As an independently owned music company we offer a wide range of creative and business services to artists and songwriters: we produce and mix records and write songs in our two recording studios in London; we manage artists; run an independent record label and a publishing company. Get in touch via email to tell us about your project. We accept demo submissions.
News & Updates
Where It All Begins
A couple of months ago I received an email from the drummer of a band we produced 20 years ago. Having since entered the teaching profession he is now the head of music in a college in Portsmouth and, together with local partners, helps run an annual festival of performing arts that provides opportunities for local school kids to perform. Part of the programme is an official adjudication of the performances that includes an appraisal complete with a nice looking certificate. He asked me to adjudicate the pop and rock programme and I was happy to oblige. Some people might think it hell to have to sit through 9 hours of listening to local kids play, but while it’s true that from a professional point of view the performances offered little of interest, it was surprisingly rewarding to see the kids enjoying themselves, tackling nerves and battling with technical difficulties while relishing the chance
Hard Launch @ Dingwalls
Hard Launch @ Dingwalls is a new showcase event we are helping host at Dingwalls in Camden. Featuring queer artists from the London scene, ranging from punk too electronic, from pop to experimental, the debut night is promising to be rather a good one. Hope to see you there! Click here for tickets. Ettie Ettie is a gay pop punk artist whose caffeinated and angsty rock anthems about being judged and dismissed, living with existential fear and coming out touch a raw nerve with their honesty and truthfulness. Fuelled by an extensive history of drinking wine and making questionable decisions, she wrote her single Marty McFly as “a queer anthem about wanting to go back in time and tell my younger self that it’s okay to be who you are.” With the mantra of “it wasn’t a phase, mum” Ettie’s music is like confetti at a party – playful, fun
That Gig In Camden – Feb 1st
We are putting on a show at Dingwalls 2 on Feb 1st. Come check out new talent. In order of appearance: Ralph Taylor is a soul infused singer/songwriter whose ever-evolving songwriting draws from evocative lyricism and characterful voice acting that have taken him on European tours. The BBC says Ralph is “One to Watch for in 2025”.Rose White is a London based singer songwriter whose playful pop/soul/funk grooves and husky voice have drawn comparisons to Duffy, Peggy Lee and Olivia Dean. “Intimate and evocative, truly impressive” – Wonderland MagazineSunsara are an indie quartet whose British, Indian and Polish roots come together in a cascade of meditative rhythms, crunchy guitars and soaring three part harmonies, making their sound a sun salutation to two great British traditions: great songwriting and good, consistent banter. With the occasional word in Sanskrit thrown in. President Elect are a striking indie collective with a penchant for witty, cheeky lyricism and a lighthearted nostalgia
All By Myself
If I can recommend a book this Xmas it is On Freedom by American historian Timothy Snyder, who discusses the meaning of freedom, arguing that “freedom from” something, whether it’s the shackles of government, red tape and taxes is all very well, but “freedom to” is what really matters if we are to build ourselves a better, freer world. Without ideals and values and institutions that support and enable them, we are not free to do, to express, to accomplish. The internet freed the artist from the shackles of the music business as it was embodied in the cloth-eared A&R guy who “didn’t get it, man” and the evil label rep who made the artist do stuff they didn’t want to do. So far, so good. Now artists are free to do. You can write and record your music all by yourself. You can mix it and master it, and
That Gig In Camden – Dingwalls 2 on Nov 28th
That Gig In Camden brings four emerging London artists to Dingwalls. We are brimming with excitement to be back on the live music scene with a night in the heart of London. Kyle Chatham is a singer-songwriter whose ethereal dark folk floats in space with no plan to return. Combining elements of bedroom pop and shoegaze with alt-rock and ambient soundscapes, Kyle creates timeless and sincere music. Midnight Repost is an indie alternative band whose fusion of celebratory funk, complex prog, introspective jazz and hooky ’80s pop is as commanding and sumptuous as their eclectic tastes might suggest. Sunsara are an indie quartet whose British, Indian and Polish roots come together in a cascade of meditative rhythms, crunchy guitars and soaring three part harmonies, making their sound a sun salutation to two great British traditions: great songwriting and good, consistent banter. With the occasional word in Sanskrit thrown in. Zoe and The Baby Trees
7 lessons to be learned from rejection
Having been on the receiving end of rejection for four decades, I’ve grown a thick skin. When I started my career as an artist, A&R guys rejected our demos. When someone finally accepted them, the rejections started to pour in from journalists. When parts of that wall broke down, the buying public began rejecting our work. Eventually, a few fans found us and we toured the world for a few years. So it wasn’t all bad. But there sure was a lot of rejection along the way. Years later, while I’ve been running a label and managing artists, I’ve had to both reject stuff from artists and face rejection when the world doesn’t care for the artists we work with. Neither is particularly pleasant. The only way through is to try, try and try again. Hopefully with a better song, a better record or a new haircut. Lesson number one