My first conscious interaction with music was unintentional. I was a little over five or six, burying my nose in a book, when my dad played 'It Kills Me' by Melanie Fiona along with other cool R&B songs from the 2000s. He was fond of playing music. He would sit on a stool in the front yard with a music player by his side, and I would listen. I always listened. Music was a language that spoke to my body, piqued my senses. I found myself repeating lyrics of songs that caught my interest, dancing to the sounds, writing about what I felt with each piece; the upbeat, sad, energetic. It was like having a first taste of something divine, biting into and savouring its taste. Years have passed since the first conscious grappling with lyrics happened. Each year has brought about a new type of hunger. A new form of curiosity. Awareness and even more awareness, and an even vaster knowledge of music at my fingertips.

My name is Blessing Evaleni Lawson and I am many interesting things. But most importantly, I am a writer and student journalist presently pursuing a degree in Communication Arts at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. As part of our curriculum for third year, we are required to undergo a semester-long Industrial Training (I.T) programme, which aims to provide us with practical experience in our field of study. It is with great enthusiasm that I write to apply for an internship position at The Sony Music Internship, a programme that encourages ingenuity, diversity, and unconventionality and is the embodiment of a vibrant youth culture.

Throughout my academic, creative, and personal journeys, I have developed a profound interest in writing, public relations, advertising, marketing, and journalism. My field of study, Communication Arts and my continued search for knowledge — through online courses on HubSpot and TetAfrica, as well as an internship with Weirdsid3, a youth-centric brand — have offered backdrops for such deep interests, leading me to create a blog, alteéverve. This blog of mine was an experimental venture into the world of content making and marketing, and was inspired by a desire to study ideas, people, and music that are not mainstream. It was also a personal challenge for myself as I had been grappling with a failed application to Zikoko at the time. With it, I stepped out of my comfort zone, hunted down potential creatives, and drafted exciting interview questions for artists, writers, producers, and musicians in my locale. The project, however, hit a gridlock in the next few months because of financial restraints, but my tenacity remained. I started a small love newsletter, RIZZARINA, in December 2023 as a shot for email marketing, with a little over 40 subscribers, and have received positive feedback. The next year, in I pitched an idea about alternative music to Oroko Radio Live and my ideas was received positively. I was also creative lead for a class advertising project and helped Weirdsid3 reach their target market during my stay with them. I believe I would be a great fit for the Sony Music Internship and would like to share with you my reasons.

I am eager to apply the theoretical knowledge I have acquired from school and personal trial and error in a practical setting, and I am confident that an internship at Sony Music would offer an unparalleled opportunity to sharpen my skillset. My coursework has equipped me with a solid foundation in writing, researching trends and content frameworks, strategizing, as well as reviewing and criticising, which are important attributes of a skilled music aficionado; and I am keen to further develop these skills in a dynamic and challenging environment.

In a similar way, the Internship will provide the opportunity to meet marketing experts in the field. Not only will I get to share my — sometimes unconventional — ideas about advertising with people more experienced than I am and get feedback, I will be in a team of highly skilled professionals, learning the rudiments of strategic marketing and putting my newfound knowledge to practice.

During my internship, I am committed to not only enhancing my learning but also contributing positively to your team. As a writer, I am able to craft thought-provoking and brilliant narratives that have the ability to draw in and sustain a reader's interest. I am versatile and expressive, able to develop stories from anything and anyone and able to discover the beauty of even the most mundane melody. As a podcaster, one-time radio host, and voiceover artist with a powerful voice, I am able to create profound campaigns that captivate the mind and bring advertising scripts to life. As a curator who is working on a few playlists, I am able to create engaging playlist descriptions that leave you curious and intrigued. As a journalist, I am well-versed with sourcing for information. I am able to ask questions and understand complex information. I am able to research trends and put them to good usage. Moreso, as a music enthusiast, I understand that music is universal. It is able to communicate in whatever format. It is able to provoke emotions. It is able to tell a story, motivate or demotivate. It is a powerful tool which has the ability to influence our actions. As Evaleni, I am able to adapt in a variety of situations, environments, places; quick to learn and take on responsibilities that will help in the smooth running of the team. Whether assisting with research, contributing to campaign development and strategies, or supporting day-to-day operations, I am ready to make a meaningful contribution.

My CV and portfolio are enclosed here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14iGoAU1WbaLH7fLrgzm1H2g1ORfU5X71b6Uz7zu27Dc/edit?usp=drivesdk

https://linktr.ee/evalenilawson

I am available to intern for the duration of the said internship, which will run from the 1st of May, 2024. I am flexible with my hours and willing to adapt to the needs of your institution, and would be profoundly grateful for the opportunity to discuss my application with you further.

Thank you very much for considering my application.

#AmakaInternshipGrant