T h e C o l l e c t i v e

The eternal problem for upcoming artists, particularly those releasing on small budgets, is how to compete against artists with more resources and large teams of workers. Videos, promotional photographs, album and single artwork, websites - all of these need time and expertise (and therefore money) to create a high quality image for the artist.

Leni Ward has tackled the problem in an unusual way. Seeking out young people trying to break in to other creative fields - photography, film and even carpentry - Leni barters for their time and skills, offering cross-promotion in return. This ever-growing group of talented individuals (jokingly dubbed "The Collective" by Leni) have created some stunning pieces of work to help promote Leni's new album, "Hope".

"I try not to push it" Leni says of the project. "I know how valuable people's spare time is and I try to respect that. I've been lucky enough to work with a number of hugely talented, hard-working, creative young people throughout this project. I am eternally grateful for the donations of their time and talents and aim to support them as much as possible, both during and after our time working together on this record."

All members of The Collective are hugely gifted creatives who deserve to go far in their chosen fields. Please support them if you can.

If you're interested in joining, please email thelibraryrecordings [at] googlemail [dot] com.

Remixers:
Bright Light Bright Light
Sean Eskimo
Iambic

Photographer:
Rei Bennett

Film Crews:
Opening Doors Official Video:
Director - James Sharpe
Director of Photography - Adam Etherington
Camera Assistant - Stephanie Kennedy
Editor - Owen Davies
I Want My Heart Back Official Video:
Director - Mandeep Jutla Singh
Director of Photography - Carl Burke
Art Director - Colin Chan
Production Assistant - Amrita Singh
I Want My Heart Back Many Lenis Live Video:
Director/DoP/Editor - Sam Jordan

Makeup Artists:
Album shoot: Zoe Aurora Lang (aka ZM)
Opening Doors official video, promotional photos: Chloe Furze
Promotional photos: Natalie Clark
I Want My Heart Back Official Video: Uzma Yakoob of Sculpt Beauty

Visual Artists/VJ:
Glenn Millington

Animators:
Mair Perkins

Sound Engineers:
Casper Stockton
J Walton

Carpentry:
Joris Miedema
Pete Baker

Location donations from:
Don @ The Midlands Jungle - Forest in Opening Doors official video
Simon Mackney - Studio for the I Want My Heart Back live video
Derby City Council - location for promo shoot
Pickford's House Museum - location for promo shoot

Other kind people:
Catriona Morris (hugely valued office assistant), Sophie Powell (artist), Pete Clark (graphic designer), David Ellis (scenery preparation), Matt Clark (model building), Justin Langlands (studio genie).