We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emma Neveux a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Emma thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
About four years ago, I co-founded an international artist collective called The Kumo Collective. Our mission is to create a creative hub that celebrates artistic expression in all its forms under one umbrella. As an emerging global art curator, we showcase music, visual art, and fashion/design. We’ve established ourselves across Europe, Asia, and America, hosting events, pop-ups, interviews, merch drops, and more – all while staying true to our core principles as a media platform supporting emerging artists.
This project is both a passion and a professional endeavor for me. It allows me to champion up-and-coming artists who often struggle to be heard in today’s overwhelming media landscape. I love uncovering fresh, unexpected talent and staying ahead of the curve of the creative industry by blending various artistic mediums. I believe that what makes us unique is our holistic approach. We treat each art form in its own right, while also exploring how they intersect with others. By connecting artists from different cultures and interests, we aim to create one-of-a-kind, hybrid live experiences in global cities like Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Brussels.
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By Offering artists a diverse platform with resources and the freedom to express themselves has shown me how much potential emerging can have when they are able to fully embrace their passion projects and how important it is to work alongside them to help them reach their full potential. I’ve realized that artist development isn’t just about creating quality content—it’s about nurturing the artistic ambition, encouraging them to think outside the box, and helping them push boundaries to be heard. Being part of this process, guiding and empowering artists, has been the most rewarding and educational experience and definitely shaped the way I approach the music industry.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’ve always had a passion for the creative arts—whether it was dance, music, or visual art. I found myself naturally drawn to artists and their work, intrigued by how creative projects come to life and grow. I loved how an artist’s song could shape my mood, and even turn my day around. Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t particularly focused on anything too “academic” in school. My attention was always either fully captured by something I cared about or completely elsewhere. The “standard” academic path just never sparked my interest in the same way.
After high school, I went on to pursue further studies—pretty standard stuff—but I never really imagined merging my passion for the arts with my career. Not because I was scared, which I think happens to a lot of people, but simply because I didn’t know where to start. Growing up, I feel like we’re often handed a roadmap to more traditional corporate careers, but there’s no handbook or guidance on how to break into the creative side of industries like entertainment. And now that I’m right in the middle of it, I realize it’s because there is no “roadmap.” The music and entertainment industry is so fast-paced and unpredictable that it’s more about being in the right place at the right time and carving your own path. It’s less about earning degrees or mastering specific skills, and more about creating your own opportunities, building connections, and pushing forward in your own unique way. So that’s what I did, I made things happen for myself, one step at a time – I manifested my own path, made my own ‘coincidences’ happen one by one. I think the key takeaway is that it’s a long journey, and there are no set rules. You have to be ready for the ups and downs because it can be tough, mentally, to always feel like you’re chasing the next opportunity. But the rewards, when they come, are huge, and it’s a very “take it or leave it” kind of situation.
I took it all. I applied to a music business master’s program at BIMM Institute in London, where I got my first real glimpse of the industry and started to see where I could fit in. I made my first connections, both with artists and within the business side of the industry, and coincidentally, this is also when I co-founded The Kumo Collective. That project came about from simply following artists, reaching out, and sharing ideas. It was a long shot, but here we are four years later, so I guess it was worth it!
From there, I doubled down on my commitment to this career path. I pursued a second master’s at Berklee College of Music, and that’s where everything started to come together. It was a pivotal year for me, where I learned about parts of the industry I didn’t even know existed, saw how all the different roles fit together, and made some really valuable connections. My journey took me from Paris to London, Australia, Spain, and eventually to Los Angeles, where I’ve been living for the past two years.
I started as an intern at a creative agency, determined to make the most of my time here. I took on internships at different music companies and put my name and ideas out there every chance I got. It all led me to an amazing opportunity at Create Music Group, where I now work as a Music Creative Services Specialist for their media and marketing agency, Flighthouse.
What I’m most grateful for is that all the little steps I took, all the connections I made, and all the artists I followed eventually paid off. I landed at a company that works with both renowned and independent artists across various genres, and I get to use my creativity every day. It feels like a culmination of everything I’ve built up, blending my entrepreneurial knowledge from running The Kumo Collective with the more structured environment of Create Music Group. It’s been incredibly rewarding to bring my vision and experiences to the table in a place that values creativity and innovation.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
One of the aspects of the music industry that I’m most passionate about is guiding artists’ projects and helping them come to life. There’s something very rewarding about working closely with an artist, seeing their project evolve from an idea into something that takes on a life of its own. For me, it’s essential to be involved from start to finish, ensuring the project aligns with the artist’s vision and goals. Having a hand in shaping both the creative direction and the strategy behind an artist’s development gives me a sense of fulfillment I haven’t found elsewhere. A win for them feels like a win for me, and knowing I contributed to the final outcome of a great creative project is something I take immense pride in.
What makes it special is that it bridges my love for creativity with the more strategic, business side of the industry. I believe a big focus in today’s music scene is on empowering artists, helping them navigate the chaos around them and guiding them through the challenges that come with creativity. Being able to assist them in bringing their boldest ideas to life is not just about helping them, but also about fulfilling my own passion for being part of larger, meaningful creative projects.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I’m a big believer in scrolling through socials and letting the unexpected find you. It might sound a bit cliché, but we’re fortunate to have tools like these, with endless search engines and feeds that serve up content tailored to our interests. The internet, especially for creatives and artists, can feel like a goldmine if you know how to use it. Whether it’s finding inspiration, staying on top of trends, understanding what listeners are into, or discovering new niche artists, you can get a lot out of those hours spent scrolling on your phone.
Podcasts are another great resource for me, especially when it comes to understanding the business side of the industry. I love hearing career stories and how artists have navigated their way through the industry, it helps me reflect on my own journey and decide what paths I might want to follow or avoid.
And of course, to keep feeding my passion for the music industry and remind myself why I jumped into this world in the first place, I try to attend live shows whenever I can. There’s something about immersing yourself in the experience, both as a fan and a professional, that gives you a 360-degree view of the creative process. It’s a great way to stay connected to the audience and keep that sense of passion alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kumorecords.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma.__.neveux/?hl=fr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-neveux-00aa96190/
