The beginning of the year kind of sucked, my goal for 2011 was to move down to London. I did this within two months when I somehow scored a digital marketing internship at Warner Bros. Records.

My first gig ever was Taking Back Sunday with My Chemical Romance supporting, so getting to work for these two bands at Warner was incredible. I even got to go to an MCR video shoot. Right up my alley! Of course, I had to do a load of mundane work, mainly involving Excel spreadsheets, but it was all experience. I only had to make tea once and my boss even apologised. I was allowed into their Monday morning label meetings, and while I didn’t agree with some of their ideals, it was still massively insightful into how a major is run. Definitely, a valuable foot in the door! 

During those three months, I stayed at my good friend Nellie’s in Vauxhall. We even shared a bed! I honestly can’t thank her and her family enough. I also realised during that time, that London is my home. I missed my brothers, but I’m so much happier down there. I get to see all of my friends on the regular and go to ALL of the shows.

After Warner, I spent a month back at home and learned that my dad needed a triple heart bypass, which came out of the blue for everyone, because he’s so actively fit, but he made a full recovery. :)

I then managed to get an internship with Last.fm. I couldn’t believe my luck and it was actually paid - pretty decently for an internship! I’ve been the biggest fan of that website for nearly six years, so getting to spend my summer there was unreal. I even got a red square. I was the ‘Artist and Label Support Intern’, where I, essentially, helped artists and labels with their Last.fm woes. There were times where I did even more mundane work than at Warner, but I’m still grateful for everything. The life of an intern isn’t supposed to be glamorous! Getting a behind-the-scenes look everyday and working with people who were all genuine music lovers was wonderful.

While I was happy at Last.fm, ‘home life’ wasn’t exactly great during the last month and a bit down there. I stayed at Nellie’s for the first month, then decided it was time to move on – probably not the best decision. I went on to stay in Sutton and I’ve never felt so emotionally drained in my life. Luckily, a load of friends pulled through and made my final weeks absolutely amazing, and I’m still SO thankful.

Aside from interning, 2011 will be remembered for meeting so many great people with some becoming my closest friends (‘sup, Chris Marshman?), all the sick shows I went to (my TOP 5), my self-destruction by mosh (broken finger, rib, nose, infected leg, countless bruises, ha) and my first FEST!

My goal for 2012 is to move down to London permanently and secure a proper job. I’ve had a bunch of interviews lately and I have one in a couple of weeks, so hopefully something will come along soon. :)

All in all, the best year of my life!

So, after forcing myself to wake up early, staring my phone down all day, feeling sick with nerves and not being able to focus on anything, I finally got a call from Stefan (Head of Music at Last.fm) at half six telling me I got the Artist & Label Support Internship!!!

They had interviewed four other people for the position and with it being so late, I really didn’t think I’d get it, I was so shocked. I was literally just screeching and blurting out any random words to him down the phone, and probably making him regret his decision. Just couldn’t believe it!

I’m so, so happy! I start next Monday. I really have no idea how I manage to score these things, first Warner and now Last.fm! It’s also paid (not full pay, but good enough!) and there’s a possibility of permanent employment after the three months, really hoping this is my chance to finally make a home in London.

So, my interview for the ‘artist and label support’ internship at Last.fm is confirmed for Friday at 4:30pm. Really, really stoked about it!

Also, just been on the phone to my dad, turns out he’s having his triple heart bypass tomorrow. Shiiit!

My dad rang earlier from Bristol to say he’s been in hospital for the past week, because he has coronary heart disease and needs to have a triple heart bypass. Yep. Completely out of the blue! It’s even more mental because he’s really actively fit (actually no hope for me!), so it just doesn’t make sense. When I was on the phone to him he had to put it down for a few minutes to get his blood pressure taken! He seems to be dealing with it well and should be ok after the operation and three-months recovery. He doesn’t know when the operation will be though, he’s on the waiting list, but is a priority patient since he’s in hospital, so hopefully by the end of the week. Things like this just really put things in perspective and right before Father’s Day, fucking hell. 

In better news, I received a voicemail and it was a guy from Last.fm! I applied for an ‘artist and label support’ internship a while ago and he got back saying I’m invited for an interview on Thursday or Friday. I tried to ring back, but it was like 8pm and he didn’t pick up, so will ring tomorrow to try get more details! I’m really stoked about it, I’m such a nerd for Last.fm, I’ve been a subscriber for over 3-years and I actually can’t think of anything better than having a red square on my profile picture to show I’m a staff member!!! It’s unpaid again, but I think I can financially stretch another three months down there, that’s if I’m welcome at Nellie’s again… I’m just worried because I stayed there for the whole three months while I was interning at Warner for free and to ask her parents again just seems like a bit of a pisstake. I think I was alright to live with, haha, but I can totally understand if they want space, will be a massive bummer, though!