Secretly Publishing Promotes Eddie Sikazwe to Senior Director of A&R, Kathleen Cook to Vice President of Publishing & Sync

New Signings Include Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Tegan and Sara), Leith Ross (Republic Records), Jorge Elbrecht (Japanese Breakfast, Sky Ferreira), Wednesday & MJ Lenderman

Secretly Publishing is proud to announce the promotion of Eddie Sikazwe, who will now serve as the company's first-ever Senior Director of A&R. Since joining Secretly in 2020, after founding the LA-based Abstract Management, Sikazwe has been an integral member of the A&R team for both Secretly Publishing and the Secretly Group of record labels, where he helped sign and champion trailblazing artists such as serpentwithfeet, Luke Titus, NNAMDÏ and Jonah Yano. In the new role, he will oversee and further expand a growing roster of songwriters, producers and composers for one of the most influential, personalized publishers in independent music.

"Music publishing represents the essence of why I love music," says Eddie Sikazwe. "It's about connecting great artists, songwriters, and producers to create art. I would like to thank the leadership team at Secretly Group for empowering me to do the work I love. I'm excited to continue building with a team that has a track record of championing and supporting artists, songwriters, and musicians throughout its history."

Sikazwe will report to Secretly Co-Founder & President of A&R, Chris Swanson, and work closely with Kathleen Cook, who has also just been promoted from Secretly Publishing's Managing Director to Vice President of Publishing & Sync. 

"We have spent the last couple of years growing our sync and administration teams to keep up with a rapidly expanding catalog, and our publishing machine is more well-oiled than it's ever been," says Kathleen Cook. "I'm thrilled to have Eddie take the helm of A&R and bring a new level of energy and focus to signing talented writers. I'm also looking forward to seeing him build out a team and enable us to better serve our existing roster."

Chris Swanson adds, "Kathy has built a world class collection and synchronization team at Secretly Publishing over the past four years, and I'm thrilled about this ambitious new chapter with Eddie leading our A&R endeavors, providing best of class services to our writer clients."

In addition to the recent promotions, Secretly Publishing celebrates the signing of multiple, visionary new voices who will be working closely with Eddie Sikazwe, Kathleen Cook and the rest of the company's tireless team, including Steph Marziano, Leith Ross, Jorge Elbrecht, Wednesday and MJ Lenderman.

Fast-rising and highly-accredited songwriter, producer and mixer Steph Marziano joins the roster following a nomination for Best UK Writer/Producer at the 2021 Music Producer Guild Awards, plus co-writes and production for Hayley Williams' Petals For Armor LP, contributions to Denai Moore's We Used to Bloom LP, Bartees Strange's Farm to Table, and co-writes with Tegan and Sara, Claud, Rhys Lewis, The Wombats and more. "Signing to Secretly has been an absolute dream," says Marziano. "Right from the beginning, they've understood my music taste and songwriting ethos. I couldn't imagine a better publishing home."

Inspired by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Dolly Parton, Disney soundtracks and High School Musical, songwriter, singer and artist Leith Ross signs to Secretly Publishing after earning tens of millions of streams across multiple of their own recording projects, including latest single "We'll Never Have Sex," out now on Republic Records. Born and raised in a small town outside of Ottawa, they have been writing songs and exploring themes of gut-wrenching and cheesy love, silliness and extreme existentialism since age 12. "So excited and honoured to become a part of such an amazing group of cool and inspiring musicians and people," adds Ross. "More than thrilled to be here!"

After years spent working on his own projects - Lansing-Dreiden and Violens - Jorge Elbrecht has emerged as an in-demand co-writer, producer and mixer for some of the most forward-thinking artists in contemporary indie rock. He signs to Secretly Publishing after earning a Grammy nomination for his mix work on Japanese Breakfast's Jubilee, in addition to co-writing, producing and mixing Sky Ferreira's latest single, "Don't Forget," and co-writing, producing and mixing Hatchie's recent Giving The World Away LP. "I could not be more thrilled to be joining forces with Secretly, as I have always respected their labels immensely," says Elbrecht. "Very much looking forward to the many bright collaborations we see on the horizon!"

Led by guitarist and vocalist Karly Hartzman, the five-piece, Asheville-based Wednesday joins Secretly Publishing on the heels of earning heaps of critical acclaim for 2021's Twin Plagues LP. With a sound that weaves seamlessly between twang, shoegaze and the scuzz of '90s college rock, the band's songs are "shrouded in fuzz yet melodic and approachable, sometimes lackadaisical but occasionally explosive" (Stereogum). Wednesday guitarist MJ Lenderman also signs to Secretly Publishing, following the breakthrough release of his 2022 solo album, Boat Songs. In a rave review naming the record Best New Music, Pitchfork praised the way his "grounded, flexible, and lucid songwriting nails repeated turns from the everyday to the sublime."

Karly Hartzman says, "Excited as all hell to be working with Secretly Publishing! It's an honor to be included in this roster of legends." MJ Lenderman agrees and adds, "I'm excited to partner with Secretly Publishing and honored to be a part of their roster alongside some of my favorite songwriters."

Steph Marziano

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