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Contributors

Fiona joined us a year ago to work as a Helper Monkey and as the Robin to Allison's Batman. She is our resident Northerner, supporting Bradford City, drinking copious amounts of tea and generally not being understood by anyone else in the office. Fiona currently holds the office record for number of door keys lost in the space of a week.

A little known fact about podcaster Freddy, is that he sometimes moonlights as a pop-musician. The ever-reserved Freddy does not like to make known his secret identity, for fear of being swarmed by hoards of young women, but it is his ever present love of hair conditioner gives away his secret identity. Freddy Jonas (or Palmer as he prefers to be known), also ran a short-lived Celebrity Look-A-Likes business from the Southern HQ but has now settled into his new role at Southern - The Bringer Of Cakes and Biscuits.

Neil has now been at Southern since the summer of 2005, when he gave up his fledgling career as an internet poker player. He worked his way round various departments before finding his spiritual home running the Southern mail order department. If you order it, he packs it and sends it out to you. After being a regular customer of Southern's mail order in his teenage years he knows the value of a well placed promotional poster in an order. Belgian beer, Japanese music and Leyton Orient are his three main obsessions, although there is room for some Funeral folk, Ethio-jazz and early 90's Post-hardcore. No compromise on the beer or the football though... He can usually be found trawling the charity shops and specialist off licenses of Holloway and Brussels for jazz records, brown clothing and obscure Belgian beers.

East-london born, slightly schizophrenic and Swiss, Shehnaz, a.k.a. Shaz, initially infiltrated the Southern team as an intern. A freelance designer with a passion for music and a thirst for knowledge, she was given the precious task of cataloguing Southern's impressive production library Ð an educational experience indeed! With a flair for organisation, and impeccable timing, she landed the job of production manager after three months of hard labour. Having camped out in the countryside for the first few months, she finally moved herself into the city to be closer to her second home: the office.

Loz, Loz Boz, Lozza Bazza, Biz Boz, Bauren Und Der Club Of Gore, current race leader in the 'Member of staff with the most nicknames' contest and winner of best hip hop and ragga dancer in the universe. Actually, that last one is debatable, but it has to be said, Lauren does like to boogie! This lil lady joined Southern last September and now looks after UK and European promotion, as well as those lovely interns which we recruit! Future applicants be warned though as she likes to rule the program with an iron fist (haha!) When Loz Boz is not pulling the strings of promotion she likes to eat (..she likes to eat A LOT!) and also enjoys initiating office moshes to her favourite hardcore punk anthems!

A "studious" member of staff, Lizzie attempts to be "intellectual" by studying and working at Southern part-time. Unfortunately this intellectual side at times doesn't always seem so obvious! Needless to say, Lizzie has a fulfilling time working with team Southern. Coming from southwest London, Lizzie is unfazed by crossing over to the north-side to the office, despite the (un)known perils of North London! Even having a keen interest in the heavier side of music, Lizzie embraces working with so many different amazing bands and their labels, and eagerly awaits hearing the new music that comes through the door.

Sanna joined the Southern Posse just before Christmas 2006, in time to be able to afford 'decent' presents this year! ... Mum was pleased. A previous employee of the UK music press as a freelance photographer, she's been mixing photography and music for many years. Though still keen on pictures, she figured she'd attempt to put her music interests to good use with a company she has always admired. An Eastender born and bred with a half-Finnish heart, she likes her music like she likes her fish--raw and plentiful, and Southern's diverse anthology more than satisfies.

Veteran of the many fine charity shops of South Yorkshire, Jason Steel (country blues scholar & ragtime enthusiast) found Southern mere days after making the move to London. Claiming to possess ox-like strength and near mystical dispatch skills, he was given work. He now helps to ensure the "vinyl goldmine" that is the Warehouse is kept ship shape, orderly and free of disease. Although it's impossible to like the Melvins too much, Jason strives to attain that goal.

Brent Fuscaldo Has lived in Chicago for a little over two years. A true Southerner who moved here from North Carolina to work as a Disaster Responder for the Red Cross. From filling out cases for fire victims by the light of the moon to moonlighting as a glorious intern at Southern, he made the transition to label assistant. Brent handles the Southern label on the US side of the pond dealing directly with the bands, release scheduling, tour press, publicity and radio.

Allison (a.k.a. Savage Pink) made the transatlantic trek twenty years ago to visit the DIY mecca of Southern Studios, and never went home. Having fought the Punk Wars in Philly, Miami and San Francisco, she settled down to manning the fort in leafy North London repelling corporate invaders and flying the flag for the independent spirit.

Tony handles press and publicity for most of the bands released through Southern. A human encyclopaedia of musical fact and anecdote, Tony ranks among the worlds finest raconteurs, such as Frank Muir and Ronnie Corbett. He also enjoys collecting cultural ephemera and keeping up with men's fashion. Musical knowledge factor: 99%.

Past Contributors

Chris Tipton is truly "the last of the Romantic Pianists". He learned clarinet in grade school, switched to saxophone in high school, before taking up the sexual keyboard at university, the rest they say is history. Tipton's formative years were as expected particularly bizarre, finding his way to Earth he encountered the humorous world of non-elitist metal clubs in Ilford, 50p gets you in and a bash at the charity squash table, he hopes to have conveyed some of these relaxing mosh and grunge classics with this gnarly digital mix.

Nikki Howes claimed to be in contact with fairies as a child. As an adult she has had channeled visions, both waking and in lucid dreams, in which she tapped esoteric knowledge imparted by angelic beings, travelled in time, and witnessed shamanistic visions of a vast cosmos alive at every scale of creation. These 'illuminations', as she calls them, are exhausting and sometimes terrifying.She now spends most of her time painting shells to resemble crabs.