After a couple of weeks off (future planning and working on some exciting business developments), we’re back in action with a fab line-up of new My Icon Story printfluencers, sharing the story of their business and future ambitions. As a Solo founder, I often wonder what it would be like to have a co-founder or partner in business so I’m excited to welcome our next duo as this week’s Printfluencers!
Welcome to Gemma Knight Jones and Kelly Fraser, Co-Founders of Songbird Sessions. Between them, these ladies have worked with the likes of Ariana Grande, J.P Cooper and John Legend and have built a business rooted in a 16 year friendship! Gemma and Kelly both also have jobs which compliment Songbird Sessions, and anyone reading this who runs a business alongside another job or being a parent (or both!) will know and appreciate the amount of time, dedication and commitment it takes. So before I give too much away, I’ll leave it there and let Gemma and Kelly take over and share their story!
GEMMA & KELLY, SONGBIRD SESSIONS
In a tweet (280 characters) what do you/your business do?
Songbird Sessions provides acoustic music from an all-female collective for weddings & events. We also run Corporate Wellbeing Choirs for London based businesses that value employee wellness and self-care in the workplace, and if that wasn’t enough – 1:1 vocal coaching.
Did you have a job/career before starting your business?
We still have careers that work side by side with Songbird Sessions. Gemma Knight Jones is an actress and singer working in London’s West End Theatres and Kelly Fraser is Principle Lecturer at Contemporary Music School BIMM London and is currently studying a Masters in Music Therapy.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
We started Songbird Sessions after years of telling each other in birthday and Christmas cards that we would. In 2013 we begun to plant the seeds.
Tell us a bit more about Songbird Sessions
Our business is built on a strong foundation of friendship. We met 16 years ago at the same music school that Kelly now teaches at and connected straightaway. Songbird Sessions is the culmination of years of working together for other people and feeling like we could offer these services just as well ourselves, so we went for it! We have slowly built and adapted the company over the years and today we are as passionate as ever about eventually making it our main hustle. Our day jobs add so much value to our company because of the shared industry so we aren’t in a rush to put all our eggs in one basket but have made some great steps forward in recent years and are excited about what the next few years hold.
If you were a recent client, what would you write in the review?
“Songbird Sessions added another touch of class to our special day. We will never forget hearing their serene and soulful voices during our ceremony – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Thinking about it is making me well up with happiness all over again.“
FINISH THESE SENTENCES…
Our business is amazing because…it celebrates singing together and using our voices
This time next year…we will be out of isolation, reunited and performing again at weddings, events and running corporate choirs in the workplace.
GEMMA & KELY’S MY ICON STORY
SIZE: Small & Mighty My Icon Story (fits 4-6 icons), light pink background with white icons and solid white wooden frame
Tell us the story behind your My Icon Story print?
We met in London, instantly hit it off and became best friends whilst studying music. In 2013 we set up Songbird Sessions and to this day the music, our friendship and our faith in one-another remains the heartbeat of our business.
JUST A BIT OF FUN…
You’re in a cocktail bar. What do you order?
Gemma: A Rum Punch | Kelly: Smokey Whiskey
What’s your favourite type of shoe?
Gemma: Lace up flat black boots | Kelly: A Chunky Chelsea Boot
If you could have any other job in the world, what would you be?
Gemma: A chef | Kelly: A Mummy
THANK YOU
A huge thank you to Gemma and Kelly for sharing their story of business and friendship and for taking the time to create your very own My Icon Story!
To find out more about Songbird Sessions, check out their website https://www.songbirdsessions.com/
And follow Songbird Sessions on Instagram @songbirdsessions
If you’d like to nominate a founder to be featured in our Printfluencer Series, please email laura@myiconstory.com
To create your own My Icon Story visit our design-your-own here. We also offer a free icon request service so any icon you can’t find, simply drop us an email to info@myiconstory.com or use the Submit Request form on our homepage.
