Our Team
Bc et Bc Marie Zhorova
Founder and CEO at ABC
Former Co-founder and co-director at DiscovrTV // Former producer at BalconyTV Chamonix and London // Artist
Marie comes from Czech Republic and her academic foundation is Anthropology, in which she graduated from Charles University in Prague and went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Law in Business from the College of Applied Law, also in Prague. Soon after her studies she moved to France where she lived at the foot of Mont Blanc for 5 years. Later she spent 2 years in London, UK, applying herself with unwavering commitment to her passion for independent music in order to develop the global footprint for independent artists community.
Marie has been a producer across varied locations and under various platforms for 7 years, worked as an artist manager and consultant, booker and promoter. In 2020, following he 2 year involvement in founding and building an international platform DiscovrTV, she finally decided to focus better on the needs of artists during the pandemic, and founded ABC.
She produces AVOID sessions in Prague, Barkett Sessions in Berlin and Alpine sessions in Chamonix. She is also actively involved with a music data research and solutions project https://dataandlyrics.com/tag/digital-music-observatory/ collaborating with Daniel Antal.
She’s now based between Prague and Chamonix but working within a worldwide network.
Our Mentors
Carmen Rizzo (USA)
Two Time Grammy nominated Record Producer, Artist, Electronic Musician & Technologist.
Best known for his Electronic World Music, Carmen produced various eclectic album credits which include Seal, Coldplay, Paul Oakenfold, AR Rahman, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Pete Townshend, Huun Huur Tu, and Niyaz. Composed music for Oscar-winning directors Michael Apted and Stanley Brooks, and wrote the end title for Sony Play Station’s Uncharted 2. As a long-time Recording Academy member, he has served as a Trustee & Governor and wrote the categories "Best Electronic Album" and "Technical Grammys" for Apple and Roger Linn, inventor of the drum machine. He has also hosted and lectured Master Classes all over the world, including his own TED X Talk in the US. He runs his own music label, Electrofone Music, and previously served as the Senior Artist Relations Manager at Native Instruments running A&R in North America for 7 years.
https://www.carmenrizzo.com/
Steven Farris (UK)
I draw upon 30 years’ experience working in the music industry with over half that time spent in various roles within music publishing.
I have held following positions at these companies:
EMI Music – A&R Assistant
Sony/ATV – Scout and A&R Manager
A7 Music – Song Plugger
On The Fiddle Publishing (Levellers) – Catalogue Manager
Polar Patrol (Snow Patrol) – Director
Spirit/B-Unique – Creative Manager
13 Artists Publishing – General Manager
Partners
“Watch carefully the magic that occurs when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves.”