Darren Branch
Involving Music is focused on Exeter and works across the Southwest of England. We connect people to music through grassroots venues, rehearsal spaces, music businesses, e.g. record shops and digital platforms. Our work happens where musicians and audiences naturally gather, ensuring that independent artists and venues get the visibility they deserve.
What do you do?
Involving Music is all about connection. We promote and support independent musicians, venues and music businesses in the Southwest, providing them tools, exposure and opportunities. This might be through our events calendar, social media, or in-person collaborations, we help people discover and connect with local music in meaningful ways.
Give us a bite-sized history of your event/organisation
Born in Honiton, I was part of the English West Coast Music scene of the late eighties / early nineties. Based out of Daylight Recording Studio, I spent my free time helping and promoting musicians. Fast-forward thirty-five years, and I find a thriving music scene and extended community here in the Southwest that I'd also like to be part of. Involving Music has developed into a hub for music promotion and partnership, and after two years of preparation and investment, the public-facing launch will begin this summer.
Who do you work with and why?
Involving Music works with a wide range of individuals and organisations, including independent artists, promoters, venues, studios and local businesses. We partner with anyone who values the cultural value of independent music. This mix of people and perspectives creates a sense of momentum and shared wnership. The result is more visibility for musicians and meaningful experiences for those who support them.
Name one thing that would make your life easier as an artist or arts organiser.
Access to sustainable income without diluting the vision or compromising the audience experience.
And what keeps you going when things get tough?
The connections we make. Hearing artists say that our support made a difference, that they loved the write-up we did on their recent gig, when gig goers thank us for connecting them to their new favourite band, or walking into a venue and feeling the energy of a performance we helped promote. Those moments remind us why we do this: to keep music and the people behind it alive.
Talk us through a favourite project or piece OR Tell us what a typical month/event/show looks like?
A typical month includes liaising with artists and venues, tracking new releases, prepping social content, and finalising Spotify and YouTube playlists. The calendar shifts around festivals, album drops, and sudden opportunities. Some days are spent deep in strategy, others out at gigs or talking with collaborators. The work moves between online platforms and real-world spaces but stays rooted in the same idea — music is about connection.
What does the next year look like for you?
This year's primary focus is launching our new Involving Music website, which will offer an enhanced user experience, a more accessible events calendar and better tools to help artists, venues and music businesses connect with their audiences. We’re also excited to be involved in Exeter’s June Boom and will continue to showcase local talent through our platform.
What’s been the best moment for you or your group in the last year?
Being invested in Involving Music full-time, having Chelsea and Georgia on the journey as integral parts of Team IM, hearing the first bit of feedback from someone who saw themselves on the Involving Music platform, and being invited into spaces like this newsletter confirm that our direction is on track.
In what ways are you helping to put Exeter on the cultural map, nationally or internationally?
Involving Music amplifies the creativity happening in Exeter through storytelling, partnerships, and digital content designed for discovery. The plan is to surface more artists to national audiences through targeted content.
What if ….?
Introductions to organisations working in other regions would create more movement for the artists supported by Involving Music. Support with cross-sector collaboration inside the city would also be valuable, linking music to other parts of Exeter's cultural identity. The goal is a connection that leads somewhere.
How do we find out more?
Website: www.involvingmusic.com
Instagram: @involvingmusic
YouTube: @Involving Music
Email: hello@involvingmusic.com
And tell us about any events/gigs/workshops/etc you’ve got coming up that we can flag up to readers!
Involving Music's full website launch is scheduled for the end of June 2025. Coverage and features will run throughout the Exeter June Boom, with special artist interviews and related content going live across channels.