Having successfully sold 2000 pre-order copies of her debut album, Verity was looking for a way to reward the fans that supported her in the journey. The limited edition release of ‘Journey’ included two bonus tracks as well as an interactive CD-ROM as a second disc. I developed the CD-ROM in Adobe Flash to showcase Verity‘s music and present fans with bonus videos, photographs and information about the difference the artist has made through her Live Your Dreams Foundation as well as other charities.

The CD-ROM was packaged with 2000 limited edition copies of Journey and shipped to fans across the world.

Tomorrow will be my last day in the Musketeer office. I am off to London for love, fame and fortune.

The last three years at Musketeer have been an incredible experience. I was able to work with a diverse range of artists from new acts to well established ones.

Here are a few of the highlights:

* Launching the very promising career of our pop-starlet Jessika.
* Receiving a SAMA nomination for our first jazz act; The Dan Wilson Mark Huggett Project.
* Finally signing Heroes Wear Red (even if I’m not here to promote the album).
* Making Fevertree impossible to ignore with incredible press coverage, a UK tour and massive performances at Coke Fest, Fall Out Boy and Ellis Park.
* Passing out in Seether’s dressing room while Metallica was on stage at the first Coke Fest tour in Cape Town.
* Seeing my photos appear in numerous publications (even if I wasn’t always credited for them).
* Getting Ian Henderson playlisted on every regional station without having to beg and pester music managers.
* Hearing the crowd sing along during 12th Avenue’s performance on the Seether tour.
* Working closely with Tuks FM for the awesome launch of Scarlet Box’s second album.
* Abusing my position in the music industry to start a backyard festival called JawFest with my mates.
* Working with the inspiring Verity and creating her limited edition multimedia CD.
* Releasing the greatest hits of one of my all-time favourite bands; Sugardrive.
* Replacing our monstrosity of a website with the sexy new www.musketeer.co.za
* Helping Seether earn their first local gold record, first SAMA, first MAMA and first sold-out arena tour.

It has been an incredible journey.

Thank you to all of you in the media for your support.

My duties will be taken over by David Elstins (a good friend, colleague and professional Englishman) and Gavin Wienand (the new guy that is already a legend in the SA music industry).

I’d like to extent an enormous thank you to Peter Lacey. Always more than a boss, as a mentor he gave me the encouragement and freedom to strive for greatness.

Back in 2005 he was the only man in the music industry willing to invest in the potential of a young campus radio DJ. I will always be grateful for that!

In parting I would like to leave you with a photo of my proudest accomplishment. Here I am grinning like an idiot with the award presented to me for gold certified sales of Seether’s latest album. May Musketeer Records have many more gold and platinum albums in the future.

So long, and thanks for all the fish

Paul Harold Seele
——————————-
Paul Seele
Head of Marketing – Musketeer Records
www.musketeer.co.za

In 2006 Verity launched the Lucky Packet Project to achieve her dreams. The ambitious singer would sell her album before it had even been written, a rare feat for established artists, let alone a debut release. Verity calculated that she would have to sell 2000 albums to cover the costs of creating it and off she went to gather the funding one CD sale at a time. Purchasing an advance copy of the album made fans part of the decision making processes in creating the album. Almost three years later 2000 people have made history as future owners of “Journey”; the debut album by Verity.

While Verity’s story is fascinating, it should not distract listeners from the fact that she has produced an outstanding collection of powerful songs. “Journey” is clearly a personal album, dealing with love, loss, insecurity, power and self-actualisation.  Verity enlisted a range of musicians from across the continent to perform on the album. The result is a beautifully mature pop album with lyrical depth and distinct African musicality.

Listeners will find Verity’s very personal songs reassuringly familiar. Her knack for reflecting the human psyche is matched by her ability to inspire and encourage personal growth through songs like ‘Shine’, ‘Don’t Look Back’ and the first single ‘Angel’. “When we released it as the first single off the album,” Verity explains “it felt like ‘Angel’ was the perfect way to introduce my music, message and the journey I have been on to record this album for the world. For me personally, the song is about allowing the strength and beauty we have inside ourselves to shine beyond the fears that hold us back”.

Verity is a truly skilled song writer, presenting very personal experiences in songs that everyone can relate to. She once battled singing ‘Forever in Me’, a song about her father passing away, but the song has grown into a celebration of his memory. Verity says that the song now brings comfort to so many people, “I have been asked to sing it at a lot of memorials and once again have discovered that a song so personal for me has found a way of meaning so much to others.”

She may focus on important aspects of life but Verity has learnt not to take herself too seriously. ‘Love Is’ reflects Verity’s way of dealing with a break-up, “It allows me to have a little laugh about taking things so seriously and just get on with it and accept the way things are.” Similarly ‘Take You Back’ carries an important message in a fun, upbeat song, “This is my song for claiming back your power and walking away from things that no longer serve you.”

Verity’s positive message goes beyond her music. As an inspirational speaker and performer her unique approach to the music industry has made her an expert on the power of thinking and acting out the box.  Verity has shared the stage with top international speakers including Dr John Demaritini, Lisa Nichols, Mike Dooley, Patricia Glynn, Robin Banks and Bruce Muzik. As an ambassador for women empowerment and POWA, Verity has performed and spoken to thousands of women around South Africa, including the annual Women’s Show at CCTIC & Sandton Convention Centre, Lisa Nichols “Ladies Can We Talk” workshop and the GSB Women In Business Conference.

As a result of her work in the community, Verity was made an ambassador for education and as such has awarded 40 Intec Bursaries to deserving South Africans. She has toured with The Standard Bank Rocking Future Road Show and spoken and sang for more than 4500 Matriculants about the power of living their dreams. She has been interviewed by numerous TV shows including The Power Within, Etv Showbiz Report and more recently Morning Live and Carte Blanch. Verity has guest presented for Top Billing and has hosted and performed at the Media 24 Awards, Virgin Mobile Aids Day, The Red Cross Children’s Hospital R1mil Drive, CHOC, The Chaeli Campaign, Africa Institute for HIV/AIDS Management and The Saartjie Baartman Centre to name a few.

The Lucky Packet Project included far more than the recording of “Journey”. 10.6% of every album sold was split between two charities – POWA and the work they do to empower women and Verity’s own Live Your Dreams Foundation to uplift other South African artists. She sold over 2000 future copies in 25 countries around the world before going into studio and was able to pay for two artists to record demos, as well as furnish POWA’s shelters with linen and crockery and three fax machines for their offices. She recorded the album with top producers Paul McIver and Brian O’Shea at the end of 2007 and it released in July 2008 having already made music history.

Verity has kept all her supporters in the loop through her website (iamverity.com) and blog (iamverity.co.za). In July she posted the news that the album was ready to be released, “I feel very fortunate that the gamble I took in starting this project is paying off so amazingly. I have an incredible record label behind me now, a great web team, incredible family and friends, a super supportive boyfriend and 2000 people who are about to receive their CD’s that they helped me record!”

The 2000 future owners of “Journey” were rewarded with a limited edition version of the album. The future owner copies include two bonus tracks as well as a multimedia CD with photographs, videos, press clippings, lyrics and Verity’s comments on each song. The retail release of the album is already selling well through Musketeer Records.

Verity approached the music industry from such a unique angle that she now finds herself back at the start; promoting a brand new album. Yet Verity is starting with 2000 CDs already sold and a story like no other. “All in all as I near the end of the Lucky Packet Project I have to say that I am one very very lucky girl! Here’s to the next part of the adventure…”

Having answered her calling as an artist, Verity has embraced the world and committed to making a difference. Scratching the surface of her music reveals uplifting, positive songs but Verity is constantly proving that there’s far more to her than meets the eye.

Her debut album, developed over the last two years, sold 2000 copies before recording even started. Turning to the critics that matter most, Verity called on the general public to be a part of the creative process.

The journey in creating this album is apparent in the depth of Verity’s song-writing. Having learnt to channel and focus her inspiration, the artist recalls how the first single came to be.
“Angel” is the last song I wrote before going into studio to record my album. I dreamt the entire song one night and finished writing it within 10 minutes of waking up.

Verity’s contribution to the world runs even deeper than music. She is actively involved with worthy causes such as POWA (People Against Woman Abuse). Her journey as an actor and musician has equipped Verity with knowledge well worth sharing, making her renowned as an inspirational speaker.

Applying her talents further, Verity created the Live Your Dreams Foundation to develop aspiring artists and launch their careers. The foundation has already enabled two young singers to start living their dreams by recording their demos.

Helping others to live their dreams is an endeavor made possible only because Verity is working to achieve her own. She can inspire the strength within so many by turning inward as “Angel” clearly shows.

“For me personally, the song is about allowing the strength and beauty we have inside ourselves to shine beyond the fears that hold us back. It feels like “Angel” is the perfect way to introduce my music, message and the journey I have been on to record this album to the world.”

As Verity spreads her wings she is inspiring the world to fly with her.