It was just announced today that the International Music Summit (IMS) Asia-Pacific has added some female flavour to their already impressive list of speakers!
Now in its 7th year, founder Pete Tong describes IMS Ibiza’s annual electronic music conference as “an intense networking environment with the glamour and glitz of my favourite party island of Ibiza, but with a Back to Business ethos and leading into the official Ibiza opening party weekend”.
IMS Ibiza has since become an annual fixture (the 2012 summit was held in May). Interestingly, the first IMS in 2008 and was open to only 300 delegates. But in 2009, the number of delegate badges available was increased to 400, and saw the addition exhibition space for 30 companies.
Fast forward to 2014, IMS continues to pave the way in the electronic music industry. Described by many as “the TED of music conferences”, 3 IMS panels in 2013 were voted in the top 10 electronic music debates of all-time by Beatport. This year, for the first time ever, the world’s most influential electronic music summit will make its way to Asia in Singapore on 11th Dec.
And who better to take the stage at the inaugural IMS Asia-Pacific forum than Australian musicians Miriam Nervo (Mim) and Olivia Nervo (Liv), otherwise more popularly known as their stage name, NERVO.
More than just Australian DJs/producers, NERVO is famed for being a twin phenomenon. This is because their career achievements span beyond just being musicians and songwriters. When the sisters were 16, an agency approached them, which opened up opportunities for their careers as models in Melbourne. And as you would expect, the appeal of twin models have always been on an all-time high. But little did people know, Mim and Liv have been writing music together since they were 10 years old so music was always the focus for them.
As such, they decided to pursue a music career instead despite still getting approached for modelling jobs.
A contract was then signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and the duo subsequently embarked on a songwriting career. Initial recognition for the pair occurred following the single, “Negotiate with Love”, written for British pop singer, Rachel Stevens, which reached 10th position in the UK music charts in 2005. Also in 2005, the duo released the single “Boobjob” which received substantial airplay in their native Australia. The duo went on to write for Kesha, Richard Grey, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ashley Tisdale, and the Pussycat Dolls.
They would later go on release their club single, “This Kind Of Love”, through their independent UK-based dance record label, Loaded Records as well as co-write the Grammy Award-winning single, “When Love Takes Over“, performed by David Guetta and Kelly Rowland. And the rest, as they would say, is history.
To top that all off, we also spoke to Mim and Liv real quick about them joining the panel of IMS Asia-Pacific speakers and here’s what they had to say:
You’ve both spoken at IMS Ibiza previously. How will your session at IMS Asia-Pacific be different from IMS Ibiza?
Hopefully this time around we will be less nervous when speaking on the panel 🙂
What are you personally looking forward to most about IMS Asia-Pacific?
We’re Asian obsessed and are thrilled to be in Singapore as it is such a great city. Everything from the architecture, to the food, to the mix of nationalities that live there. Also, it is going to be great to see some of our friends who are on the panel with us and will be interesting to hear their perspective on the same questions. I hear there are some great after parties going on too 😉
In brief, what is your experience with the scene in Asia? How do you expect it to grow?
Asia has been so welcoming for us. Just this last month we played Taipei, Bangkok, and Shanghai. We started touring Asia over 4 years ago to a much smaller crowd. These days, we’re being booked for not only club gigs but also really big festivals like Ultra etc.
So, it looks like they’re more than ready! The question is, are you ready for when NERVO takes over? 😉
Watch the highlights from IMS Ibiza 2014 here:
Deets are as follows:
- Where: W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, Singapore
- When: 11th December (Thursday)
- Starts: 12 noon
- Lunch: 2pm – 3:30pm
- Session: 3:30pm – 7pm
- Cocktail party: 7pm – 9pm
Ticketing:
- Early Bird Special for the first 100 people S$125 per person
- After Early Bird Special, Normal Badge at S$160
- Late Badge at S$205
- Special IMS + ZoukOut 2014 combo at S$310
* Ticket price includes entry to IMS; buffet lunch; and drinks at cocktail party.
* 50% discount for students in music schools at SAE Institute and Republic Polytechnic.
* IMS delegates enjoy W Singapore – Sentosa Cove special room rate at S$360 per night (9th – 12th December).
Buy tickets and book rooms at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove here.
For more information, visit their official website.
