This week we’re talking with music PR Debbie Ball, of Create Spark!
Tell us how you would describe what you do, and how you refer to yourself/your craft? Where can we find info about you (website) and where can we follow you on social media?
I'm a music PR and run Create Spark in London, specialising in online pr for with a roster of crossover mavericks (Tame Impala, M83, Sufjan Stevens, Zhala, David Crosby, Pond, No Joy and more). I'm essentially a big music fan and had the luck to make my hobby into a job. I'm most active on Twitter - @createspark - but the website is createspark.co.uk.
Tell us about where you grew up in the UK...
I grew up in Brighton, the alternative capital UK city by the sea.
Do you favor cats or dogs? Tell us which you have at home, and about your pets!
I prefer cats, but am partial to dogs too. I have a noisey English blue shorthair called Dusty. It's our furry homage to the late great Ms Springfield.
How did you get into the world of music PR?
I started out being a guitarist in Electrelane. Then when I realised I couldn't cut it as a musician or a journalist, I discovered the world of PR whilst at university working on student radio. I liked writing subjectively about music, talking about what I was listening to as a normal part of my day, so it made sense to try PR once I'd graduated. I worked in a lot of different areas of the music industry but kept returning to PR, which is where I've remained happily for the past ten years.
You've traveled quite a bit, and have to travel for work - where is the best place you've ever visited?
That's a tricky one, as I've travelled a lot and everywhere has it's own exciting characteristics. Either Barcelona for Primavera or New York for CMJ would be my two favourites, with New York just ahead there.
Tell us about what your system is in dealing with jetlag -
I'm still yet to find that system :)
If you could have 5 more hours in the day, what would you do with it?
Less work, more reading.
What is one tell-tale sign that someone is British?
That they say 'sorry' a lot. Also the tendency to make bad puns, then laugh at our own jokes!
You just went to the Coachella festival here in the states for the first time. What was your favorite thing about it?
I thought the site was really impressive, at some points it felt like festival heaven with so many good things to do around watching a good choice of bands. The way the stages were translucent to reveal the bands and the stunning scenery as a natural backdrop was pretty cool too.
Talk about the watch you got, what do you like most about it?
I like the simple yet sleek design. It's quite androgenous too: I'm a bit of a tomboy and enjoy having accessories that aren't too masculine nor too girlie.
If you could go anywhere, any time past/future/present - where would you go and why?
Probably to the late 60s to hang out with Lou and Andy in The Factory.