The RPM Direct
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July 17, 2003
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The Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS) recently announced that Paul Gallo has been appointed Managing Director of the organization. Formed in 1979, SPARS provides its members with information and resources to make critical business decisions, evaluate technology, build value for their services and clients, while offering a uniquely competitive and creative environment. The organization is dedicated to studios which offer creative and technical excellence within the audio production industry. Gallo's appointment is the beginning of a carefully planned re-engineering of the organization designed to insure its ability to deliver practical, relevant business information on studio ownership, management and operations. Gallo will be joining Larry Lipman, who will continue as Executive Director. "The Board is unanimous that Paul and Larry will provide an ideal blend of member relations expertise, industry knowledge, and executive management," said David Amlen, SPARS President. "Also, as part of our re-engineering effort, we plan to add Regional Coordinators in areas of the country where our concentration of members is highest", said Amlen. "SPARS will continue to focus it's energies on providing solid business information to its membership - a group of skilled entrepreneurs who all share a common passion and a special camaraderie." "No one would deny that the music recording industry, like many other industries, has seen dramatic change in the last few years," said Gallo. "We are in a transitional period in which, driven by changing client desires and equipment needs, existing business models must be altered. There will be a successful commercial recording business in the future and it will be SPARS members who will lead the industry as it reinvents itself. Music recording is an art form captured within the finest facilities operated by the most talented and skillful professionals. Redefining this new value proposition while drawing from the strengths of today's many successful studio operators is the challenge I will assume at SPARS and is an opportunity I welcome." In other new initiatives, thanks to the efforts of Directors Jeff Greenberg (The Village) and Kevin Mills (Larrabee Studios), 23 major studios met in Los Angeles to participate in a Studio Summit also attended by the SPARS Board. These operators discussed the future of the professional studio business and helped the SPARS Board identify the most important areas where the organization should concentrate its resources to serve the needs of its members. For more information, contact Larry Lipman, Executive Director SPARS - The Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (800) 771-7727
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Allen & Heath Announces Console Giveaway
Buy one, get one free? Sort of. British manufacturer Allen & Heath is currently offering a truly unique giveaway to qualified USA purchasers: customers purchasing a ML 4000 or 5000 Series console before July 31 will receive a second console free. Is there a catch? No, except that the second mixer will be Allen & Heath's Mix Wizard 16:2DX. The Mix Wizard, valued at $1,400, features the same "classic British sound" as the ML Series desks and includes 4-band EQ, six aux sends and 100 mm faders. "The way we figure it," according to the Allen & Heath website, "when it comes to input channels you're always looking for more. Audio professionals worldwide, regardless of their application, are often handed more inputs to mix, whether in the FOH position, on stage or in the studio." To qualify, the ML Series console must be purchased from a participating dealer, and the purchaser must take possession by month's end. For more information contact Dave Lewty (800) 431-2609 www.allen-heath-usa.com ^BACK UP^
Shannon O'Shea Mgmt. Welcomes Nataraj To the Roster
You may recognize his name in connection with the work he's done alongside Nile Rodgers over the years, but this young multi-instrumentalist has his own unique flavor. Nataraj brings hooky, cutting-edge sexy to pop, heralding a fresh new sound to both dance floors and radio waves. And when it comes to Latin crossover, he lends a certain hot-blooded yet romantic appeal, possessing a rhythmic prowess that lends itself to the more charismatic of the genre. You can hear his latest effort, "Pull It Out," (Nataraj featuring Nolita) on the forthcoming 'From Justin to Kelly' soundtrack. Or if you can't wait, call to request his new showreel. In other SOS news, Sean Beavan is due to commence next week with Jimmy Iovine's latest offering, the fabulous Chronic Future. A&R'ed by Interscope's Tony Ferguson, the band is best described as a cross between the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day with a schmigen of Weezer. And the buzz continues on Beavan's last album production, Kill Hannah, even though the first single, "Kennedy" won't be dropping until October. Have a word with John Rubeli if you fancy an early listen. Meanwhile, Sean's new production and mix reels are hot off the burners - please call or e-mail Shannon O'Shea for more information at 323 654-2828. ^BACK UP^
Steven Klein SCR Completes Project Studio for West Coast Client
Steven Klein SCR, a leading designer and builder of commercial recording studios, project studios and post production facilities, recently completed the creative space for Damian Dragici, talented musician/producer in Los Angeles. Damian Dragici has converted a spare room in his home into a music production area with companion control room. The project was designed and supervised by Steven Klein. "This new space presented its own unique challenge," Klein concedes. "But the end result is a flexible, cost-effective environment that enables Damian to concentrate on the creative process of making music." Damian Dragici is a Rumanian-born film-score composer and music producer who specializes in world music and related music styles. "I wanted to convert a second-floor bedroom into a 350 square foot control room and tracking space," the producer confides. "We ended up with two, equal-volume connected areas with a windowed wall between them." The project included the installation of sound-isolation materials, doors, windows and acoustical treatments. Insulation was blown into the wall cavities, a layer of vinyl barrier placed onto the wall and ceiling and then capped with an additional layer of 5/8-inch drywall. Steven Klein installed isolation doors, windows were retrofitted with Quiet Windows, and a custom control-room window constructed. "The acoustic treatment was designed to fit a defined aesthetic and budget, and was custom designed for the use of the space," Klein explains. Recording equipment includes a Digidesign Pro Tools HD Digital Audio Workstation and Apple's Emagic Logic software running on an Apple Macintosh G4, connected to self-powered Genelec Model 1031 A control room monitors and subwoofer. A piano is housed in a nearby loft. "The new studio is wonderful," Dragici enthuses. Initial recordings at the new facility include a Chinese ensemble and Cuban Music. "It is a great job. The construction is excellent and the sound quality is very, very good. I couldn't be happier." Steven Klein is a Licensed General Building Contractor and a Licensed Finish Carpentry Contractor. For more information contact media representative Mel Lambert or contact Steven Klein Sound Control Room, Phone: (818) 788-1238 www.soundcontrolroom.com ^BACK UP^
RocaSound Remixes Dandy Warhol's "You Were The Last High"
"You Were the last high" the first US single (2nd international single) from The Dandy Warhol's upcoming Capitol Records CD "Welcome to the monkey house" was "re-interpreted" for domestic and international dance floors by LA-based Sebastian Arocha-Morton AKA RocaSOUND; beating Felix Da Housecat and Scumfrog for the assignment. Rocasound's main mix & RocaClash electro mix where praised by Capitol's VP of A&R Julian Raymond and his staff. The cd-single of "You were the last high" will be released on July 28th, the vinyl will be serviced the same week internationally. In other RocaSOUND news: Sebastian is supervising the soundtrack album of his full length score for the CGI animated feature film ELYSIUM. Sebastian and AB Quintanilla teamed up on a track for Paulina Rubio's upcoming album that is being recorded at New York's Hit Factory. And they are also in the studio with SONY Music's multi-platinum artist Kalimba of OV7 fame. This artist is being groomed to be the first urban crossover artist ever to come out of MEXICO. For more information regarding rocasound visit www.rocasound.com or contact manager Miguel Govea for Magico Entertainment (310) 435-5370 ^BACK UP^
The IPO Festival Returns To LA and Orange Cty. For It's 6th Year Thousands of fans from around the Los Angeles area, the country and the world will converge on Los Angeles this week as International Pop Overthrow explodes into its 6th year! IPO Los Angeles will feature more than 180 of the best pop artists from around the world, who play in several venues throughout Los Angeles from July 18 thru August 3 including The Knitting Factory, The Derby, Club Lingerie, Spaceland, Fais Do Do, The Echo, The Joint, Johnny Foxx's, Zen Sushi, Eastgate Park, and The Galaxy Theater. Now being touted as the largest music festival of its kind, IPO celebrates the music made famous by such pop heroes as The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Badfinger while also focusing on the vast amount of music being made today by those artists who rely on melodic songcraft to express their musical tastes. From The Beatles to Green Day and Weezer, the International Pop Overthrow Music Festival celebrates the evolution of pop music. For the past two years the festival has had extremely successful appearances in New York and Chicago, and will be heading for the to Liverpool in October, with several shows at the world famous Cavern Club! Artists scheduled to appear at the upcoming International Pop Overthrow in Los Angeles include: Gigolo Aunts, Liquor Giants, The Rembrandts, The Waking Hours, Feel, The 88, Cowboy Nation, Sheila Nicholls, Andy Dick & The Bitches of The Century. For up to the minute event information, please refer to the International Pop Overthrow website at www.internationalpopoverthrow.com. If you'd like to be placed on the Industry Guest List and have yet to RSVP, please send email to David Bash at intlpop@earthlink.net. ^BACK UP^
Shure Headlines at 37th Annual Montreux Jazz Festival
For the ninth consecutive year, US-based manufacturer Shure Incorporated has been chosen as the official supplier of microphones and wireless systems for the 37th annual Montreux Jazz Festival. Providing nearly 50 U2 premium wireless systems and over 1,000 additional pieces of audio gear like the company's venerable SM58 and KSM studio condenser mics, Shure will take the stage at numerous festival stages, such as the celebrated Auditorium Stravinski, Miles Davis Hall, and Casino Barriere. In addition, Shure will also be providing 24-hour, behind-the-scenes technical support for the duration of the festival. Faced with the challenge of accurately capturing the heart and soul of the eclectic onstage performances at Montreux, Shure Europe Marketing Director Ron Marchant explained, "With almost a decade of experience to our credit, we've carefully tailored each venue's microphone offerings to the express needs of that stage. As far as festivals go, this is one of the most demanding. I couldn't possibly think of a better environment to put our products to the test." Beyond supplying the gear, should a technical question arise, Shure Service Manager Michael Wolf is on the spot to provide support. Wolf remains "on call" via a phone hotline so that he can be reached twenty-four hours a day to ensure that Montreux staff can utilize Shure's expertise to answer any audio questions quickly. In addition to the various festival performances, this marks the first year of the Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition. Run in conjunction with Universal Music and the Bea Young Artists´ Foundation, the competition is designed to give young artists the chance to display their musical talents in front of a jury of internationally renowned musicians. The competition takes place at the Petit Palais from July 15th to July 18th 2003. Running from July 4th until July 19th, the Montreux Jazz Festival promises to satisfy music lovers with acts including Radiohead, Morcheeba, Simply Red, Bonnie Raitt, Laurie Anderson, Cassandra Wilson, and Cypress Hill. Jethro Tull and Yes will also perform for the first time since 1968. As in years past, Montreux's Jazz Club and workshops will be part of the mix as well, along with piano, saxophone, and voice competitions. Check out www.shure.com for more information. ^BACK UP^
London's Mark Angelo Studios Has Had A Very Exciting Year
It has been a very exciting year so far for British jazz and the team at London's Mark Angelo Studios are pleased to have been a part of it. The highly acclaimed jazz vocalist Clare Teal was in the studio recently working with producer/engineer Tony Platt on her forthcoming album for Candid Records. Rising young star Jamie Cullum, the 22-year-old who signed the biggest deal in British jazz history with Universal Jazz, also dropped in to record a duet with Clare. Her live appearances have been impressing audiences around the UK, including a recent performance at the legendary Glastonbury Festival. It definitely looks like jazz is the new rock n' roll! Soweto Kinch recorded his latest Dune Records album, 'Conversations With The Unseen', with producer Jason Yarde and Tony Platt at Mark Angelo's. Soweto was the winner of the 'Rising Star' award at the 2002 BBC Radio Jazz Awards and of the prestigious 'International Young Saxophonist' award at the 2002 Montreux Jazz Festival. Jah Wobble's latest album, 'Five Beat', has now been released. The one and only Mark Angelo Lusardi engineered the album, assisted by Satomi Takada. Scottish band Belle and Sebastian chose Mark Angelo's to mix with engineer Darren Allison, assisted by the studio's own Scotsman, Kevan Gallagher. Rock band Reef did a 5.1 mix for the DVD 'Reef-Live In Bristol' and recorded a new single, 'Waster', with engineer Clive Martin. Among all this action there was still just enough time to hold a summer party. The bash, hosted by Mark Angelo's and Framous (manufacturers of the silver, gold and platinum awards for the music industry), went on until the early hours as guests celebrated the unusually warm British weather with plenty of chilled wine and delicious h'ordourves. For further information, please contact the Studio Manager, Mimi Kerns, on (44) 208 735 0040, or visit www.markangelo.co.uk ^BACK UP^
Liz Redwing Music Managment Clients Deliver On Top Projects Ronan Chris Murphy's recent production for Kuala Lumpur based artist Pete Teo debuted in the Malaysian top ten and has been climbing the charts for the last month to its current #3 position. He also produced and mixed a new album for Swedish modern rock band, LINT, which is creating quite a buzz in the A & R community. A couple of L.A. based majors recently flew the band from Stockholm back to L.A. for more showcases and meetings. Ronan produced and mixed the opening 29-minute track on the recent King Crimson release "ProjeKct One: Jazz Café Suite". Reprising his role from the original "The Matrix" movie, John Rodd was the scoring recordist for "The Matrix Reloaded." John also recorded the orchestra for select scenes in the new Johnny Depp film "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl", with composers Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt. In addition to his film work, John is available for orchestral recording for rock and pop projects. Robert "King Fat" Sims is still riding high on the success of Afroman's Gold selling album "Good Times", which contains several Sims produced tracks. Robert is now in the studio developing Virginia based rapper G Z Paul. For more information contact Liz Redwing ^BACK UP^
Singer, Songwriter Casey Stratton Taps Patrick Leonard For Debut
Singer, songwriter and musician Casey Stratton's Odyssey Records debut recording 'Standing at the Edge' announces the arrival of a new and distinctive sound -- rich, hook-laden melodies and soulful lyrics, blended in powerful, intensely expressive vocals. Collaborating with producer Patrick Leonard, Stratton demonstrates the breadth and depth of an arresting, introspective style in an ambitious new recording of 12 original songs. Standing at the Edge will be released this fall. Buzz has been building on the 25-year-old Stratton since 1997, when the artist's first independently produced recording announced the arrival of an emerging talent to watch. Stratton's pop ambitions are backed up with solid training in voice and composition at Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy. The result is an articulate, highly personal style that has evolved quickly in only a few years. "Four of the songs on 'Standing at the Edge' were written for the album -- one of them I wrote with Pat Leonard -- and the rest we selected from songs I'd written in the past," Stratton says. "After we chose them, a common thread seemed to emerge -- endings that are also beginnings." Producer Patrick Leonard heard in Stratton the versatile artistry he had become accustomed to in collaborating with such performers as Madonna, Elton John, Roger Waters and Jewel. Wrapped in the pristine sound that is Leonard's signature, 'Standing at the Edge' fully realizes the potential of Stratton's big-scale ballad style. "Pat Leonard was amazing," Stratton says. "The way we worked was really intuitive. It meant a lot that he's also a keyboard player, a pianist. We were usually right on the same page, constantly finishing each other's sentences. He respected what I was doing, and I trusted him. In many ways, he got me to simplify things in the sound on the record." 'Standing at the Edge', Casey Stratton's debut recording on the Odyssey label, will be featured on Sony Classical's Web site at www.sonyclassical.com. For more information about Patrick Leonard, contact Jim Phelan at Sanctuary Producer Management (310) 566-5000
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Brief Recording Personnel Updates and Announcements
Steve Gorman, former drummer and founding member of The Black Crowes, is now represented by Lippman Entertainment. His 15 years with the band encompassed six studio albums, one live album, eight world tours, over 15 million albums sold and also the highly acclaimed "Live at The Greek" CD with Jimmy Page. Steve left the band in 2001 and is now based in Los Angeles, primarily focusing on session work and being a touring drummer. Recently, he has recorded with a variety of artists, from newcomers Joe Firstman (Atlantic), Toploader (Sony UK) and David Falzone (Interscope), to established artists such as Warren Zevon, Jack Casady, Slash, and Billy Bob Thornton. Steve is currently working with Nikka Costa on her upcoming release for Virgin. For more information and availability, contact David Surnow at Lippman Entertainment 310-689-6500
The legendary Tony Visconti has been tapped to produce the new Tim Finn/Neil Finn record. The album will be released on Nettwerk in the US. For more information contact manager Joe D'Ambrosio 914 422 0022
America's favorite screamo band THURSDAY have just finished they're major label debut album "War All The Time" for Island/Def Jam. The record was produced by Sal Villanueva and was recorded on an Amek 9098i at Big Blue Meenie Studios in Jersey City, NJ. Additional recordings were done at Longview Farm Studios. Mix credits go to Rumblefish. Engineers include: Joe Pedulla, Erin Farley, Arun Venkatesh and Sal Villanueva. The projected street date for the album is September 16, 2003. Fore more information contact Salvatore Villanueva ^BACK U P^Missing Out? Check Out The New RPM Direct Newsletter Archive Feel like you're missing out on what we do? Then visit the RPM Direct Newsletter Archive to catch up on reading you may have missed. If you'd like to browse our producer and recording studio directories but you aren't a subscriber, contact Jerimaya Grabher to request a password for access. ^BACK TO TOP^
Addison, Nick
Alvarez, Tony
Archilla, Greg
Argent, Rod
Armato/James
Arnell, Mark
Arvan, Chris
Baker, Andy
Blaney, Joe
Bondy, Yak
Brocco, Charlie
Brown, Darrell
Bruleigh, Warren
Burnham, Dave
Champagne, Ronnie
Chill, Phil
Chisholm, Tracy
Christiansen, Rob
Alvarez, Tony
Archilla, Greg
Argent, Rod
Armato/James
Arnell, Mark
Arvan, Chris
Baker, Andy
Blaney, Joe
Bondy, Yak
Brocco, Charlie
Brown, Darrell
Bruleigh, Warren
Burnham, Dave
Champagne, Ronnie
Chill, Phil
Chisholm, Tracy
Christiansen, Rob
Corsaro, Jason
Croyle, Warren
Cullum, Jamie
Curle, Lee
Dawson, Simon
De Carlo, Lee
Dutt, Anjali
Ek, Phil
Friese-Greene, Tim
Gibb, Joe
Goetz
Goodwin, Jim
Gray, Kelly
Greenawalt, Roger
Grimley, Tom
Hedges, Ray
Hemming, David
High-Steppers
Hill, Beau
Hillis, Dave
Hilton, Stephen
John, Bob St.
Jones, Vincent
Kimble, Paul
Kraushaar, Bob
Law, Simon
Lee, John
Leiva, Claudio
Levin, Andres
Logus, Paul
Maurice, David
McMahon, Gerard
Memmi, Yan
Miller, Eric "E"
Norris, Richard T.
Pace, John
Pekich, Randy
Plastic Surgeons
Plum, Jon
Russell, Tim
Ryan, Micajah
Scott, Shad
Tait, Matt
Taylor, Paul
Taylor, Sam
Thorngren, Eric "E.T."
Trantow, Doug
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Van Hooke, Peter
Waterman, Marc
Williams, Sam
Zigman, Aaron
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