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From factory worker to music mogul

A factory worker has swapped mechanics for microphones after setting up his own music company in the North East.

Former production engineer Andy Bloomfield left his job in the automotive industry, where he’d spent the past 18 years, to set up Break Free, a music management firm designed specifically to represent talent from across the North East region.

“Working on the production lines wasn’t a bad job,” said 42 year-old Andy, “but it just got to the point were I knew it was time for a change. I’ve always been passionate about music, particularly the North East music scene, and I wanted to use that passion to help artists whose talent is sadly going unnoticed.”

Andy, who lives in Dunston near Gateshead, knew that setting up an independent record company wouldn’t be easy and approached his friend and former frontman of techno-band N-Joi, Nigel Champion, for help.

Last November, just a couple of months after leaving his factory job, Andy signed singer-songwriter Oonagh Cassidy as the first act on the Break Free label.

Her debut album, the first official release by Break Free, is expected to be made available within the next couple of months and Andy hopes it will help open people’s eyes to the talent available in the North East.

“Oonagh is undoubtedly a very talented artist,’ said Andy, “and I know that there are many more like her just waiting to be discovered. The problem with larger record companies is that they are often unwilling to take a chance on anyone and it can be hard for struggling artists to catch a break.

“Break Free is focused solely on finding the very best the North East has to offer and working with them to develop a long-term music career on a national and, if possible, international scale.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .