Meet Emma Neveux | Co-founder of The Kumo Collective, Head of A&R, Artist Management and Event departments

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emma Neveux and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emma, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I am music enthusiast with a global footprint as I’ve had the chance to travel almost all around the world. My journey in the music industry has been as diverse and very enriching. Having lived in dynamic cities like Paris, London, Melbourne, Valencia, and Los Angeles, my exposure to varied cultures has significantly shaped my music taste and practice. My drive and passion for the world of entertainment and creatives, particularly music, are at the center of my professional career but also my personal and daily interests. This tapestry of experiences has affected not only my musical taste, but also my overall approach to the arts and entertainment industry. Living in these varied cultural hubs exposed me to a wide range of musical styles and artistic expressions, which greatly enhanced my understanding and appreciation of the creative arts.

I was drawn to the arts from a young age and actively participated in music, dance, and visual arts. This early devotion paved the way for what would become a distinguishing aspect of my professional and personal life. I pursued formal education in music management business and entertainment, earning two master’s degrees one from the BIMM Institute in London and another from Berklee College of Music. These academic studies did more than just improve my knowledge; they broadened my professional network and equipped me with the ability to co-found an launch the Kumo Collective, an international artist collective that promotes the collaboration and visibility of young talents all around the world.

The Kumo Collective has become a symbol of my dedication to nurturing artistic talent, organising events from Paris to Tokyo to Los Angeles and Brussels, and creating environments in which artists may grow and express themselves freely. The Kumo Collective is an independent artist collective that prides itself on the international scope of its members. The goal is to create an artistic hub, which celebrates expression in its different forms, all united under one umbrella. Our roaster includes artist with French/UK rap influences to house/DJ artists all the way across more soul/funk influenced artists.  I have over the few years, organised several international events across the globe (Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles & Brussels). Our events take shape in different formats from: visual art exhibition, to artists workshops and panels talks, to music artist live performances and DJ sets.

My passion extends beyond just music creation; I am deeply invested in the growth and development of artists. I aim to assist them in expanding their craft and finding them opportunities to perform, leveraging my extensive network and industry knowledge to open new doors for them. Over the past 18 months, I have embarked on a new venture, managing two DJ/Producers based in LA—SOIRE (American) and Toola (Egyptian).

This hands-on attitude, as well as the mantra of “learning by doing,” have not only guided my career path but also had a significant impact on my everyday character. Exploring business and personal ventures has greatly moulded my journey through the difficult world of music and the wider creative industry. These experiences have widened my creative and business networks, challenged and developed my social and communication abilities, and improved my ability to think on my feet. Constantly striving to think beyond the box, I’ve developed a self-sufficient, proactive approach to work problems and opportunities.My idea of direct engagement with the world around me has had a tremendous impact on both my professional identity and my personal life. My foreign experiences are more than just a reflection of my history; they are the foundation of who I am today, an advocate for artistic expression and a creator of possibilities for creativity to thrive.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The Kumo Collective is an independent artist collective that prides itself on the international scope of its members. We are a multimedia platform built by, and created for, emerging independent artists. Our goal is to develop an artistic hub that celebrates expression in its myriad forms, all united under one domain. We feature and reunite a music department, a visual art department as well as a design/fashion department. We believe that for any creative performance, hard work & dedication are a necessity, but far too often hard work doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves: this is why KUMO exists. We work alongside artists, helping them develop individually, and as members of our collective, to achieve each and everyone owns self-defined definitions of success. Launching this collective and building this community of creative has been an amazing learning experience and an invaluable both professional and personal experience. Our goal of creating this worldwide creative network has organically flourished on its own and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing artists and creatives collaborate across borders and mediums. They have enabled us to put on projects and events that we would have never thought of and that in capacities exceeded our hopes and dreams. There is always challenges when launching an ambitious project like this and, for sure many more to come, but each challenge has been in a way a gateway to new opportunities and discoveries. Penetrating across borders and cultures is not always easy, but we have found that artistic mediums really facilitated this process. Our international exposure and openness gave us the tools to discover exciting creatives and most importantly gave us the tools to benefit our artists in a way that was not offered to them yet. Being able to bring opportunities to artists that surpass their initial creative vision and geographical reach, opened not only their audience exposure but expanded their own creative practices.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If we’re talking about Los Angeles, I would make sure that my friend gets the 360 experience of Los Angeles, meaning she gets to experience its diversity: from urban to more beach sceneries to more deserty spots, I truly believe there is something for everyone here. The arts district would definitely be a strong recommendation of mine in terms of eating spots, it’s really buzzing right now with cool conceptual restaurants and bars that can satisfy all of your cravings. I’d make sure we check out all events that’d be lined up across the week/ weekend – especially when summer is around the corner, festival seasons and outdoors DJ events are really popping off, so there’s barely anytime to rest.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I definitely need to give a huge shoutout to my entire team at The Kumo Collective. Without them, the projects we’re working on today wouldn’t be possible. A special mention to Christopher Sam, Katarina Mladenovic, Alfred Bouvier, and Jeanne Godeneche, my direct partners, who have been crucial in launching and managing the collective up until today.I also want to recognize all the amazing volunteers and everyone who has contributed, from artists to admins to professional collaborators across various projects who have believed in us and gave us a chance to produce our project alongside their names. Their support has been invaluable.

A heartfelt thanks also to the mentors, both academic and professional, who have taught me everything I know and equipped me with the tools to venture into this industry on my own. As well as a big shoutout to all my fellow classmates.

Lastly, a special shoutout to my parents and family. They gave me the initial push and the resources I needed to pursue this adventure. Not everyone has the chance to build a life around their passion projects, and I could never have started this journey without their unwavering support and help.

Website: https://kumorecords.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.__.neveux/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-neveux-00aa96190/