MBW’s Inspiring Women series profiles female executives who have risen through the ranks of the business, highlighting their career journey – from their professional breakthrough to the senior responsibilities they now fulfill. Inspiring Women is supported by Virgin Music Group.
Mariesa Stevens, Partner and Vice President at independent agency Liaison Artists, accidentally entered the music business in her late twenties after being captivated by the atmosphere at a club night.
While growing up in Washington State, Stevens wanted to be a teacher, then merged into acting, which she did in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and eventually found her way into music.
It was a show by US DJ Mark Farina that marked the turning point.
“My idea of a club was that you’re going somewhere and having drinks at the bar,” she remembers.
“To see these people building this community on the dance floor was just something that I had never seen. That feeling when you’re in rhythm and in dancing is one of those things that, when you’re doing it as a group, can be really powerful. That’s what drew me in.”
After desperately trying to break into the music industry by working for free at club doors, Stevens landed a job with a small agency called Listed in San Francisco.
Later, she met Liaison founder and President Andrew Kelsey through a friend, who hired her as his third employee. That’s where she’s been for the last 16 years.
During that time, the agency has grown from a bedroom office to a globally respected independent booking agency with a roster of more than 140 house, techno and indie electronic artists.
Liaison, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, books 5,000 shows a year, including at major festivals like EDC Las Vegas, Ultra Music Festival and Coachella (for the latter, in 2022, they represented 7% of the total artists on the festival).
Recently, Stevens has been working on a tour for British DJ Hot Since 82 in North and South America, DJ and producer Jayda G’s final shows before going on maternity leave, and tours for German techno act Stephan Bodzin and up and coming Afro house DJ Nitefreak.
Here, we chat to her about lessons learned across her career, the role of an agent, challenges in the live music space, and much more besides…
What are the biggest lessons that you’ve learned across the evolution of Liaison?
One of them is: Don’t take things personally. This was my whole identity, my job. I’ve put my heart and soul…
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