Happy 2012 to you all. We enter into the new year with a positive spring in our step after a hugely successful 2011
Below find a quick update on what the Big Life producer team have been up to and for a more detailed biog on each client, click the producer tab above.
Joseph Cross
Joe’s reputation as a writer producer was consolidated by the worldwide success of the Hurts LP “Happiness. Joe co wrote and co produced both the band’s breakthrough singles “Better Then Love” and “Wonderful Life” and is now in constant demand in Europe as a writer/ producer. Joe produced and mixed the Wheels album this year and is currently producing and mixing the next Courteeners album
Ash Howes
Ash concluded last year with a hugely successful stint producing music for The Xfactor, along with longtime music partner Biff Stannard. The pair produced all the music for all the categories this year, including all the finalist single “Wishing On A Star”. Ash’s stint on XFactor last year has seen him work closely with the winners of last the last season and Ash has writing, production and mix credits on current Matt Cardle, Leona Lewis and One Direction records. Ash also mixed hit singles last year for Narina Pallot, The Saturdays, The Wanted and Emin amongst a slew of other exciting pop acts.
Jacknife Lee
Jacknife continues to be one of the most sought after producers in the world. Last year he helped Snow Patrol reinvigorate their loyal fanbase with the release on the stunning “Fallen Empires” album which sees the band’s biggest European sales to date. The album went straight to Number 3 on release in the UK and to date has sold over half a million units. Jacknife also has the honour of producing the last studio album from the legendary R.E.M “Collapse Into Now” and finished the year producing new album for Silversun Pickups and writing with Crystal Castles and one of America’s most successful pop writers – Bonnie McKee. 2012 opens with JKL producing the new Two Door Cinema Club album.
Youth
As ever Youth worked on a wide and wonderfully varied musical landscape last year. Another Killing Joke album was recorded for Universal in Youth’s studio in Spain, following the commercial and critical response to 2010’s “Absolute Dissent”. Youth produced albums for German indie pop artist Maximillian Hecker, mixed an album for Spain’s biggest alternative rock band – Los Evangelistas, made an album with the Pop Group’s Mark Stewart and produced material for James MacCartney’s debut album. Youth is currently working on an multi – platform, electronic album for the fabulous flamenco star Karen Ruimy before heading into the studio with Seattle rockers The Crying Spell.
Sean Genockey
Sean Genockey had a fantastic 2011, consolidating his reputation of one of the UK’s most exciting rock producers. He spent a large part of the year out in Canada producing Montreal’s infamous emo rockers My Favourite Enemy, before heading back to the warmer climes of Wales where he produced and mixed the sophomore Baddies LP. Sean produced the band’s debut album “Battleships” which saw the band attract a militant European following. Sean also produced tracks for an array of hot emerging talent last year including Hermes, To The Bones, To Catch A Thief, Robot Disaster and mixed tracks for punk rock upstart Zuzu’s new album.
Jon Gray
Jon Gray is known for his excellent mix skills having mixed hits for The Coral, The Subways and The Zutons in the past. He spent a large part of 2011 working with Zak Starky on the Penguins debut album. The band have built up quite a reputation with their wild live show and support slots on the Beady Eye and Kasabian tours. Jon also went back to his dance roots and mixed tracks for Nick Muir and John Digweed and the new year will find him mixing the new Courteeners next album.
Tim Bran
Tim Bran is a valued member of Youth’s team and over the past few years has been producing records of note independently, including the Verve’s recent number 1 album “Forth”. His reputation as a mix engineer has catapulted last year due to the La Roux mixes of “Bulletproof” that were all over American radio and helped the band achieve their first Top 10 American single. Tim’s extraordinary keyboard and vocal arrangement skills have been utilised with great effect by Youth on the recent Kirsty Almeida album and the latest Charlatans record. He has recently finished mixing The View album with Clive Goddard, and is currently mixing singles for Neon Indian, The Drums and the Scissor Sisters.
Kid Gloves / The Freelance Hellraiser
In 2008 The Freelance Hellraiser teamed up with Anu Pillai of Freeform 5 fame, to form a production duo under the moniker of Kid Gloves. The magic was instant and their first co-writing production session was with Ladyhawke and spawned the monster disco, electro anthem, "Paris Is Burning". The pair have been in huge demand ever since, writing and producing tracks for Lana del Ray, Little Boots, singles for VV Brown and Primary 1 and in 2011 wrote and produced tracks for The Knock, and are currently working on a track for the new Cheryl Cole LP. Roy is spent a considerable part of 2011 developing a pop electronic act called Enfant, currently building quite a name of themselves in the club scene of East London…
Clive Goddard
Clive it still a vital part of Youth’s production team, engineering and mixing a large proportion of the records that Youth produces. Recent albums include recording the mighty Charlatan’s new album, recording Kirsty Almeida’s “Pure Blue Green” for Decca and recording and mixing the new Killing Joke album (not for the fainthearted!) Last year Clive also mixed The View album “Bread & Circuses” for Sony.
Cameron Blackwood
New addition to the Big Life roster, Cam had a fantastic 2011. He began the year on a high note working with hotly tipped band Viva Brother, recording and mixing various tracks for the band to promote their debut album. Based out of his fantastic studio in Clapham, he produced and mixed tracks for a host of exciting new talent including Lily &The Hackabouts, Thomas Pearce, the Hotelles, Novella, and mixed albums for Ben Thomas and Alabam 3 offshoot Mountain of Love. The year end find Cameron developing the gorgeous London Grammar for Ministry of Sound and mixing the forthcoming single for The Vestals.
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