The term ‘Aberdeen’s creative industry’ has often felt as if it was an oxymoron in recent years. With less visibility, funding, and opportunities when compared to larger artistic hubs across the rest of Scotland and the UK, artists career pathways are left unclear, without natural stepping stones to guide them to the next level in their respective fields.
Luckily, this problem has not gone unnoticed. North City Signal, a new platform created by Glen Gauld, an Aberdeen based musician and creative, aims to address these roadblocks, uplifting and amplifying innovators across Aberdeen to new heights.
Based on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, North City Signal has been founded as a direct answer to some of the major obstacles facing those with creative passions in Aberdeen. In an interview with The Gaudie, founder Glen shared that he feels there is a plethora of original and exciting new talent in Aberdeen, but the next rung up the career ladder is often unclear. People are left with limited options, often leaving them to be unable to practice their art form consistently in the way they would hope, or forced to move elsewhere to pursue more obvious career opportunities. As someone who has been musically involved since childhood and has also dabbled in a fair few other creative practices, such as painting, comedy, and even pro wrestling – Glen feels he is in a position where he can help provide a central hub for connection and support in the arts.
Focusing on music, we discussed Glen’s moves to create a portable music recording system, creating the iconic ‘Tiny Desk’ style of content to emphasise local talent. North City Signal will be able to offer bands or acts the ability to have high quality recordings of their work, without having to travel afar or fork out thousands. The content will be split between various social media sites, allowing for the full sets to be on YouTube, whilst smaller snippets can be cut down and posted via popular short-form mediums like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Glen’s plans involve the use of local venues, hopefully creating avenues for musical acts to perform in their dream locations that may have otherwise been inaccessible to them.
But Glen doesn’t plan to be limited to just Aberdeen’s musical talent – North City Signal is designed to showcase the creative ability across a multitude of channels. Artists, painters, and poets are just some of the types of talents that Glen wants to feature, choosing a different route of content and display for each; tailored to their specific artistic view and process. NCS is going to spotlight the trajectory from inception, to completion, to display, championing artists and their craft every step of the way.
The wide scope of NCS‘s abilities allows for the different mediums of each creative to be worked towards specifically. Whether it’s a sit-down interview with a poet who focuses on select pieces of their prose, or perhaps showing off the recent paintings of an artist in their element inside a studio, paired with interviews about their process. This platform is easily adaptable to be used for whatever best fits and Glen recognises that each individual has their own flavour and flair, so working to adapt NCS and its offerings to creatives is crucial.
Some of Glen’s statements particularly stood out to me as we spoke over our coffees (shoutout to the Craftsman Company, as always):
‘The cornerstone of this idea is showcasing the artists, as well as the art.’
I think this sums it up best. North City Signal’s bio on Instagram states ‘Platforming the sound of Aberdeen’, and I think that is exactly what an inclusive and diverse creative initiative such as this will achieve. He is aiming to create a one-stop-shop for Aberdeen’s scene, centralising interest for those intrigued by the local talent. Whether for artists who are doing it for the love of the game and want to create content to match their passion, or for those with aspirations of artistic careers, NCS is here to platform, uplift and support.
Despite Aberdeen not being as supported or busy as other cities, it is time to show that there is demand for original talent here. Fuelled by a love of all forms of art, NCS is going to solidify itself as a hub for greatness in the granite city.
If you are hearing of North City Signal’s incredible initiative and thinking that this is something that you, or someone you may know, would be the perfect fit for – please get in touch! Glen can be contacted @northcitysignal on Instagram, or NorthCitySignal@ProtonMail.com.