Flick

Working with Impact30

When 29-year-old Duncan McBean heard about our IMPACT30 programme, he realised it was just what he needed to launch his record label. An experienced DJ, having played since he was 15 years old, he knew what he wanted to achieve with his label. But, as Duncan points out, you can only launch a record label once, which is where IMPACT30 comes in.

“I’ve never had business mentorship,” says Duncan. “I saw it and thought, ‘that’s exactly what I need to do’.” He applied online in February 2020 and was accepted in July of that year. FLICK was launched in October 2021.

From bedroom DJ to music producer 

Duncan, who lives in Forres, grew up in Elgin and attended high school there as a teen. He had an older group of friends who DJ’d, and he would watch them play and be transfixed. A chance trade of his motorcycle for someone else's old set of decks when he was 15 years old led to three years of practice alone in his room, honing his set and building his skills and confidence. He began by playing at friends' birthday parties before landing his first club gig at Joanna's, a nightclub in Elgin. Duncan then won a competition for a support slot at the Tunnels in Aberdeen, where his set was so well received that he was rebooked several times.

Duncan, who had an entrepreneurial streak from a young age, would run a bus from Elgin to Aberdeen on nights when he was performing at the Tunnels, filling it with other electronic music fans from his hometown. He now believes that this helped him get booked in the early days because the clubs were guaranteed not only a quality set but also a busload of customers who would arrive early and stay all night. Since then, he's been DJing on a regular basis, as well as running club nights in Forres and fostering a community of other local music fans.

In 2017, he began releasing his own music commercially. "It was great working with other labels and artists, but I wanted to put into practice everything I had learned over the years and release music on my own schedule,” Duncan says.

To follow FLICK’s progress, you can follow the label on Facebook and Bandcamp.

The future for Flick

Duncan launched his label with the release of a track of his own, and being a part of IMPACT30 provided him with the tools to execute the launch flawlessly. He learned how to use Trello boards, created a day-by-day timeline, and ensured that everything was ready for the deadline - artwork approved, press shots completed, physical records pressed, digital distribution organised, and promoters secured. All of his preparation paid off when, a few weeks later, his track took the number one spot within the Raw, Deep, and Hypnotic genre on global electronic music platform Beatport.

“Getting the number one made me feel like I’d done everything right,” says Duncan. “The track was picked up by some big name DJs, and the online broadcasting platform Boiler Room played it on a livestream. I was out walking the dog and I heard it come on - it was an amazing feeling.”

FLICK is clearly off to a good start, and Duncan's plans for the label do not stop there. He's already working on his next two releases (both EPs), and by the end of 2022, he hopes to be taking on other artists.

It's clear that for Duncan, the community aspect of music making is just as important as record sales. He's driven to grow his label so that he can support the young DJs emerging in Moray; despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, he wants to keep putting on gigs, running open deck sessions to give newcomers a platform and mentoring and coaching.

“I want to build the community back up after COVID. I think it’s important. If I stop doing this in Forres then there are no live electronic music gigs happening here. I feel responsible because there’s a knock-on social and economic impact if the gigs stop and people aren’t going out - on taxis, pubs, restaurants, the kebab shop at the end of the street.”

Duncan doesn't hesitate when asked what he would say to someone thinking about participating in IMPACT30. “Definitely do it! Getting that level of support from HIE and AAB is invaluable; there’s a wealth of information there and the support and guidance available is first class. I would encourage anybody to apply,  no matter what stage you’re at - even if it’s just an idea that you have.”