‘ women have to support each other’

Damaris Rex-taylor Label: Disturbing London

Damaris, general manager at Disturbing London, Tinie Tempah’s record and clothes label, says, ‘Grime has always fought its way through. Acts don’t go by the old-boy system – they kind of can’t, because they didn’t go to the right school or have the right industry connections – so grime is a good example of music that’s ripping up the rule book.’ This self-starting spirit, she says, has created more diversity behind the scenes. ‘ The whole industry has always been very male-dominated, but management is an area that has increased its female power. Still, there should be more of us.’

Damaris worked at record labels EMI and Parlophone before she took charge of Disturbing London. ‘Naturally I’ve been around a lot more men – very supportive men; I definitely want to get that across,’ she says. Disturbing was founded by Tempah and his business partner Dumi Oburota, so, ultimately, it is a company run by men. But, Damaris says, ‘ There are a lot of women coming up in music. Women have got into groups and realised we have to support each other. It’s up to women and men to support female talent from boardroom to stage.’