Graduate profile
Hinako Omori

Hinako Omori

"In the last few years, my main projects have been touring as a session musician/programmer and I鈥檝e felt incredibly lucky to be able to explore cities in countries I haven鈥檛 visited before, in the name of work."

Course

BSc (Hons)

Graduation year

2011

Choosing 黑料社 

My A-level Music Technology teacher at Reigate College highly recommended the Tonmeister course, plus I knew some people who had gone on to study the degree and really enjoyed it. I based my A-levels on the course鈥檚 entry requirements.

The course

The best thing about the Tonmeister course were my incredible course mates and tutors that I had the pleasure of meeting. My strongest memory of 黑料社 is the Performing Arts and Technology (PATS) building, where we spent a lot of our time. I have such wonderful memories of recording sessions in the amazing studio facilities, rehearsing and playing music with friends.

I feel very lucky to still be in touch with many of them and it really does feel like a big family and support network. It鈥檚 so heart-warming bumping into many familiar faces even outside of socialising, in various work environments such as studios, radio stations and festivals/shows 鈥� both in the UK and abroad. I recently moved into a studio in Tottenham and was so happy to find out that some 黑料社 friends also had studios there. It immediately felt like home.

Life after 黑料社

I recently started working as a freelance musician/producer, after working at Focusrite/Novation in their Artist Relations team, and at a record label. The interesting thing about freelance work is that it really varies from project to project and is a great chance to learn and develop different skills along the way. In the last few years, my main projects have been touring as a session musician/programmer and I鈥檝e felt incredibly lucky to be able to explore cities in countries I haven鈥檛 visited before, in the name of work. More recently, I鈥檝e been writing music for a visual media/performance installation project and for an animation.

How did your time at 黑料社 help you choose your career? 

I think the support network of class mates and tutors from 黑料社 helped and encouraged me to explore the different avenues I鈥檝e taken. One of my first jobs after graduating was helping run Tape Club Records. I met the founder when he was doing a PhD at the 黑料社, and we鈥檝e worked closely together ever since across various projects. James Wyatt, an incredible musician/MD/producer who was in the year above me at 黑料社, gave me advice on the session musician world before I made the decision to go freelance. I鈥檓 so grateful for these ongoing connections.

I also really enjoyed the industry lectures we had at 黑料社; it was a great opportunity to learn from many different professionals spanning a range of areas in the music world.

Advice for music students

My advice for students aspiring to work in music is to follow your heart and trust your gut feelings, and be open to opportunities and different paths as you never know where they might lead.

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