This week Innovation North has hosted music guest lectures with Forward Russia guitarist Whiskas and Ivor Novello Award winner Chris Difford.

Whiskas is guitarist with Forward Russia, and co-founder of one of Leeds' most successful independent record labels, Dance To The Radio. Whiskas has also been a DJ, promoter, manager, and more recently a record producer, as well as finding the time to complete a Masters in music production at Leeds Met.

The lecture, which took place on Wednesday afternoon at Headingley Campus, offered a great opportunity for students to benefit from the knowledge and experience of someone who has been successful across a range of industry careers, while remaining local to Leeds.

The second lecture in the series, which took place on the following day, saw double Ivor Novello Award winner Chris Difford visit the University to discuss his 25 year songwriting career.

With 13 albums and many top 20 hits under his belt, Chris has toured extensively in the UK, the US and around the globe. He is most well known for his work with new-wave band Squeeze, who first came to prominence in the late 70s, and went on to enjoy continued recording success throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Squeeze's hit singles include Cool for Cats, Black Coffee In Bed, Up the Junction and Hourglass. 

Chris has also written with, amongst others, Elton John, Bryan Ferry and Marti Pellow as well as top Motown writer Lamont Dozier. He continues to run his own songwriting workshops and is keen to pass on the benefit of his considerable experience in the music business.