I overheard a conversation the other day, it was a heated debate between two people about the best way to record their music. One was adamant that you should do it all DIY with your own equipment and the other was saying it wouldn’t be anywhere as good as if you paid to use a recording studio. What are your thoughts on this?
I say it depends on what you are recording and why you are recording it. If you are recording a demo then it is a bit silly to pay out for a studio but if you are recording your debut EP or album then hiring somewhere like www.recordingstudiolondon.co.uk is probably the best option for you. A place that can make your music sound polished is much better than an obvious bedroom recording. But once again I go back to what it is you are recording your music for… as a singer songwriter, a home recorded EP/album works well with the style and fans will embrace that.
Then there is the argument that most ‘listeners’ will not be able to tell the difference between programmed drums and live drums and studio recorded music versus a track you recorded in your house. With all the equipment and software that is available to us musicians it is absolutely possible and cost effective to record music yourself… and if you get signed you will get heaps of studio time in order to re-record anyway!
I want to know about your experiences and your opinions on recording your music…
“A lot of our tracks have sounded a lot better than I thought they would because of recording, mixing, and because I probably didn’t hear it that way. I’m not a songwriter.” Charlie Watts
“But some great records are are being made with today’s technology and there are still great artists among us. Likewise there are artists today who are so reliant on modern technology, they wouldn’t have emerged when recording was more organic.” Tony Visconti
We met up with emerging British talent, Broken Hands before their show at the Servant Jazz Quarters in London. The new band have got stories to tell and some great songs to unleash on everyone. I described them as a mixture of The Black Keys and Kings of Leon… so have a listen, find out more about them and try to catch them live some time soon!
We hung out with the wonderfully cheerful LIGHTS before her show at Scala in London, UK to chat about her recent release, potential happenings in the future as well as her inspirations for songwriting. Check out the interview below! (Watch it in HD)
Allow me to introduce a cool London trio called Flash Fiktion who make some very catchy synth pop music. I have had a sneaky listen to their album which is out in March and it is full of danceable pop tracks with hooks galore. I like the fact that the band recorded the album by themselves saying, “We have done most of the recording without the help of studio producers. We’re not fans of working by committee!” I won’t compare them to any other band but take a listen to the track in the video below and see for yourself why I think they might do quite well this year!
Review by Tom Caswell The O2 Arena 18/10/11 Photo by Clara Balzary
I can safely say that seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers was one of the best nights of my life. Having grown up listening to the band, I couldn’t quite believe I was now actually seeing them live and it didn’t kick in until a few numbers had been played. Hairs rose on my arms and neck when the intro to Can’t Stop pounded through the 02 Arena. It hit me like a train, it was excellent.
The band began with the first track off their latest album Monarchy Of Roses which is full of familiar sounds and feels you’d instantly recognise as a RHCP song. From there they launched into Dani California before beginning the next track with a brilliant jam which turned into Can’t Stop which absolutely electrified every single member of the audience.
The crowd didn’t stop dancing through the entire show. We were treated to powerful renditions of Higher Ground, By The Way, Otherside, Throw Away Your Television and Give It Away, the latter the final song of the encore.
To end the main set, the band played Under The Bridge, Higher Ground, Californication and By The Way ending an unbelievable hour of live music. How can the encore be better than that? Let me tell you. We were treated to a 6 minute drum solo by Chad Smith followed by Around The World, Don’t Forget Me and Give It Away, which was followed by yet another jam with Flea dominating with a funky bass riff while new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer stabbed away with echo filled tones which shook the venue. You could actually feel every note being played inside of you, especially the bass. You felt part of the music.
A lot of doubt was expressed after John Frusciante quit the band a few years ago. Could they go on? Could they improve on what they’ve already done? The answer is yes and you get a sense that they’re only getting started.
