Keynote Studios is
collaborating with CD King agency in a new venture to help young up and coming
artists with their music and productions.
CD King agency helps to promote
promising artists into the music industry. We have contacts with various record
labels, television channels and radio shows.
Read about CD King manager
Nathan Brown:
"I started at the age of 14
performing in a reggae band in school, then became a Reggae vocalist. In 1985 I
joined Solid Gold Sounds with Jessy James, Colonel Mite (had a no. 1 song "raggamuffin
love") and James Bond. Joined a successful radio station called Y2K where I was
a dj for artists including Ms Dynamite and the Heartless Crew. Started working
as a promoter in the Drum and Bass scene promoting artists such as MC Skibadee
and MC Shabba. Soon after I began promoting artists such as MC Skibadee and MC
Shabba. Soon after I began promoting artists in the UK including Skinny Man,
Crazy Tich, Dizzy Rascal and Mikey Murka (had hit song, control the dancehall)
and worked along side inspirational artists such as Wiley and Barrington Levy.
Now I am focused on managing CD King agency, helping to promote promising
artists into the music industry. I am also currently managing the creation of CD
King magazine and "Break Free" (a documentary about the struggles youths are
currently facing in the UK and the promotion of ways they can break free through
forms of self expression and education). CD King agency is working alongside
Reading borough council to promote positivity and self belief within the younger
community."
We are proud to be working with
an extraordinary talent in RnB / Pop music - Terrence Mas. Winner of the
2009 African Music Awards and performer at many festivals around Africa,
Terrence has a unique song writing ability and has all the charisma and
character to make it to the top - as well as an undeniably powerful voice. His
style draws comparisons to Craig David but his range is much wider, and creates
many different styles of songs.
The 28-year-old singer grew up in Zimbabwe where his father Vittario Mas owned a
jazz nightclub.
"As
a kid I used to go up there and see some of the greatest performers. My dad was
actually the first man to bring Bob Marley to Africa.
"They brought him down to perform in one of the
stadiums there - it was a sell-out concert".
Mas then moved to Texas in America aged 15
where he discovered R 'n' B after singing backing vocals with an artist called
The Saint.
From the US he moved to Reading to stay with
his aunt and has since settled in the town, making a name for himself as a
singer and working with local musicians such as hip hop ragga artist Deadly
Hunta.
It was his video for I Cry that helped garner a
large fan base and the award nomination after it was played on rotation on three
music TV stations.
"It was constantly getting played and people
were constantly requesting it," he says.
His plans are to put his live
act together and take on the world, starting April 2010.
Expect massive 3 tracks produced at Keynote Studios to be hitting the airwaves
soon!
Here is the music video to his song "I Cry" (we will be adding live interviews
and updates on this artist in the near future)
07/04/2010
Great news for the studio
techies who regularly use our studio! Our wealth of studio gear has now come
into a life of its own. We now have a sophisticated patch bay system installed,
meaning endless combinations of our outboard gear and ability to switch
auxiliary sends and inserts on the desk with just a few patch leads.
22/03/2010
In recent months we have
started working with some top engineers and producers here at the studio, you
can read more about them below:
Amit Bajaj -
Studio Engineer / Producer / Remix Artist
Amit Bajaj aka
Mentor is an
internationally acclaimed music producer and audio engineer. With more than
15 years experience in the industry, Amit has established himself as one of the most credible and pioneering names in Urban
and Asian music around the world.
In June 2003, Mentor returned to the UK to set up his recording studio in
London and has since acquired production, remixing and engineering credits
for the likes of Timbaland and Magoo ft Missy Elliot, Craig David, Nitin
Sawhney, Jon B, Rishi Rich, Jay Sean, Juggy D and many more. Mentor has also
scored TV ad's for McDonalds and Sharwoods, plus title music for TV programs
including Nickelodeon's "Control Freaks".
Apart from music production, Mentor Beats has been involved in Training
Courses and Workshops in Music Production for various organisations
including Point Blank, London School of Sound, BBC Blast and Fitzrovia Youth
In Action.
Fraser Smith
- Studio Engineer / Producer
Fraser started
out in the music industry over 10 years ago. He was a member of top 40 band
Shed Seven and toured extensively, as well as many TV, Radio and festival
appearances including
Top Of The
Pops, TFI Friday, The Jo Whiley Show, Pepsi Chart Show, The Big Breakfast
etc.
Fraser has produced and / or mixed records for The Yards, Sketches, Little
Man Tate, Dog Almighty, Ian Brown, Winterkids, Ali Whitton, Crane Brothers,
Pinstripe, Hayley Hutchinson, Shed Seven, The Needles, and loads more.
He has over 10 years experience in professional studios
producing singles / albums. Clients include EMI, Polydor, V2, Universal,
Taste Media, Gut Records, Hed Kandi, A & G. Fraser has advanced working
knowledge of analogue and digital recording / production techniques and
equipment and is an astounding engineer.
Dave Chang - Studio Engineer / Producer
Dave Chang is a
producer/engineer with over 20 years experience working predominantly with
rock, metal, punk and ska bands. He has
worked at studios from project facilities through to Abbey Road.
After running a mobile recording service (which included recording
performances at the Marquee club in London) Dave originally established 'The
Canning Factory' studios. Most notably recorded Alex Newport's Fudge Tunnel
prior to signing with Earache Records. Dave also engineered for John
'Rabbit' Bundrick (keyboards for The Who, Roger Waters, Bob Marley and many
more).
Some of his past clients production include Stampin' Ground, Johnny Truant,
Linear 77, Capdown, Panic Cell, Charger, Six.Point.Five, Knuckledust,
Earthtone9, Orange Goblin and engineered Liberty 37 and Olive.
15/01/2010
Meet the producer
Hot music producer Adam Whittaker is ready to make some waves in Reading. NINA
SIMPSON found out more...
I SPOKE to music producer Adam Whittaker the morning after he'd been midnight
snowboarding in Prospect Park.
This from the man that many thought had turned his back on Reading when he left
the area to work with big names like Lily Allen, Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse.
Now Whittaker is back with a new project at Keynote Studios in Burghfield, and
he's keen for passionate local bands to know that his door is always open.
Whittaker is aware, however, that his big-name work has had its disadvantages as
far as more low-key bands are concerned.
"Everyone thought I was too expensive, without even asking me," he said. "It's
nonsense, I do this because I love it. I'm passionate about it and I love
working with different artists and bands."
In fact, Whittaker's dedication to digging out new acts and helping them realise
their potential is tangible, which should make it a valuable opportunity for
young hopefuls.
"I'm gonna be interested in people who REALLY want to succeed, and really want
to get somewhere," he says, in a tone which leaves little doubt that he can make
it happen.
A far cry from what you might expect from a high-flying producer, Whittaker is
tight-lipped about potentially revealing studio stories from the likes of Lily
Allen ("let's not talk about her," he laughs).
He's far more comfortable talking about Reading-based newcomers Attention
Thieves, who The Guide interviewed back in December and who he plans to nurture
in conjunction with existing Reading-based production outfit Eden.
"They're massively promising," he enthuses. "It's still early days for them, but
they're all great players.
"Alex is a great singer and they're writing great songs. I think we'll be doing
a single with them as one of the first projects."
As far as the life of a celebrity producer is concerned, Whittaker has little
interest in cashing-in on the fame of the artists he works with.
He's happy to step in and play guitar on recordings without being credited, and
cites Mark Ronson's modesty as the best way to be.
"When I was working with him it was a case of 'oh, I'm a little bit embarrassed
to play in front of you because I'm not very good'. And you know how successful
he's been over the last few years!
"It's about the artist for me, it's about getting the best result for them. I
don't really have any aspirations to sell myself as a musician.
"I prefer helping other people make great records."
Whittaker's plans for 2010 are diverse. Among these are producing a track for
Eurovision ("pretty funny!", he says) and working on an album with a Romanian
band he eventually hopes to bring to the UK.
There are also some hush hush plans to work with "an old, classic band" that
Whittaker is not yet allowed to name.
It seems Reading has got itself a very in-demand producer, but despite all this
jet-setting, he seems most excited about his new production company and its work
around the local scene.
For any who question Whittaker's commitment to the area, it's his plans for
Attention Thieves they should take note of. "Hopefully we can really bring them
on," he says.
That is, of course, provided he isn't having too much fun on his snowboard.
19/05/2009
We recorded and mixed debut
album by Action And Action (www.myspace.com/actionandaction).
The album will be released soon on vinyl and CD! See below for pictures from the
sessions.
20/09/2008
Our recent sessions with Jungle
Drummer/DJ Fu/MC Stamina is now featured on the front page of
Drum & Bass Arena. The video footage
is exclusive from Yakuza Studios in Oxford, watch the amazing footage below!
02/08/2008
We are now working in
conjunction with Load Media Productions to bring you even more services such as CD
duplication, Vinyl pressing, Graphic Design and Web Design! Please visit
Load Media
Productions for more info.
15/07/2008
Keynote Studios is
featured in the latest issue of Future Music magazine. For screenshots of the
article see below.
"As
a kid I used to go up there and see some of the greatest performers. My dad was
actually the first man to bring Bob Marley to Africa.
%20sm.JPG)
