West Management
Co-founded by Marc Picken, West Management represents artists including Massive Attack, Young Fathers, Soulwax, Richard Russell and producer Marcus Dravs.
My role
I've worked on and off with West since 1996, helping articulate artist visions for creative, commercial, and financial partners, co-commissioning and co-creating music videos and content, introducing collaborators, providing research, and exploring innovative opportunities and partnerships inside and outside of music.
‘90s
First collaborated with West while working with the legendary Carole Burton Fairbrother (IYKYK) at Virgin Records, on all videos for Mezzanine: Teardrop (d: Walter Stern), Angel (d: Walter Stern), Inertia Creeps (d: W.I.Z.), and Risingson (d: Walter Stern). Also commissioned videos for artists on Massive Attack's Melankolic label - Alpha, Day One, Craig Armstrong, and Sunna.
‘10s
Reconnected with West in 2013, co-commissioning and creatively EP'ing videos for We Are Shining (Acyde & Morgan Zarate's genius but short-lived outfit): The Wheel (d: Carl Addy), Killing Me (d: Ed Morris), Road (d: Carl Addy).
In 2015/16, I did the same for Massive Attack's Ritual Spirit and The Spoils EPs: Voodoo in My Blood (d: Ringan Ledwidge), Come Near Me (d: Ed Morris). Massive Attack won Video Artist of the Year at the UK Music Video Awards that year (2016).
Also commissioned and EP'd Mad Lifeline (d: Ed Morris) for 3D's Battlebox imprint, featuring Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio). Exhibited at the Hammer Museum of Modern Art, LA.
In 2018, co-wrote and EP'd Young Fathers' In My View (d: Jack Whiteley). Young Fathers won Video Artist of the Year that year (2018). I also commissioned and EP’d, Jake Hart’s That Touch (d: Yousef Eldin)
‘20s
Worked with Robert Del Naja, helping crystallise and articulate his creative visions for partners, broadcasters, and financiers. Projects ranged from an AI-driven reimagining of the Strauss opera Elektra to various film and tech ideas.
Also provided research for Soulwax, Young Fathers, Richard Russell and others. I continue to collaborate with West artists and managers on all sorts of stuff, from making to thinking to connecting.
“Andy is a brilliant creative and strategic collaborator and has been for years. He’s empathetic and patient with artists and can get the best out of them. He also knows a shit tonne of people who trust and like him across many different fields. That’s so useful. His network and frames of reference are ridiculously deep and broad.”
Marc Picken (Founder, West Management)