JAKE SHILLINGFORD
Jake Shillingford is a singer/songwriter and founder of the cult orchestral alternative band My Life Story. A key player during the Britpop years, the 12-piece released 3 albums (2 on Parlaphone), countless singles and achieved 6 top 40 hits in the UK.
When sales declined and MLS were dropped by Parlaphone, they managed to push out one further album in 1998 on independent IT Records, also releasing the first ever internet only single. It seemed that Shillingfords artistic days could be numbered however he has been able to continue earn a living producing music to this day due to tapping into the power of his fans.
Shillingford has released two dark electronic pop albums under the name ExileInside through his own imprint Exilophone Records which owes its existence to a small team of private backers: called the /Investor Angels. The investment scheme is based on the traditional notion of patronage common throughout European cultural history where benefactors would subsidise artistic creation.
Over the past 5 years the Angels have made financial contributions in order for Jake to record, manufacture and release music as well as tour and promote current material. We have replaced the traditional role of the record company with our fans enabling us to run our own genuinely independent label.
The Exilophone mantra is: MADE FOR THE PEOPLE: PAID FOR BY THE PEOPLE
After a 6-year hiatus, Jake reformed My Life Story in 2006 to promote a ‘best of album’ released through his fan funded label. Jake is currently recording a fan funded album under his own name. Jake also lectures on the virtues of autonomy in the music industry from esteemed venues such as the ICA to The Brighton Institute of Modern Music.