Bjuum time here for sonic siblings?

4:27pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

It's all about the music for Bradford record label Bjuum.

There's nothing swish about Bjuum's headquarters, occupying a corner of a former Bradford textile mill, because siblings Eddie and Martha Kean and the rest of the team behind the recently-launched label just want to be heard - and they have taken a bold step to achieve their aim.

The musical outfit behind Bjuum (pronounced biyoom') are eager to provide a platform for Bradford's musical talent, with the hope of nurturing some big Bradford names of the future to rival the likes of New Model Army, Smokie, Kimberley Walsh, Terrorvision and Tasmin Archer.

Eddie, a drummer, music producer and DJ, and vocalist Martha, who are part of electronic dance outfit La La And The Booya, founded the label after looking for an outlet for their own left field' material.

Eddie says their eclectic mix of electronic folk, reggae, drum and bass doesn't fit into a particular genre, which is why they had difficulty attracting a major label to promote their music.

So they decided to do it themselves, albeit on a smaller scale, through their own imprint.

Eddie met fellow Bjuum founder Ross Elliott while working on a project teaching young offenders to write music. Ross's girlfriend, Emma Gregg, brought her skills to Bjuum as a graphic artist.

Martha met Simon Mawson while working in a local bar and, through him, met Rob Heaton, the late New Model Army drummer and originator of Fresh Milk, another concept that Bjuum is supporting.

The Fresh Milk Collective - run separately from Bjuum but in the same workspace - is a website directory of Bradford gig listings and music shops.

The first collaboration was a gig to commemorate the first anniversary of Rob's death. "And we carried on doing stuff," says Martha.

"We wanted to continue his legacy which is why we use the Fresh Milk name. It's really a hats off to him."

Adds Eddie: "It's about giving the Bradford music scene a kick up the bum and supporting and encouraging it as much as possible."

The team is currently applying for funding. They have organised a few gigs through Bradford Council and Martha and Eddie performed at last year's Lord Mayor's parade and Stir Festival.

They are looking at other ways they can get involved in community projects.

Running Fresh Milk and supporting local bands through Bjuum such as Synthia, originally from Bradford, and Monte Casino, a band Eddie tips to be future Brit Award contenders, gives them little time to promote their own material, although they have been heard on digital radio.

"We've had a bit on BBC Radio 6," says Martha. "But we're so busy with everything else we don't spend time promoting ourselves."

There was a time when local bands were snapped up by record company talent scouts. These days internet social networking websites such as MySpace have broadened opportunities for bands to get their music known.

Bands such as the Arctic Monkeys were catapulted from obscurity to stardom after listeners tapped into their tracks on the internet.

Martha and Eddie and the team at Bjuum are optimistic about Bradford's current music scene and are confident that a Bradford band will make it big.

Over the next few months the siblings who, along with other members of their musically-minded family sport bass clef tattoos as a symbol of their passion, are releasing their first single.

They tell me that music is in the genes.

Their grandfather was a music teacher and their mother's six brothers are all into music in some way. One is a jazz pianist, one was a roadie and another runs a music studio.

Martha says she can play a few instruments to a mediocre' level but vocals are her main thing. "We've always sung and I really started going for it when I left home at 17 and went to Ireland," she says. "I busked my way around Ireland for the experience and started experimenting with my voice."

She and Eddie had already collaborated on their own material, and when Martha returned home she decided to pursue it more seriously.

"We've always been involved in musical projects but the thing that really gave me the kick up the bum was when I became a mum," says Martha.

Has her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Ace, inherited the family's musical gene? "He is a good mover!" she laughs.

Martha and Eddie are eagerly awaiting the launch of their first single.

"I have faith in Bradford," says Martha, adding: "I'd like to write a classic track which brings in enough to keep me ticking over in the hills somewhere!"

"Music is a passion and we know we will be passionate about it for the rest of our lives," says Eddie.

"I can remember our uncle once saying something along the lines of, If you had a religion, music would be it.' We certainly believe in it," concludes Martha.

• For more about Bjuum visit freshmilkcollective.org

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