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With over three decades of PR experience, HOLD TIGHT was founded in 2010 by James Monteith and Basick Records owner Nathan Barley Phillips, working alongside freelance PR Lisa Coverdale. With a joint interest in forward thinking music, the three played a key role in building prog/tech/djent and metalcore scenes across Europe, working with bands such as Bury Tomorrow, Fell Silent, Monuments, Born Of Osiris, The Faceless and many more. Lisa officially joined HOLD TIGHT in 2012, bringing her roster of doom, sludge and extreme metal which now includes High on Fire, Ihsahn, Winterfylleth, MØL, Boss Keloid and many more.
Junior Development Director Matt Benton joined Basick / HOLD TIGHT in 2013 as an intern after completing a degree in music at Cambridge. He quickly became an invaluable asset, breaking bands such as Conjurer, Our Hollow Our Home, and Ithaca, but also in expanding HOLD TIGHT's remit into more avant-garde territories. Notable artists include Mongolian folk metal pioneers Tengger Cavalry, piano-led pop/prog trio Exploring Birdsong, and chiptune artist Danimal Cannon. Recently Matt has led the charge with new August Burns Red and Elder records, and working with new event Radar Festival, among many others.
Head of Broadcast Hannah Gillicker joined as an intern in 2014 after completing her Management degree in Leeds University, becoming full-time in 2015. Her vast skill set and passion for great songs led to her developing HOLD TIGHT’s radio plugging service, making big waves with the likes of Sleep Token, Phoxjaw, Vodun, Normandie, Gender Roles, Billy Talent and more.
Darren Gosling joined HOLD TIGHT in 2019 as a freelance digital marketer, and in 2020 became full-time working with bands across a wide spectrum of genres. Darren previously worked for digital advertising agency Digital Gearbox and is also the lead guitarist in UK rockers Chapter & Verse.
Outside of music, Director James Monteith brings in experience from the corporate, charity and arts sectors. He worked for five years as an account manager at media intelligence agency Gorkana and two years as a marketing manager at disability arts organisation Shape Arts. He is also a professional musician, playing guitar with the progressive metal band TesseracT.
Lisa Coverdale brings in 10 years corporate marketing and PR experience working with blue chip clients including Royal Bank of Scotland, O2, DHL, Visa, HP, HSBC and SKY.
Nathan Barley Phillips left HOLD TIGHT in 2018, and is now Senior A&R at Nuclear Blast Records.
Meet the team
Testimonials
“Speaking from the press side of things, Hold Tight PR are always a pleasure to work with. We’re bombarded with 150 some-odd press requests every day, but Hold Tight’s always jump to the top. That’s because the people at the company approach pitches with a discerning eye; I know that if I receive something from them there’s a really good chance I’ll like it, because they know better than to ask me otherwise. Other publicists should take a hint from that approach!”
“Having worked with dozens of PR companies and labels, we at Heavy Blog is Heavy are always thrilled to see that Hold Tight are on a case. They blend professionalism with a personal touch, making sure that any project (be it band, album, event, video, you name it) gets the loving attention it deserves. It’s always a pleasure to work with them and their roster, as we know we’ll get all the info and assistance we need to help us make sure any campaign goes off without a hitch. They also have the best cats.”
“When you receive hundreds of emails and CDs every day, you soon start to notice patterns. You subconsciously get a feel for what something’s going to be like, before you’ve even clicked play.Although I listen to everything I receive (eventually) as such, the reality is that I will naturally gravitate towards sources I trust as a priority - and I trust Hold Tight PR. I don’t think I can remember the last time that they sent me something I didn’t like. They are a source for me and if I was still in a band these days, I’d want to be part of that source.”
“Each year it gets harder to cut through the noise, with hundreds of PR emails coming to Metal Injection every day. So I put Hold Tight PR at the top of my must-read list because I can always depend on them to present me with something new and exciting. They’re some of the most personable and professional people I know in the PR game, and really bring out the best in their clients. If you’re looking for a PR agency who believes in their bands, and is daring enough to make create house hold names across the globe, then you should consider Hold Tight your new friends.”
