Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emmanuelle Gabarda. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Emmanuelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’m from the south of France and moved to Glasgow in 2017. Scottish people are so welcoming, this country instantly felt like home.
I’m a professional singer, but I went back to studies in 2018 to become a publicist.
Most people in Scotland are against Brexit, and when it happened, I was looking for a way to keep the connection alive between Scotland and France. Both countries have history in common – for example they formed the Auld Alliance.
That’s when I thought about starting a business in PR, specialising in promoting French artists in Scotland and vice versa.
I speak French and English, I love both cultures and I have a good understanding of how to market music according to French and British people’s habits. I loved the idea of acting as a bridge between France and Scotland.
As for the name of my business, L’Ode Rose, I wanted to honour Dolores O’Riordan’s memory (the lead singer of
The Cranberries).
L’Ode Rose is the anagram of Dolores (plus one “e”).
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’ve always wanted to be a publicist. In fact, when I was 18, I applied in a college in Montpellier, south of France to become one. Unfortunately, my grades were not good enough so I didn’t get in. Then I found a band and as I had more and more gigs, I just went with the flow.
As a professional singer, I had to do promotion for myself and my gigs. And after 14 years as a singer, I needed to challenge myself.
I remembered what my dream job was as a teenager and went back to study to start a career in public relations.
I work in the music industry, and I’m basically the link between artists and the media.
My job is to help artists build a strong fan base and raise their profile through interviews, radio plays, reviews etc…
Though I specialise in promoting French artists in Scotland and vice versa, I also run PR campaigns in the UK or France exclusively.
I also offer YouTube advertising campaigns to boost followers and views.
I started L’Ode Rose PR a year ago, and it’s been an amazing first year. I’m still building my network, yet I secured coverage in major publications and radio stations in France and Scotland – Amazing Radio, RTL2, The Scotsman, The Daily Record etc…
It gave me confidence. I’m a passionate and hard-working person but a confidence boost is always welcome as I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome – like a lot of people in the music industry!
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I was very lucky to have talented artists trusting me as I started navigating my new career as a publicist.
For example, the Scottish artist Megan Black already had a strong community made up of both fans and media professionals when I started working with her. So it made me legit.
I’m very grateful for these kinds of opportunities I had in my first year working in PR.
Also, I think that me being very transparent with what I think I can or cannot do helps establish trust.
If I feel a project is not for me, I won’t take it.
Also, I would never say to someone: “I guarantee 10 articles and 15 radio plays”.
You can never guarantee anything, since you don’t pay people to talk about your clients.
I will always go the extra mile to achieve the best results but external factors also play a part in the success of a campaign- the journalist’s availability and tastes, the time of year (releasing music in summer isn’t ideal with people being on holidays) etc…
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I graduated in Music Business during the pandemic. It was extremely challenging to finish the course, being so isolated and with my emotions being all over the place due to lockdown, but I’m proud I didn’t give up!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.loderosepr.com
- Instagram: @loderosepr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/l-ode-rose/
- Twitter: @loderosepr
Image Credits
Megan Black – Full Circle part 1 (photo 7) Credit: Charli Morachnick