The NI Music Prize will feature the presentation of a very special award later this year. The Joe Cassidy Chrysalis Award was created in loving memory of an immense talent taken too soon. From Belfast, based in Chicago, Joe was a musician, songwriter, singer, producer, artist, manager and mentor.
The award of £3,000 has been raised through the proceeds of an event held on 28th August 2022, when the legendary Chicago music venue Metro hosted “Hear in Heaven”. The event was a joyous coming together of 42 musical artists whose lives had been touched by Joe, performing in his honour.
Joe performed and recorded as Butterfly Child, also with the band Assassins, and was a pivotal member of the Shepard Fairey project NØISE. He was also involved in music production and management, working with a broad array of artists, including Jimmy Webb, Ashley Campbell, Michael McDermott, Jonny Polonsky, Ree-Vo, Ethan Gold, Plastic Crimewave Sound and the Webb Brothers.
Joe’s love of music and tireless support of musicians forged the basis for this bursary, which will be awarded to a solo artist or band later this year.
The purpose of this award is to provide financial support to an emerging band or solo artist who shares Joe’s passion for making original music, his positivity, and his determination to survive and thrive in the challenging music business. In honour of Joe, any further practical support possible will be offered through the various industry friends and contacts he worked with over the years. Artists and bands will be able to apply through a short application process from 21st June.
Joe’s sister Frances said, “Joe was an exceptional person. He was a gifted musician and the kindest, most thoughtful and generous brother. His support for fellow artists was inspirational. I am eternally grateful to have had Joe in my life, and am so proud of the beautiful soul he was and everything he achieved. I know he’d approve of what we are trying to do in supporting Northern Ireland-based musicians, and hope that as many artists and bands as possible will come forward to apply for the award.”
Charlotte Dryden of Oh Yeah said, “This will be a moving tribute, but also a reminder of how many artists like Joe over the years have made a real musical impact away from home. We look forward to welcoming Joe’s Belfast family and Chicago family to the NI Music Prize later this year. The funds they have raised will really help an artist or band in their development. From talking to sister Frances, brother Michael and his friends Sarah and Joe in Chicago, it’s clear how much Joe gave to other musicians and so this is a really fitting way to mark his legacy.”
How to apply
Submissions are invited from 21st June – 31st August 2023. Details will be available on a new website dedicated to Joe’s music on www.softexplosives.co.uk from 21st June.
Joe Cassidy’s career as a singer, songwriter, producer and composer spanned more than three decades. His pursuit of a career in music carried him from his native Belfast to Manchester, London, Chicago, Los Angeles and finally back to Chicago, where he died suddenly on 15 July 2021.
Well-esteemed amongst his peers for his magnificent songwriting and production talents that he so selflessly shared with others, Joe was also loved for his warm and generous heart and willingness to help anyone or any creature in need.
Award Info
Picking up his first bass guitar at 13, Joe put his heart and soul into creating new music, as well as selflessly supporting his fellow musicians. He was compelled to create; he lived to compose, perform and share.
In commemoration in the meld of Joe’s unmistakable talent and vast generosity in nurturing other artists, the Joe Cassidy Chrysalis Award will be presented at the annual Northern Ireland Music Prize ceremony in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, in November 2023. ”Chrysalis” in the title is deemed most appropriate, in view of Joe’s lifelong work as the ‘Butterfly Child’.
The purpose of this award is to provide financial support to a talented band or solo artist who shares Joe’s passion for making original music, his positivity, and his determination to survive and thrive in a very challenging music industry. In honour of Joe, we will also endeavour to give any further practical support we can to the recipient, just as he would have done in his lifetime,
The cash prize of £3000 has been raised through the proceeds of an event held on 28th August 2022, when the legendary Chicago music venue Metro hosted “Hear in Heaven”. The event was a joyous coming together of 42 musical artists whose lives had been touched by Joe, performing in his honour.
Criteria
We will support one emerging solo artist or band*, currently living in Northern Ireland, who:
• is passionate about making music
• is producing creative and quality original music in any genre
• is already proactive in trying to make things happen for themselves
• has established a tangible fanbase either locally or beyond
• can tell us how they would use this award to support their ambitions
*For the purposes of this award, bands will be considered as living in Northern Ireland when at least 50% of its core members are living in Northern Ireland.
We’re open-minded as to how the cash award might be spent, though it must be used towards costs that will support the artist/band to enhance, develop, record, tour or promote new music, helping them to progress to the next stage in their development. Whilst our approach is ‘admin light’, the recipient of the award should be prepared to provide information on how the prize money is spent.
Judging
This is not a ‘best of’ initiative as we appreciate there is many talented artists and bands in Northern Ireland.
We are looking for:
• Passion – for creating original music.
• Artistry – projected artistic impact of the music based on existing body of work.
• Anticipated impact – the potential difference this award could make to the artist/band and the development of their music.
Submissions will be reviewed, and a shortlist will be compiled. A final selection panel will choose the recipient from the shortlist. Their decision will be final, and details of any discussions will be confidential. Reviewing and final selection will be undertaken by members of Joe’s family and friends and contacts in the music business.
The award will go to the solo artist or band who we believe could benefit the most from the award.
How to apply
Submissions are invited from 21st June – 31st August 2023. Details will be available on softexplosives.co.uk from 21st June.
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