Founder & Director of Electric Shores Publicity — Jenn Nimmo-Smith
This week’s guest is a true force in music, PR, and community building. Jenn Nimmo-Smith brings warmth, creativity and serious graft to everything she touch. From launching her own agency to shaping and protecting Glasgow’s nightlife scene. You’re going to love this one.
Shout out to our pal in common Naomi (we worked at Apple together!) who recommended Jenn for the podcast and introduced us both. ❤️
What we talk about
- How seeing Two Many DJs at Leeds Festival and then at Glasgow’s Barrowland’s was a pivotal moment that made her realise she wanted to be a part of music
- How Jenn went from doing work experience at Chuffmedia to becoming Head of Press, sitting on major label campaigns and eventually launching her own agency
- The realities of pitching PR in 2025
- Building meaningful communities from Glasgow’s nightlife to women’s networking dinners
- The power of cold emails, kind mentors, and saying yes when the path isn’t clear yet
Our guest
Jenn Nimmo-Smith
- Current Role: Founder & Director of Electric Shores Publicity
- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
- Also:
- Head of Press at SWG3
- Night Time Economy Ambassador for Glasgow
- On the Scotland Commission of the Night Time Industries Association
- Founder of Barklove
- Manager of BEMZ
- Host of women’s networking dinners in Glasgow
Jenn’s path to now
Grew up in Milnathort, where T in the Park used to be held. After formative festival moments at Leeds and seeing Two Many DJs at Barrowland’s, Jenn knew she wanted to work in music. Even if she didn’t yet know what that would look like.
She moved to London, studied media and cultural studies, and got stuck into the world of PR via work experience at Chuffmedia. Thanks to a kind boss and her own graft, Jenn worked her way up to Head of Press while finishing her degree. Since then, she’s built her own agency, Electric Shores, and has helped shape the music and nightlife scene back in Glasgow ever since.
Learnings
- London was great but transitory. Glasgow has given her community, connection, and a rich culture to plug into.
- The dancefloor is where people fall in love, make friends, and form memories. For Jenn, protecting nightlife means protecting cultural value.
- PR is equal parts creativity and chaos. Pitching, planning, replying to 5 million WhatsApps… no two days are the same.
Tips & Tricks
- Let yourself make mistakes and ask questions. You’ll learn more that way.
- Start your own Google Sheet of contacts. Cold email (kindly). Have a specific ask. People are nicer than you think; they’re just busy.
- Experience is everything. Work venues, shadow people, put yourself in spaces where things are happening.
- Always be nice. You never know who you’ll meet and it might be your next opportunity.
Shout Outs
- Naomi Henry-Wright, Festival Manager at Celtic Music Festival
- Halina Rifai, Freelance Podcast and Audio Producer
- Lydia Laws (met on the Sonar Festival dancefloor and now a key support in the PR world)
- Aarti Joshi
- Medeia Cohan
- And honestly, so many more…
Want more?
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