.
0:33:35 > 0:33:39- What happens on a Tuesday? - Applied Technical Studies.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42- And that's for two hours, yeah?- Yeah. - What about a Wednesday?
0:33:42 > 0:33:45- I don't do anything.- So, do you only have LPP on a Thursday?
0:33:45 > 0:33:46Yeah, that's it.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50- And then on a Friday? - It's just Vocals Essentials.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53In-between the lessons, are you booking like little practice
0:33:53 > 0:33:58rooms like this and working on the exercises or anything like that?
0:33:58 > 0:34:00- Em, like, no.- No.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04- So you're not really utilising your time.- Yeah.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07I've been quite disorganised, actually.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10I'm focusing on so much different stuff, that it's hard for me
0:34:10 > 0:34:14- to focus on that. - But what are you focusing on?- Like...
0:34:14 > 0:34:15It's just loads of...
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Like, it's just loads of stuff that I've still got to do at home.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Like what?
0:34:21 > 0:34:22I'm trying to think.
0:34:22 > 0:34:27Cos loads of stuff is just a group of words.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29What's that "loads of stuff"?
0:34:29 > 0:34:34- I think travel, a lot, occupies my time.- OK.- It takes me two hours.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37- That's a long day. - An hour and a half if I'm lucky.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40So, it sounds as if there's loads of ideas in creative stuff that's
0:34:40 > 0:34:43buzzing around you but we need to try and consolidate that
0:34:43 > 0:34:46so that you've got a clear vision of where you want to go.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Unfortunately for Henrietta,
0:34:48 > 0:34:51there's no substitute for putting in the hard work.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54I think I got on OK but I just thought that maybe
0:34:54 > 0:34:59she was sort of putting it across like I'm not trying and I am.
0:35:00 > 0:35:02I just thought.. Yeah.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05- All right.- Well, thank you very much. - OK, it's a pleasure.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08I'll see you soon.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10It's not just about the singing.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14You have to have good time management so I think, for me,
0:35:14 > 0:35:18my priority over the next few weeks is to get her into a good
0:35:18 > 0:35:22time-management framework and that she feels that she's supported.
0:35:22 > 0:35:24You know, she has studied theory.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26I think she probably does understand a lot more than
0:35:26 > 0:35:29she gives herself credit for but probably the pace
0:35:29 > 0:35:35of the lessons is going quicker than she's able to digest, really.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38I don't know, I just feel like she was just talking to me
0:35:38 > 0:35:40a bit condescending or something.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44She's got to be pro-active and want to do it for herself.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I can help and guide her but I can't do it for her.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51This industry is tough and you have to have vision
0:35:51 > 0:35:56and direction otherwise you'll end up frustrated.
0:35:58 > 0:35:59Over at the MassMatiks' house,
0:35:59 > 0:36:03the band are practising for the showcase, now just a week away,
0:36:03 > 0:36:07but they're still no closer to finding a new guitarist.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12George has even tried picking up the guitar again, without much luck.
0:36:12 > 0:36:16I tried playing a couple of chords and it's not really happening,
0:36:16 > 0:36:20to be honest. We need someone to commit fully, fully commit.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23We've got band practice probably every day for the next week
0:36:23 > 0:36:25and it's getting a bit worrying, actually.
0:36:25 > 0:36:28At ACM, there's a lot of guitarists, but that's not enough.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30It's how they look and how they pick up
0:36:30 > 0:36:33and how much commitment they want to put in cos it's quite hard to find
0:36:33 > 0:36:38someone who's willing to commit when we don't have any money to pay them.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45We've got a couple of people that we think we might audition.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47We're not 100% sure yet.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50And, yeah, they've just got to look the part,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53they've got to play the part and they've got to perform the part.
0:36:53 > 0:36:58And it's hard, it's hard to find, but we'll find someone.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Right now, it's a problem. A bad problem.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05They're not letting a little issue like this get them down, though.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Finish him!
0:37:07 > 0:37:08SOUND EFFECT OF EXPLOSION
0:37:08 > 0:37:11THEY SHOUT
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Ella and James are both looking for a musical partner that can
0:37:22 > 0:37:25help them to achieve individual success.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27They've started collaborating on a new show.
0:37:27 > 0:37:30He's not so threatening today because he hasn't got his hood up.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33I didn't even recognise him, I walked straight past him,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35and he had to say hello to me so I felt really rude.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37It was like, "Sorry, I didn't recognise you."
0:37:37 > 0:37:39A bit awkward but never mind.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43I'm aware of that rhythm of the vocal but we've got to use that.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46James has already been working on an idea for the music
0:37:46 > 0:37:48but the lyrics have yet to be hammered out.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51We've got an opening line, that's about it.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53- Shall we sing it in?- Mm.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Sing that in and then see where we go from there.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56TRACK PLAYS
0:37:59 > 0:38:03# I'm finding it hard to swim
0:38:03 > 0:38:08# In your ocean... #
0:38:08 > 0:38:11This is all new for Ella who's more used to singing in her
0:38:11 > 0:38:14boyfriend's band than writing her own songs.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17She's desperate to find a style that would turn her into a modern,
0:38:17 > 0:38:23credible artist and together, they're discovering a new sound.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25# I try to break you open... #
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Yeah?
0:38:28 > 0:38:29Yeah.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33- That is, yeah, that's really nice.- Yeah?
0:38:33 > 0:38:35When you're a vocalist
0:38:35 > 0:38:38and you're trying out vocal ideas in front of people, it's very,
0:38:38 > 0:38:40very personal so it's also like,
0:38:40 > 0:38:43"Oh, what if that person doesn't like my ideas and whatever?"
0:38:43 > 0:38:46And it's not really like that for me, I'm just kind of like,
0:38:46 > 0:38:49"Look, it's all about you and trying to get something from you."
0:38:52 > 0:38:54SHE MOUTHS
0:38:54 > 0:38:58# Be with someone like you... #
0:39:02 > 0:39:04It's been a bit tentative
0:39:04 > 0:39:06but I think she's really coming out of herself.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08- RECORDING:- # I... #
0:39:08 > 0:39:12Eventually, Ella finds her feet and her song begins to form.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16So, maybe try another melody.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21SHE SINGS HIGH-PITCHED RUNS
0:39:24 > 0:39:28- Well, wicked start.- Yeah.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30I think we're getting somewhere so we should arrange a time
0:39:30 > 0:39:32when we can finish it off.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36No, that's cool, it's a good start. It's really cool.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Henrietta's had time to absorb the advice
0:39:45 > 0:39:49she received from the college mentor so she's asked specialist
0:39:49 > 0:39:52vocalist coach Abi to help with her music theory.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54So, how are you with your circle of fifths?
0:39:54 > 0:39:57I do it my own way, like I've got another way of doing it
0:39:57 > 0:40:00so I'm quite all right with them, actually.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02So, if I said what key has four sharps? You'd say...?
0:40:02 > 0:40:07- I probably wouldn't know the key but I'd know the sharps.- OK.
0:40:07 > 0:40:12- So, you've got this down, have you, the major scale formula?- Um... No.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15This is absolutely fine cos we're going to start from the beginning.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18This is what I was hoping cos I was hoping that we could
0:40:18 > 0:40:20start from the beginning and if we get all the fundamentals in,
0:40:20 > 0:40:22- it'll be a lot simpler.- Yeah.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24So, what's this middle line then?
0:40:25 > 0:40:28- E-F-G-A-B.- B, yeah, sweet.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Basically, every major scale that we play, it doesn't matter what
0:40:31 > 0:40:34- key we're in, it's going to have the same chord qualities.- OK.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37So, it's always the third that defines any tonality in a chord
0:40:37 > 0:40:39- whether it's major or minor.- Oh, OK.
0:40:39 > 0:40:41Father...
0:40:41 > 0:40:45- Charles goes down and ends battle. - You're good.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Abi has a way of explaining things which Henrietta understands.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53So, what's the major scale formula?
0:40:53 > 0:40:58- Major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished.- Pow.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Suddenly, it's all going rather well.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03She's so lovely, she's so cool.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05Things that I was getting taught in lessons,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07she like re-taught it in a simpler way.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Henrietta definitely had
0:41:09 > 0:41:13underestimated herself in as far as music theory was concerned.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Sorry, I might get too excited.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18'Obviously, we started off at a very simple level but, actually,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21'considering we had an hour, we moved on quite quickly.'
0:41:21 > 0:41:24So, if you can do a little bit of this outside and ready for next week?
0:41:24 > 0:41:27I imagine, cos she's a very strong character, that it actually
0:41:27 > 0:41:31did take a lot for her to come here but I'm really glad she did.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35And then we'll do a bit more recap of the modes and keys and stuff.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39Feeling more confident because of her lessons with Abi,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42Henrietta has upped her game with her vocals as well.
0:41:42 > 0:41:50# Why should I feel discouraged?
0:41:51 > 0:41:57# And why should the shadows come? #
0:41:57 > 0:41:59'I can tell that she's come a long way,'
0:41:59 > 0:42:04that she's starting to process some vocal function,
0:42:04 > 0:42:08she's starting to realise what technique does and can do for her.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Head up, chin up a little. That's it.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12And now, just push in, "Sing because I'm free."
0:42:12 > 0:42:18# Sing because I'm free... #
0:42:18 > 0:42:19She's teachable as well,
0:42:19 > 0:42:23she listens to what I say and this is a good thing, I like that.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25# And know
0:42:25 > 0:42:30# For heaven ain't home... #
0:42:30 > 0:42:34The trajectory is positive and I think we'd be hard pressed to
0:42:34 > 0:42:38not say that it's a magnificent voice in there.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Perhaps a diamond in the rough
0:42:39 > 0:42:42but there's some really fantastic stuff that's coming out.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46- Let's hug it out. - Let's hug it out.- Thanks, man.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49- That's a good weave, by the way.- Oh, thanks.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51MUFFLED MUSIC PLAYS
0:42:56 > 0:42:58It's nearing the end of term.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01The industry showcase is now just days away and in the nick
0:43:01 > 0:43:05of time, MassMatiks have managed to solve their problems.
0:43:05 > 0:43:06We got a guitar player sorted out,
0:43:06 > 0:43:10a guy called Angus Chandler who's actually in a class with Joe.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14# Count yourself lucky... #
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Obviously, it's a big feat, it's a big ask for him as well.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20We're pulling in a big favour, we're not paying him which,
0:43:20 > 0:43:22obviously, we're very grateful for.
0:43:22 > 0:43:23None of us have got any money
0:43:23 > 0:43:26so we don't really have the option to pay him.
0:43:26 > 0:43:30And yesterday, we had a four-hour rehearsal round Josh's place
0:43:30 > 0:43:34and then, yeah, here I am.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36Running about at ACM.
0:43:41 > 0:43:45He's a really good guitarist, he's reliable, and then we kind of give
0:43:45 > 0:43:51him the chance to learn the parts but then also have his own input on it.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53And as it turns out, for George,
0:43:53 > 0:43:57losing his guitar has resulted in unexpected benefits.
0:43:57 > 0:44:00'I'm just on mics, I'm just figuring out what I'm going to do on mic'
0:44:00 > 0:44:01and I'm loving it to be honest.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Absolutely loving the space I'm getting.
0:44:03 > 0:44:06Jumping about, I feel confident. I was a bit worried at first,
0:44:06 > 0:44:08I wasn't sure how it was going to go, but now I'm confident.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10I'm more confident than I've ever been.
0:44:10 > 0:44:14INDISTINCT LYRICS
0:44:22 > 0:44:24After a successful rehearsal with Angus,
0:44:24 > 0:44:28the lads decide to have a quiet night in with a few mates.
0:44:28 > 0:44:29Or not.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44A more confident Henrietta also decides
0:44:44 > 0:44:46she has something to celebrate.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52But not too much.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56- Mum, I'm going home. I'm going to be safe.- She'll be safe.
0:44:56 > 0:44:58After turning things around at college,
0:44:58 > 0:45:00she doesn't want to overdo it.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02Thanks, Jenny, bye.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13It's the big day of the industry showcase
0:45:13 > 0:45:18and weeks of preparation for the 12 acts have boiled down to this -
0:45:18 > 0:45:22one stage, two songs and ten minutes to impress the judges.
0:45:24 > 0:45:27Each act is vying to outplay the others for the prize
0:45:27 > 0:45:30of recording at Metropolis Studios.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34I'm excited. I love rock music.
0:45:34 > 0:45:35I love rocking out.
0:45:36 > 0:45:40Today, they'll have the chance to perform in front of three A&R
0:45:40 > 0:45:45executives and the managing director of Gary Barlow's publishing company.
0:45:45 > 0:45:48These four people could be all that stands between them
0:45:48 > 0:45:51and their first record deal.
0:45:53 > 0:45:58The standard is high and there's a lot of competition for MassMatiks.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01# You know I'm never going to give up
0:46:01 > 0:46:03# Oh oh-oh-oh
0:46:03 > 0:46:05# Oh oh-oh-oh oh
0:46:05 > 0:46:08# You know I'm never going to give up. #
0:46:11 > 0:46:15With their new guitarist, this will be the first time
0:46:15 > 0:46:17MassMatiks have played for an audience with their new line-up.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19The stakes couldn't be higher.
0:46:19 > 0:46:22Yeah, it's hard. It's definitely the hardest sort of gig you can do.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26You've just got to put up a barrier and not really think of them
0:46:26 > 0:46:29and don't really react too much to the way they look at you cos
0:46:29 > 0:46:32they look at you like this all the time.
0:46:34 > 0:46:38Finally, it's their turn in the spotlight.
0:46:38 > 0:46:39# One, two, three, four
0:46:39 > 0:46:41- ALL:- # Bah-bah-brah-bah-bah
0:46:41 > 0:46:43# Bah-dah-bah-bah-dah-bah
0:46:50 > 0:46:52# What's it going to be?
0:46:52 > 0:46:54# You staying with him or you staying with me... #
0:46:54 > 0:46:56INDISTINCT LYRICS
0:47:02 > 0:47:06- BOTH:- # ..And everybody knows... #
0:47:10 > 0:47:14INDISTINCT LYRICS
0:47:16 > 0:47:18# ..Bah-bah-brah-bah-bah
0:47:18 > 0:47:19# Bah-dah-bah-bah-dah-bah
0:47:19 > 0:47:21# Bah-bah-brah-bah-bah
0:47:21 > 0:47:24# Bah-dah-bah-bah-dah-bah. #
0:47:27 > 0:47:29Cheers.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Loads of energy, I think you have a natural frontman.
0:47:33 > 0:47:35I think as a band, you all play well together.
0:47:35 > 0:47:36As a group of people,
0:47:36 > 0:47:38you sort of pick up on the collective energy of what
0:47:38 > 0:47:41you're doing and I think we were all saying the same thing,
0:47:41 > 0:47:43we all liked your spirit.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45Loved the energy. I just...
0:47:45 > 0:47:48You just need to gig more.
0:47:48 > 0:47:51- Cheers, guys. - Go grab those CDs. Thanks very much.
0:47:52 > 0:47:55Each of the 12 acts have had their chance.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57All that's left now is the big decision.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59Who will be taking their music to the next
0:47:59 > 0:48:02level by recording at Metropolis?
0:48:02 > 0:48:05- It was good, in the end. - Got good feedback.- Yeah.
0:48:05 > 0:48:09Didn't get much bad stuff. Was kind of, keep doing what you're doing.
0:48:09 > 0:48:14- What is that on your eyebrow? - It's another curly one. Urgh!
0:48:14 > 0:48:20Later that evening, ACM's Chris and Amy arrive
0:48:20 > 0:48:23at the MassMatiks' house bearing news of the judges' decision.
0:48:23 > 0:48:27Their decision was based on who had the two strongest consistent songs
0:48:27 > 0:48:32for the live cut at Metropolis, and they ended up saying MassMatiks.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36Well done.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38The reason why we chose MassMatiks ultimately
0:48:38 > 0:48:42was because they were able to come up with a very interesting sound,
0:48:42 > 0:48:45they look like mates, they look like they're living
0:48:45 > 0:48:47and breathing what they're doing.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50They're very exciting and they bring a great energy into the room.
0:48:50 > 0:48:57I think they've got a lot to offer in the studio,
0:48:57 > 0:49:01and it'll be interesting to see how the record turns out.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10It's a momentous evening for Ella and James.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13Having been hard at work on their new track,
0:49:13 > 0:49:15they're listening to the final mix.
0:49:15 > 0:49:17SONG PLAYS
0:49:18 > 0:49:20Sounds good.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33Sounds good.
0:49:43 > 0:49:45- Voice sounds good on there.- Hm.
0:49:54 > 0:49:58For James, taking a chance on Ella has paid off.
0:49:58 > 0:49:59I'm really happy.
0:49:59 > 0:50:02I think, could come out of the end of something and go, "Right,
0:50:02 > 0:50:04"this is what we set out to do,"
0:50:04 > 0:50:07then, as an end result, pretty much there.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10What do you think? Cos obviously you've written quite a few songs.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12This is my third song.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14- Do you like it?- I really like it.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18I think it's really good. It's not...shit.
0:50:18 > 0:50:23- Put it that way!- Yeah. It's not shit, so I'm really proud of it.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26I think it'll be really good. Yeah. Wicked.
0:50:26 > 0:50:31Before coming to ACM, Ella was just another vocalist covering
0:50:31 > 0:50:34the same ground as many singers before her.
0:50:34 > 0:50:36However, after just one term,
0:50:36 > 0:50:40she has discovered a new sound that's all her own.
0:50:40 > 0:50:44It's an important milestone on her journey to becoming an artist.
0:50:44 > 0:50:49I see the song being very much my musical direction.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51We've pulled it together and it's a really nice song.
0:50:51 > 0:50:52I'm really chuffed with it.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54It's been really good working with Ella.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Obviously, she's been a bit naive, but it's been easy
0:50:57 > 0:50:59so I think it can only get better from now on.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02When we first met, what was it you were singing?
0:51:02 > 0:51:06- Was it Rihanna or something? - Oh, yeah, yeah.
0:51:06 > 0:51:09Oh, God, yeah! That's a bit embarrassing.
0:51:09 > 0:51:11This could make or break me.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14Now I've found a niche and found a genre, it's getting exciting,
0:51:14 > 0:51:17but I've still got to hold back cos I think I've only got one song.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21Working with Ella has helped me transition from artist
0:51:21 > 0:51:25and performer into a producer a lot easier.
0:51:25 > 0:51:29I don't get jealous of watching anybody else sing, like, I enjoy it.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31I still enjoy it, I still do it,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34and watching someone else go through their parts is wicked.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37- Are you happy with it? Proud of it? - Yeah.- Do you feel like you own it?
0:51:37 > 0:51:41I feel like I need to get it shown to everyone in the world right now.
0:51:41 > 0:51:46- Wicked. Like my dad needs to hear this, and the Queen.- And the Queen!
0:51:46 > 0:51:48- Wicked.- Yeah.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58It's been a traumatic term for Henrietta Adewole,
0:51:58 > 0:52:00a term where she has come close to losing heart.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03But today, she's being given the chance
0:52:03 > 0:52:06to perform in front of her class once again.
0:52:06 > 0:52:09Can she prove that she's getting back on track?
0:52:09 > 0:52:17# I sing because I'm happy
0:52:17 > 0:52:22# I sing because I'm free... #
0:52:22 > 0:52:24Keep it going, keep it going.
0:52:24 > 0:52:29# ..His eye is on the sparrow
0:52:30 > 0:52:33# And I know
0:52:33 > 0:52:37# He's watching me... #
0:52:37 > 0:52:38Yes.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:52:44 > 0:52:47The teachers, actually, have really helped.
0:52:47 > 0:52:49Tutorials with Jono, tutorials with Sarah.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51I actually saw Sarah again,
0:52:51 > 0:52:53she was actually really lovely,
0:52:53 > 0:52:56but I did tell her I was so emotional that week.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58If you'd have poked me, I would have cried.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02I think I just needed someone to talk to, you know?
0:53:02 > 0:53:05She's really helped me put things into perspective,
0:53:05 > 0:53:08cos I've got so much that I want to do
0:53:08 > 0:53:11and so much I want to achieve, you know,
0:53:11 > 0:53:13and she really gave me the hope that, actually, I can achieve it
0:53:13 > 0:53:15and that I should keep on going.
0:53:20 > 0:53:24It's Saturday morning at Metropolis Studios in London.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27Cutting a record here is an expensive process,
0:53:27 > 0:53:31usually only reserved for bands who have already been signed.
0:53:31 > 0:53:35But today, it's the turn of an energetic five-piece
0:53:35 > 0:53:38from ACM called MassMatiks.
0:53:38 > 0:53:42They're following in the footsteps of the likes of Jimi Hendrix
0:53:42 > 0:53:44and Queen, who've also recorded tracks onto this
0:53:44 > 0:53:47state-of-the-art piece of old technology.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51In the indie world, vinyl is making a huge comeback.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54Being able to send copies out to record labels should
0:53:54 > 0:53:56make them stand out from the crowd.
0:53:56 > 0:53:58MUFFLED LYRICS
0:54:25 > 0:54:29Friends and tutors from ACM have come along to show their support.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31I'll get you to do all that once more.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34And finally, it's time to cut the record
0:54:34 > 0:54:36and it has to be done in one take.
0:54:36 > 0:54:41Five, four, three, two, one...
0:54:41 > 0:54:43# Your little brother
0:54:43 > 0:54:47# You looked after
0:54:47 > 0:54:51# Now it's time I... #
0:54:53 > 0:54:56- That's cool. That's great.- Whoo!
0:54:56 > 0:54:58CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:54:58 > 0:55:00They've done it first time.
0:55:01 > 0:55:06Few new bands will ever be able to say they've cut their first record
0:55:06 > 0:55:08in a studio as big as this
0:55:08 > 0:55:12but with their session complete, MassMatiks have placed themselves
0:55:12 > 0:55:14squarely on the first rung of the industry ladder.
0:55:14 > 0:55:16- Here it is.- Oh!
0:55:16 > 0:55:19That's the acetate, so you've got the acetate. There you go.
0:55:19 > 0:55:21Oh...
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Cheers, guys.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25And they spelled MassMatiks right.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27That's always a plus.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30Term's almost over for the students at this college.
0:55:30 > 0:55:33It's the first step on a long journey
0:55:33 > 0:55:35to fulfil their dream,
0:55:35 > 0:55:37a journey with many twists and turns,
0:55:37 > 0:55:40and no guarantee of success at the end.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44A lot of what happens in the music industry
0:55:44 > 0:55:46is based on two things -
0:55:46 > 0:55:48luck, that somebody spots you,
0:55:48 > 0:55:51and hope, that it's the right person that spots you,
0:55:51 > 0:55:54and when that person spots you,
0:55:54 > 0:55:57and develops your career, as an artist or a producer,
0:55:57 > 0:55:59that they know the right people.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03# Ba, ba, brra-ba
0:56:03 > 0:56:05# Ba-ra-ba, ba-ra-ba
0:56:05 > 0:56:08# Ba-ra-ba, ba-ra-ba
0:56:11 > 0:56:14# And everybody knows
0:56:14 > 0:56:17# That's how it is
0:56:19 > 0:56:22# What comes will soon go
0:56:22 > 0:56:24# That's how it is
0:56:24 > 0:56:26# A or is it B?
0:56:26 > 0:56:28# Don't tell me there's a C
0:56:28 > 0:56:32# Bring them all to me cos I am happy to complete
0:56:32 > 0:56:34# A shame it is for you
0:56:34 > 0:56:36# Have much less to lose
0:56:36 > 0:56:38# As a greener grass, seeds to grow
0:56:38 > 0:56:40# I am not too happy so
0:56:40 > 0:56:45# Does he really want to fight like this?
0:56:45 > 0:56:48# I don't think so
0:56:48 > 0:56:52# But I still want... #