CELEBRATING TWO YEARS OF SOUTH WEST MUSIC WITH ENTRY LEVEL SPOTLIGHTS

Discover Artists

Two years ago, we published our first Entry Level Spotlight.

At the time, the idea was simple. Create space for artists at the start of their journey, provide proper context, take them seriously and let their work speak for itself. We wanted to offer a genuine introduction to people making music across the South West.

Since then, that idea has grown.

We’ve now shared 84 (and counting) Entry Level Spotlights, featuring artists and bands at all different stages: first releases, early tours, solo projects, five-piece bands finding their feet.

Over the last two years, those features have generated 1.13 million impressions across our social media, driven 80,000 website visits and today we’re averaging around 100 visits a day from people actively looking to discover South West music.

Those numbers matter and so does what sits behind them. Real people reading, listening, turning up the volume and turning to gigs; finding new artists they might not have heard otherwise.

“When we launched Entry Level Spotlights, our focus was all about listening properly and giving artists a dedicated platform to get noticed. Two years on, we love seeing the same artists continue to evolve and make music. The South West scene is full of talent and is often overlooked. Entry Level was always about making sure those voices had somewhere to land.”

– Darren Branch (Founder)..

To mark two years of Entry Level Spotlights, we’re revisiting Chasing Zeros, a five-piece indie rock band from the South West who featured early on in the series. Known for their fierce commitment to creativity and quality songwriting, the band brings together three Devonians, a Cockney and a Manc, all of whom found their way to each other in and around Exeter.

Involving Music: It’s been two years since your Entry Level Spotlight with Involving Music. When you look back at that period, what stands out most about where the band was at then?

Chasing Zeros: We had just produced our first full video for our song With You and we were playing relatively regularly. I believe we felt a sense of excitement about taking our hobby to new heights.

Involving Music: As a band with a strong collective identity, how has Chasing Zeros evolved over the past couple of years, musically or as a group?

Chasing Zeros: We have been somewhat distracted by family commitments over the last couple of years, but we’re back to writing and recording. Looking forward to playing a few shows in the near future. We played at The Phoenix in Exeter a couple of times last year; the first show there in February was a particular highlight.

Involving Music: What’s helped you keep momentum going, whether that’s creatively, practically or just in terms of showing up and making music together?

Chasing Zeros: The camaraderie. We meet up most Monday nights and make a glorious racket together. Being in a band makes really close personal connections with people you might not otherwise meet. It is a dysfunctional family of sorts; all the stress of life can be set aside for a couple of hours while you try to create something new.

Involving Music: What would you say to other South West bands who are early in their journey and wondering whether it’s worth putting themselves forward for things like an Entry Level Spotlight?

Chasing Zeros: If nothing else, the Entry Spotlight allows you to look at yourselves and really think about how you want to project your identity. We endeavoured to show our personalities and promote ourselves as a group of people that could make fun of each other while writing some pretty catchy pop songs.

That’s what Entry Level Spotlights are really about. Recognising artists where they are right now, providing an algorithm-free platform for them to be heard, and offering a chance to step back, reflect on how they present themselves and celebrate who they are.

Looking ahead, we are really excited. Not just for Involving Music evolving more and more as the South West’s music network of choice, but for the artists still to come. The inbox is busier than ever and the appetite for South West music is only getting bigger.

If you’re an artist based in the South West and you haven’t shared your story with us yet, now’s the time. Be part of the set and the noise and fill in an Entry Level Spotlight today.

For artists who’ve featured at Entry Level and are now ready to go deeper, our Pro Spotlights offer more context and more editorial support. It’s a chance to reflect on where you are now and share your journey so far with listeners actively seeking South West music.

We’re listening.

– Chelsea Branch

Chelsea Branch, a roots, rocksteady, reggae and everything in between enthusiast. First gig was to see the Ordinary Boys at the Lemon Grove (Exeter) at 16 after taking a liking to their Ska-inspired track 'Rudy's in Love' (and the frontman, Preston). After University, she spent seven years in brilliant Bristol, revelling in its dynamic music scene—a move very much inspired by a first-time visit to St Paul's Carnival. She now lives in Exeter alongside her partner Bev, embracing Devon country life and swapping sound systems for sea swimming and scriptwriting.

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