Browsing Tag

Abbey Road Studios

Spotlight Feature: MIKE37 morphed pain into power in his soul-driven summer hip-hop anthem, PAGE OF THE DIARY

Posted on 9 August 2024

In contemporary hip hop, few releases capture the raw, dualistic essence of the emotional experience as viscerally as MIKE37’s latest single, PAGE OF THE DIARY. The narrative arc is powerfully constructed by an artist who simultaneously stands as a soul conduit and visionary beatmaker.

PAGE OF THE DIARY is an affecting aural reflection of the darkest hours before dawn, rendered into sound by MIKE37’s innovative spirit. The track ensues from a vivid vignette of melancholy before the beats morph—almost imperceptibly at first—into a high-energy, euphoric celebration of resilience.

MIKE37’s ability to straddle the emotional spectrum is on full display, encapsulating the listener in a journey from introspective sorrow to a triumphant, beat-driven high. The nostalgia-infused hip-hop beats lay a solid foundation, while MIKE37’s soul-enriched harmonies and sharp lyrical delivery cut through the mix, making each verse a testament to his creative charisma and his capacity to connect.

After the self-produced single was mastered by Alex Gordon at Abbey Road Studios, the quality of the sound engineering is palpable. Each sonic element is meticulously crafted, allowing MIKE37’s introspective yet bold lyrical thematics to shine against the sun-bleached melodies and dynamically shifting beats.

Fans of Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, and BADBADNOTGOOD will find familiar comfort in MIKE37’s discography, yet there’s an undeniably unique twist to his music that sets it apart.

PAGE OF THE DIARY is as much of a visceral feel-good fix as it is a fundamental lesson in expression. MIKE37’s chameleonic creativity is on full display in the quintessential hip-hop anthem of the summer. Cancel the self-pity party for one and play it on repeat.

MIKE37 Said

“PAGE OF THE DIARY initiates as an introspective narrative of a dark chapter; it transplants the listener into the story to share the relatable emotions before the beat switches through a flux of energy and euphoria.”

PAGE OF THE DIARY will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and SoundCloud, from August 9th.

Stay up to date with the latest releases from MIKE37 as he gears up for the launch of his debut LP on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Italian pop artist Emilya Ndme shows us her intriguing creative energy with her new release, ‘Space and the Universe’

Posted on 18 February 2022

Mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios in London and inspired by the much-loved German TV show called ‘Dark‘, Emilya Ndme shows us her vivid inventiveness with her latest single that will have you in a time travel mood with, ‘Space and the Universe‘.

Emilya Ndme is the exciting project of the highly talented Italian musician and indie-electronic pop/rock singer-songwriter Lauretta Grechi Galeno.

”I wrote it during one of the many lockdown nights, thinking about the shared life condition by billion people around the world.” ~ Emilya Ndme

As one of the most fascinating artists around in her genre, Emilya Ndme sends us into a new world using all of the inspiring mindpower that lifts her above all doubts and into a place that sets her free from this toxic earth.

‘Space and the Universe‘ from the Italian indie-electronic pop/rock singer-songwriter Emilya Ndme, is a mysterious track that has been made with an ode to one of the most-viewed series on Netflix ever. She sings with such an incredible tone that grips your body and takes you into her story, that lifts you up and has you using that undernourished imagination again that has been hidden for so long.

Listen in to this new single on Spotify and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Turn It Louder: Del Piombo rattles our senses awake with cinematic track ‘Sinai’ (Club Mix)

Posted on 24 December 2021

Mastered at Abbey Road Studios by the well-loved and award-winning engineer Simon Gibson, Del Piombo has our minds alive with the possibilities that are so abundantly clear on ‘Sinai‘ (Club Mix).

David Anderson Cosgrove aka Del Piombo is a much-respected composer, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, sound engineer, and EDM performer. This skilled professional attempts to show us that the world between the 18th century and today can be joined together in a classy style which we can all enjoy no matter our music tastes.

”Music and the arts are part of David’s family legacy. His grandfather, John Nelson Cosgrove, was part of the Silly Center Opera Company in NYC, whose members included Pulitzer Prize-winning author Carl Sandburg and virtuoso Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia.” ~ Del Piombo

Del Piombo shows us his compelling mindset that has him assembling an experience like none other, as he radiates so brightly through the darkness of current times with a new single that is quite outstanding.

”From decades of composition, David knows that every release is an opportunity to dazzle and delight an audience. Del Piombo is the next step in that lifelong mission, combining classical composition with modern technology to bring new sounds to audiences everywhere.” ~ Del Piombo

‘Sinai‘ (Club Mix) from the prolific music producer and performer Del Piombo, is a quite wonderful track that somehow mixes in two genres that are so different but may co-exist when integrated with love by true professionals. There is a raging start that shocks you awake, followed by beautiful melodies that gets your whole body twitching with delight. On a track that merits being in a Hollywood blockbuster with Jason Statham, you are completely wrapped into this fabulous mind-bending anthem.

Hear this speaker-shaking new single on Soundcloud and see what he comes up with next on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Take a trip with Taipei’s hypnotically Avant-Garde indietronica single, RAD I/O.

Posted on 26 November 2021
Taipei

Alt indie artist, Taipei, stepped outside of their comfort zone and broke new autonomous ground with their latest electronic art-pop release, RAD I/O, recorded at the Iconic Abbey Road Studios.

The galactically spacey feat of indietronica will officially release on November 26th, bringing with it swathes of hypnotic tonal bliss, and perhaps the most finesse you’ll ever find in autotuned vocals. RAD I/O succeeds in making the single more than the sum of all of its parts while finding intrinsic synergy between the vocals and the dreamy, psych-pop grooves.

RAD I/O is available to purchase on Bandcamp and available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Are You Happy: Café Society wonder how the new life is going ‘On the Bright Side of Rosa’

Posted on 13 September 2021

Recorded in The Hague and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, Café Society commemorate founder Richard’s impressive 45 years in music, that is one year ahead of the 40th anniversary of him forming the band in 1982 with ‘On the Bright Side of Rosa‘.

Café Society is a four-piece indie alternative new wave band that started up in Los Angeles, who are now based in The Netherlands. The band features his eleven-years-old daughter Bella, and make that intricately-made music vibration to calm our tired heads from this over-stimulated world.

”Founded by American musician, singer and songwriter Richard Morris in Los Angeles in 1982, Café Society became one of L.A.’s most beloved unsigned local bands, opening for acts such as Los Lobos, Steve Vai, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cock Robin, The Minutemen, T.S.O.L., and X.” ~ Café Society

With a thoughtful ambiance, this is a stunning single which is all about explaining why it took so long to visit. Made with a reflection-filled energy and a band who seem to mesh perfectly together, this is a memorable single packed with a foot-tapping vibe which takes you a happy world away from current harsh times.

“The greatest opening band in L.A.” ~ Anthony Kiedis, lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers

‘On the Bright Side of Rosa‘ from The Netherlands-based indie new wave act Café Society, is a peaceful single which is full of classy soundscapes, whistles and good energy from a lovely band full of terrific vocals and lyricism. This is the type of song to chill with on the weekend as you let your imagination wonder, to marvel at such a catchy underground gem.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more on his IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Its Never Too Late: London electronica artist James Greenfield finds the clues to redemption on ‘Returning’

Posted on 7 August 2021

Mastered skillfully at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, James Greenfield brings us a fantastic new single with a true-life feel that has such a personal soul-recovering touch to it with ‘Returning‘.

James Greenfield is a well-established London, England-based-based indie electronica artist, cat lover, neo-classical and mightily skilled multi-instrumentalist, who is making his singing debut on this fine new single.

After starting his music journey over twenty years ago whilst making tunes for computer games, this is an ever-evolving artist who is always looking to improve and be as genuine as possible.

This is the true story about finding your authentic self again after losing it in the haze of this weird world that we live in, with all the traps that can easily catch you up like mice on cheese, and keep you locked away in places you actually don’t belong.

”Returning” is about how every single person on this planet has something unique and beautiful to them that underpins their true calling. We might not be conscious of it because our authentic selves get trampled by education systems that want to pigeonhole us, by people who tell us we’re not good enough, and by our own false narratives born from living in lack.” ~ James Greenfield

Sung with such class and knowing insight of a man who was once lost in the matrix, you feel calm and invigorated by his vocal delivery, which is such an ear-warming experience. With a relaxing energy which is made with scrumptious conviction – you sense that he is on an enlightening mission – to open the suffocating gates around the road to where he knows his consciousness should be.

‘Returning‘ from the experienced London, England-based electronic artist James Greenfield, is that follow-your-inner-intuition type of track that certainly has thinking about your own journey. This is a terrific effort and one that shows you into his new path as a vocalist, challenging himself like an Olympic athlete to break down barriers, as he helps us open our eyes to where we need to be.

You can find your destiny, if you want it enough. Being real is the only way to live and heal after all.

Hear this fine single that full of true stories of wisdom on Spotify and follow him on IG for future live show news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Disorder – At the Door: Grunge has Never Hit Harder.

Posted on 7 July 2021

Stop wearing out your Deftones and Smashing Pumpkins records and hit play on the frenetically dark alt-rock hit, At the Door, London’s luminary outfit Disorder.

With mastering work by Alex Wharton (Pixies, The Beatles, My Bloody Valentine, Mogwai) at Abbey Road Studios and the mixing and co-production talent of Billy Bush (Garbage, Muse, Foster the People), you don’t need us to reassure you of the production quality.

But plenty of the ingenuity in At the Door comes via Disorder’s energetically confrontational presence in the alt-rock scene.

They offer the chaos of punk in a tumultuous soundscape blazoned with serious rock n roll stripes. The combination of heavy down-tuned guitars, synths and drum machines have redefined what rock and roll means in 2021. At the Door isn’t a revival but a reformation.

At the Door officially released on July 2nd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Connect with Disorder via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A&R Factory Present: Lycio

Posted on 16 June 2017

Out of Birmingham, Lycio are a contemporary 3-piece bringing a uniquely authentic take on electronic/hybrid music – combining distinctive vocals, real & electronic drums, alongside pad/synth textures. Despite their interest in sound design, Lycio ultimately prioritise the song – great songwriting, vocals & melody.

Following the highly positive reception to ‘Air Part 1’, lycio’s second offering ‘Saharan King’ sees a more reflective side to the band. ‘Saharan King’ was mixed by Craig Davis and mastered at Abbey Road Studios by Alex Wharton (mastering artists such as The Beatles, The Chemical Brothers, Mogwai, The Pixies and cutting albums to 12″ by Radiohead, Coldplay, Massive Attack, to name a few).

Emotive lyrics, evolving synths and pulsating sub bass see ‘Saharan King’ crescendo throughout. Lyrically pained verses build in tension, eventually opening out into its final yearning chorus.

Everything is played 100% live; no backing tracks, no playback. Hybrid music with that essential human feel.

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