Alexander Milas discovered heavy metal via a record shop when he was 8. His mother was having her hair done, he was waiting outside, and this place had a poster of Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son in the window. It’s been a love-affair ever since, beginning with Maiden, strengthened by his older brother and sisters owning Scorpions, Twisted Sister, and Led Zeppelin records - the next logical step for him was to grow his hair and spend all his money on albums with scary-sounding names. And bass guitars because, as everyone knows, bassists always get laid.

Realising that was no way to earn a living, he decided to study anthropology and archaeology for seven years after getting a few bands under his belt. Three degrees later, he found himself in London, looking for a job, ideally the highest-paid one available that was compatible with a profound love of beer: music journalism seemed the ideal choice.

Through a series of fortunate events he found myself putting quill to parchment for Kerrang! magazine for four years, travelling the world, g...

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Once the Export offices choose those artists that they feel are 'export ready', we hand them over to a specially-invited British curator, who decides on the final line-up, selecting his or her favourite three artists from the shortlist.

Previous curators have included a stellar cast of industry luminaries, including Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music), Simon Raymonde (Bella Union), Huw Stephens (BBC Radio 1), Stuart Clarke (Music Week), Sean Adams (Drowned in Sound... that's him on left over there) and John Kennedy (XFM). 

We're lining up the next ones for the rest of 2010 and into 2011, starting with Metal Hammer Editor Alexander Milas, who's chosen a killer line-up for our September 16 show.

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