Meet Sheila DeMoura | Artist Management & Label Consulting

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

Hi Sheila, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

It honestly just happened by accident! Artists began approaching me asking me to manage them once I started working at a Brooklyn based label called Cinematic, which was my first full-time job in the music industry. Prior to that I had interned at WMG in NYC, Preach Mgmt, and 95.5 WBRU while I obtained a degree in Sports and Entertainment/Event Management at Johnson & Wales. While at Cinematic, I ended up managing Leah Kate on the side for about a year before getting hired by a music group called Heroic based in the Netherlands which operated as a management company, label, and publisher. They managed acts like San Holo, DROELOE, Taska Black, and released records from artists like Ark Patrol, Fytch, Steve James, and etc. I was hired to manage their clients Unlike Pluto and why mona, while also operating as the Head of Marketing for their label. This was basically my bootcamp for learning everything I know about the music business as the company was an independent label that did everything in house – I ran in house PR, radio campaigns, digital marketing, handled A&R, distribution, and etc. It was a great learning experience for me but I actually left that company after COVID and moved to LA to pursue management full time. I realized that management was my true passion, that Heroic wasn’t a long term sustainable company (they ended up selling shortly after I left), and that I wanted to try to live on the west coast after being locked inside for a year.

In LA I became a day to day manager for bbno$, Jaymes Young, Mako, Diamond Pistols, Space Rangers, The Crystal Method, Latroit, and etc. under Conrad Shoenleber and Richard Bishop. I also was independently managing rei brown, Stephen, and Crywolf on the side. At that time I didn’t launch a name for my business, but really started in full swing back then in 2021. With this day to day job I worked on bbno$’s multi-platinum hit “Edamame ft. Rich Brian” and helped lead the independent international marketing campaign with mtheory for that record (he isn’t with a major label) which further developed my understanding for international music marketing. Unfortunately bbno$ and Jaymes Young ended up leaving Conrad who I worked for, so my ‘on the side’ management became my full time job at the start of 2024 when he had to let me go. From here I branded my management services to Inevitable Artists. The management roster included VOILA, rei brown, Leah Kate, and Arkane Skye, and the consulting roster included Latroit, Crywolf, ANTAGONIZER, Stephen, Harrisun, Roniit, Emilee Moore, and more. After only a few months of being independent, bbno$’s new managers sent me an offer to rejoin his project as a manager instead of a day to day, and to bring my roster under their larger company. Although I loved being fully independent, I also really missed being a part of a team like I was when I was with Heroic. So I am now a Talent Manager at Right Click Culture where my management roster includes bbno$, Leah Kate, rei brown, and Arkane Skye. I still consult artists and do some day to day work under Inevitable on the side as well 🙂

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Many people don’t even know this about me but I actually only started working in music because I was too afraid to be an artist myself. I was in choir and Theater in high school and have been singing since before I could talk. I was the lead singer in a metal band called Loophole when I was 18. We had an album out called Who Needs Therapy. From there I decided to try out for The Voice but completely choked during the audition. This made me believe that I never would have what it takes to be an artist. At the time I didn’t realize that many artists aren’t actually good singers, and some never even perform or tour. I didn’t know back then how many ways you can exist in the world as an artist, and that you don’t need to follow the traditional roadmap. You can still make a great living off of art and/or music just from sheer dedication and pursuit. Anyone can do anything with enough time and attention. So I stopped making music for 6-7 years until I moved to LA from NYC. I slowly started making music in LA again since I was surrounded by so many amazing creatives, so it became a lot easier. I have made many half finished demos by now and I still am searching for my sound , ut I do intend to release something this July 2024 – My artist name will be esnse  So look out for it soon!

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.
Honestly I’ve only been in LA for almost 3 years and feel like I have a lot more to explore. From what I know, I’d take them to Venice beach and/or Matador Beach in Malibu, hiking Tuna Canyon Topanga, and thrift shopping at Hidden Treasures in Topanga, the Goodwill Bills, and/or Melrose Trading Post. For food I’d take them to some of my quick and simple favorites – Homestate, Kreation, and Muddy Paw coffee. I’d also love to show them Huntington Library and Forest Lawn. For bars I’d bring them to Break Room 86, no Vacancy, and Zebulon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shout out Jeffrey Yau (Broken Levee). I still co-manage rei brown with him and honestly can credit most of my music knowledge to him. When I took the job at Heroic I had no idea what it meant to be a good manager or how to market records and run a label. He taught me so much and honestly is one of my biggest inspirations. I’d also love to shout out Jay Cohen (Preach Records) who was a mentor to me early on and provided me with one of my first internship experiences in artist management. He’s stayed a friend through my journey and is always there for any advice when I need it!

Website: https://www.inevitableartists.art/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheila.demoura/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilademoura/

Image Credits
Harrison Lombardo