My EPK
Supporting Commentary
In this supporting commentary, I will explain the process behind all the aspects of my Electronic Press Kit.
Firstly, the decision on my name and stage name. When working in managerial or band roles, I will typically go by my government name India Davies, however I will also add and hyphenate my mother’s maiden name Nilsson onto the end of my name. To set my solo project apart from everything else, I decided to go by my middle name Ulla. Because my Welsh-Swedish heritage is a particularly important and unique part of who I am as a person, and not only do I want to incorporate it into my musical identity, but I also believe it will set me apart from everyone else. Before settling on using my middle name as my artistic name, I decided to research some of the history and meaning of the name. According to an article on Ancestry.co.uk, it is the “diminutive form of the name Ulrike… therefore, can be interpreted as a derivative meaning little ruler or ruler in a small form”. Since it is my goal to make a name for myself in the music industry, this name is not only historically fitting, but the sentimental value of it being a familial name makes it more meaningful and powerful.
My EPK outlines multiple creative pathways through which I explore my artistry. These include solo work under the moniker Ulla, as well as collaborative roles in the bands Misting and Divas in Distress. Each project stands for a different side of my identity and a different story to tell: Ulla as the emotive narrator, Misting as the ethereal alternative biographer, and Divas in Distress as the politically conscious, hard rock performer. These distinct voices allow her to experiment in different sub-genres and thematic landscapes while staying anchored in my core artistic values. A good example and inspiration for this decision is Corey Taylor, whilst he is most Known for being the frontman of Slipknot and Stone Sour, he has also in recent years started a solo act. When giving an interview to Metal Injection, he says that “These songs were parts of me that I really wanted to share the world and kind of show the world this other side of my writing style that I’d never been able to show before.” This resonated and motivated me to show different artistic sides of myself with different bands and projects that I would not have otherwise been able to show with only one band or project.
In my solo project, I base songs either on fiction written by other people (e.g Shakespeare) or on capturing the insanity of real-life stories (e.g planning a future album based on serial killers). Whilst I have all the ideas and image for my solo work, it needs a lot more work and refinement before anything is ready for release. For example, the Romeo and Juliet demo, although sounds good, needs a lot more done to it production wise. One of my biggest inspirations for doing conceptual and externally inspired music is the band Ice Nine Kills. When reading their discography in an article by The Post, it is shown that later on in the bands career when they began to gain popularity, the band had started basing their songs and albums on horror literature and movies. They have furthered their enthusiasm for these inspirations by creating whole horror storylines for their music videos and displaying theatrical performances in their live shows.
My work in Divas in Distress shows a turn toward more confrontational and socially engaged lyricism. As a Leeds-based hard rock band, we as a group confronts issues such as anger, gender politics, and societal constraints through a fierce, head banging sound. However, as much as we like covering important topics, we also like to cover a range of topics in our songs and even write emotionally hard-hitting songs as well as silly and nonsensical tunes. As a band we have gone against the societal expectations of sticking to a specific sound or identity. We instead like to explore a wide range of rock sounds and influences and do what we want when it comes to writing music.
By contrast, Misting presents a more melancholic storytelling ranging from slow hard-hitting songs to upbeat and fast tempos and harsher vocals. When writing for Misting, I focus on layered textures and haunting lyricism which reflects my real-life experiences and emotions.
Beyond performance, my EPK reveals my significant work in management and administrative support for other artists. As a personal assistant to DV Music and the production manager for The New-Age Foundation Annual Charity Event, I show my keen understanding of the music industry’s operational side. This dual perspective, as both artist and organiser, positions me as a multi-skilled professional who is as comfortable behind the scenes as I am on stage. In an era where musicians must increasingly be self-managing and entrepreneurial, my interest in this side of the industry not only helps in terms of managing myself as an artist but also opens the door for making extra connections and making a name for myself in a different capacity, plus gives me a different way of working in the music industry if performing becomes inaccessible.
In terms of my skill set, my range in different areas underscores my adaptability and resourcefulness. My completion of Grade 6 in singing through ABRSM and LCM provides formal recognition of my vocal training, whilst my ability to collaborate, experiment with lyrical structure, and adapt across genres showcases her creative fluidity, there is still a lot I have to work on in terms of vocal strength, techniques and overall perfecting and learning skills.
Visually, when designing my EPK I wanted to include colours that complimented my aesthetic and my portfolio photos. I believe that the colour palette also shows and compliments what kind of creative I am at first glance. The moody lighting and muted colour palette create an atmosphere that aligns with my emotional aesthetic. Each of the photographs perfectly captures each of my identities. Particularly the one featured for my “Ulla” solo project, I am visually different in aesthetic choices. My reason for doing this was I needed a way to set myself apart as a solo act from myself as a part of a band. I chose to do this by putting black body paint on my waist. I chose this area specifically as not only did I find it physically flattering, but it also drew attention to one of my most unique features which will not only captivate people but will also be memorable.
In conclusion, my EPK presents a rich and multidimensional portrait of an emerging artist who is deeply committed to emotional authenticity, artistic versatility, and professional rigour. Whether working under the name Ulla or collaborating in band projects, my focus on storytelling, expression, and atmospheric soundscapes sets apart in a competitive field. Drawing on influences from every aspect of my past and present, I have situated myself at the intersection of tradition and experimentation. Whilst I have a lot to do in terms of artistic and personal growth, I am happy with where I am with my current progress.
Group Work
After showing and discussing my EPK with my group in order to gain positive feedback and constructive criticism, here is the feedback I received to take into consideration for the future. Firstly, their initial reaction was that the overall design of the EPK is very clean, cohesive, consistent and suits the music and musician’s image. After further reading of my EPK, they suggested changing some things in terms of the layout. Rather than putting the testimonials at the top, they believed that people would be more interested in reading the introductory paragraph first. When it came to my skills list, not only did they feel as if the skills listed were slightly vague and that I could expand more on them, e.g. be more specific on what vocal techniques I have knowledge of and how I am creative and imaginative, but they also thought I had missed some descriptions of leadership roles I have taken on within the conservatoire, for example my current role as president of the Afro-Carribean Society (ACS). Furthermore, as my ‘links to music’ section is empty due to a lack of recordings, my group presented the idea of possibly adding more photos to fill the space or to again change the layout and move a different section to this spot, however they were not too sure abut this. Overall, my group agreed that this EPK best represented me, I sold myself very well and packed a lot of useful information into it.
Bibliography
Ancestry.co.uk. (2017). Origin and Meaning of First Name Ulla | Search Family History on Ancestry®. [online] Available at: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/first-name-meaning/ulla?srsltid=AfmBOoqBrSTIqKFxUN4MCNoXBg5uYB_35A3TMxQIqp_68UIGJsCljDmc [Accessed 11 May 2025].
Kennelty, G. (2020). COREY TAYLOR Went Solo Because His Songs ‘Didn’t Make Sense’ for SLIPKNOT & STONE SOUR – Metal Injection. [online] Metal Injection. Available at: https://metalinjection.net/news/corey-taylor-went-solo-because-his-songs-didnt-make-sense-for-slipknot-stone-sour [Accessed 11 May 2025].
Phillips, B. (2023). Artist Spotlight: Ice Nine Kills take their love of horror films seriously in their music, live performances. [online] Artist Spotlight: Ice Nine Kills take their love of horror films seriously in their music, live performances – The Post. Available at: https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2023/10/artist-spotlight-ice-nine-kills-horror-films-live-performances [Accessed 11 May 2025].
