Guitar icon Johnny Marr joins growing roster of pros to mentor Epidemic Sound artists
Three Epidemic Sound artists will receive mentorship from guitar icon Johnny Marr. Interested, or, like us, downright jealous? Keep reading for the rundown.
How is Johnny Marr collaborating with Epidemic Sound?
Johnny Marr. You know the name. The sound. The legendary musician redefined what guitar music sounds like with The Smiths, and has scored GOATed movies like Inception alongside Hans Zimmer. He’s worked with everyone from Oasis to Modest Mouse, Pet Shop Boys to Talking Heads — his prolific solo career is booming, too.
Marr joins Epidemic Sound for the second iteration of our collaboration program, The Bridge. Marr will mentor three Epidemic Sound artists throughout 2025, providing track feedback, career guidance, artistic development, and more. He’s also curated a playlist packed with hidden gems from Epidemic Sound’s artists — more on that in a moment, though.
This is our second world-famous artist to have joined The Bridge. The first was minimal techno pioneer and DJ, Richie Hawtin, who mentored three Epidemic Sound artists during 2024. The British-Canadian trailblazer built a shared musical experience with his mentees, culminating in a spine-tingling night of live DJ sets.
Hawtin also curated a next-level playlist, Past Meets Present. The music comes exclusively from Epidemic Sound’s catalog, boasting some of our artists’ cutting-edge electronic credentials.
Why did Epidemic Sound start The Bridge?
Epidemic Sound’s direct licensing model has changed how people think about music licensing, but the industry at large can be daunting. Newer, grassroots artists often struggle to get their foot in the door, while the right live shows and solid remuneration can be hard to find.
Marr will guide three Epidemic Sound artists: Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Rebecca Mardal, and Kylie Dailey. Together, they’ll broaden their horizons and explore opportunities in sync licensing, collaborations, social media, commercial releases, and more.
“I’ve always been interested in new talent and try to be of help if I can with emerging artists finding their unique voice,” says Marr. “Epidemic Sound is a new kind of music company with its innovative platform opening up ways for emerging musicians to make a living, while distributing their work at scale to today’s online audience of viewers, fans, and listeners. In today’s challenging music environment, it’s crucial for artists to develop a diverse skill set and I’m excited to work with some talented individuals to help them navigate the industry while staying true to their vision.”
Who is Johnny Marr mentoring?
Marr’s three mentees were selected based on how their unique talent and goals matched Marr’s expertise.
They are: Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Rebecca Mardal, and Kylie Dailey. Learn a little more about them below.
Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen
Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen is a Swedish composer and multi-instrumentalist. He’s best known for his orchestral-cinematic compositions, which have featured in commercials, TV shows, documentaries, and trailers worldwide. His passion for both black metal and rock guitar showcases his versatile influences and, let’s be real, elite taste.
Rebecca Mardal
Rebecca Mardal is a Swedish guitarist who started honing her craft as an 11-year-old, inspired by Green Day’s American Idiot. Since then, she’s built an impressive career in lo-fi hip-hop, garnering millions of streams across both her solo projects and collaborations. She also received her university degree from Sir Paul McCartney himself, which sounds like something other people would make up to sound impressive.
Kylie Dailey
Kylie Dailey is a US-based singer-songwriter with roots in the world-renowned Nashville scene. Together with producer/partner Kevin Dailey, she’s cooked up a unique blend of Americana and indie-folk. Her citrus-tinged melodies ride brash instrumentation, subdued arpeggios, and everything in between — Dailey’s take on country music is a real treat.
What happens next?
Now that Marr and the mentees are in place, it’s time to get creative. Here’s what the process looks like:
- In-person mentorship: A shared meeting of minds where talent, ideas, and curiosity collide. This one-day session combines listening and discussion, providing the mentees with group collaboration and one-on-one time with Marr. Together, they’ll sculpt an outline for their road ahead.
- Online mentorship: Marr continues to guide each artist through virtual check-ins. He’ll offer feedback, refine creative ideas, and ensure that the music produced fully embodies The Bridge’s collaborative spirit.
- New music: The mentees will release their brand-new tracks, showcasing a dynamic union of past and future influences. They’ll also be bangers.
“Johnny Marr’s extraordinary career and his ability to continually reinvent himself make him the perfect mentor for our artists,” says John Cleary, Epidemic Sound’s director of global music recruitment. “His insights will be invaluable in helping them develop the broad skill set needed to thrive in today’s music industry. We’re thrilled to have him on board and can’t wait to see the impact of this collaboration for our artists.”
Want a flavor of what inspired game-changers like Richie Hawtin and Johnny Marr to work with Epidemic Sound?
Don’t skip Hawtin’s picks. The Past Meets Present playlist is a love letter to his influences, touching upon the timeless electronica that shaped his music. That old-school sentiment is balanced by the fresher, buzzy sounds that keep pushing the genre forward.
Be sure to check out Marr’s Rebel Spirit playlist too, which he curated exclusively with tracks from our artists. You’ll find a shimmering collection of choppy riffs, crystalline tones, and crackling energy, all brought to life with masterful sonic taste.