Despite not being able to play music together for the better part of two months our Level 3 Music students have been making the most of lockdown by focusing on releasing music via the College record label, Brainworks.

So far they have put out five releases during lockdown which have amassed over 50,000 plays across streaming platforms. Many of the songs have been played on BBC radio introducing and written about on music blogs. The students have really capitalized on peoples want for music whilst stuck indoors and have generated artwork, marketing plans and industry contacts all from their rooms and zoom label meetings.

One real success has been second-year student Rhiannon Eagle, whose debut single reached the top 60 of the iTunes rock chart. At one point nestled between Linkin Park and The Beatles.

The record label also started its own weekly podcast, which invites guests from the industry to talk about their careers and offer advice to young musicians. The highlight so far being Grammy-nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda.

With many areas of education struggling to keep students engaged during this period of isolation and remote learning, the College record label has been a hugely beneficial tool in keeping our students positive, engaged and focused and working daily with their lecturers and the industry they want to enter into.

With more to come before the end of term, the Bridgwater & Taunton College students aren’t letting a global pandemic get in the way of creating and releasing great music. Here is a compilation of this year’s releases.