Personnel & Musicians
lthough
having good equipment is vital for producing a fine recording, the other
half of the process is an equally fine sound engineer. Our studio boasts
not just one but six very conscientious and experienced studio engineers,
all exceedingly talented musicians and producers in their own right, who
can aid in producing a professional product for the experienced or the
novice artist.
Fun and friendship and a relaxed atmosphere are definitely part of our mission statement, and together with quality sounds it keeps people returning to us. If you like the madcap humour of Monty Python and John Shuttleworth (amongst many others) you'll like it here!
Producers, Engineers and Musicians at the studio
ANDREW
COUGHLAN - Or 'Wal' to his friends. Having worked as a session
bass player with some famous names such as Gary Numan and Dina Carroll
and Alison Moyet, Wal's speciality is in working with and producing bands
that need a little encouragement or who want a live recording. Mr analogue
man!
Instrument. Wal plays bass guitar
and double bass, he'll also play a mean rhythm guitar (if you ask him
nicely)
ANDREW
GRIFFITHS B.Mus(Hons) - Andrew is a music graduate and the
thing that really lights his candle is producing film scores, incidental
music and jingles. Also, a lot of his work is with Gospel artists producing
masterful tracks for choirs and Christian style records with a fantastic
sensitivity for the spiritual side of things. Recently he has been working
on our artist development package and can also turn his hand to some mean
dance tracks and re-mixing.
Instrument. Andrew plays keyboards
and can blow into anything and make a sound. His main instruments are
saxophone, brass as well as a fine penny whistle…and even
accordion! (although he doesn't blow into that)
TIM
HAMILL - Tim is the finest engineer and producer this side
of Scunthorpe! He's already produced and engineered tracks for Toby Bourke,
George Michael and Girlschool to name but a few. He's a mean producer of
any genre, and a good laugh too!
Instrument ….oh and he plays guitar!
Any sort really, just test him out and watch the sparks fly!
NIGEL
HOPKINS - is our midi sequencing specialist. What he doesn't
know about his subject frankly isn't worth knowing. Orchestral arrangements
par excellence, he's particularly good with dance and R&B…and anything
really, a genius although he won't admit it!
Instrument. Nigel is one of the finest keyboard
players around. His inventiveness and virtuosity have earned him many
accolades. Currently he is the keyboard player for the band Amsterdam,
who are being hailed as the one of the finest new bands around.
PETER
KING - owner of Hot Town….one man, one studio, one vision….to
create an authentic 70's feel in everything he does! For anyone who loves
West Coast music, good vibes and grooves, Peter's the man. Although he
primarily works on his own songs, he can be tempted out of the woodwork
(for an awful lot of brown drinking vouchers!) to help anyone who deserves
the loving attention he gives to detail.
Instrument. Guitars are Peter's instrument,
although he can play anything really - keyboards, Hammond Organ,
drums. We call him 'Mr. Quantize' because of his exceptional timing with
percussive instruments. And not forgetting his amazing ability to sing
backing vocals with parts that come straight from the Beach Boys and CSN
PAUL
PHILIPPART - One of life's different types, Paul blazes his
own trail on just about everything he does, not only that but he does
it with style. He's an engineer and producer par excellence, who strives
to achieve the perfect listening experince and will use any means to realise
this premise, including breaking some rules! He is also a great musician
with a very original, dynamic and artistic flair in both his compositions
and guitar playing, exploring both emotional highs and lows in a very
succinct manner.
Paul has studied Music Technology at Huddersfield College.
Instrument. Paul's main instrument is his
guitar, and he is well into Celtic folk and rock music.
Musicians for hire
COLIN
EVANS - His main instrument is the piano, and he will create music
for just about any project you can name. What
can we say about a man who creates some of the most amazing and beautiful
compositions? Colin is Musical Director and the main composer in a writing
collaboration with Paul Philippart for a theatre production and album
about the legendary DYLAN THOMAS.
PAUL
SMITH - drummer who reads music…strange but true! The
finest jazz drummer in these Isles.
THE
JACKS: (for hire as a band or individually)
Having been dubbed "The band of the century" by Radio 1 DJ Simon
Mayo and being featured in The Daily Star, The Jacks are available at
this studio as the in-house band….they'll play anything, anywhere,
with anyone for the right amounts of brown drinking vouchers.
Ryan
Aston - drums and percussion (or should that be concussion?) (From
Puerto Tablo)
Andrew 'Wal'Coughlan - bass guitar, double bass - Gary Numan
, Alison Moyet
Tim Hamill - Guitars - George Michael, Tortoise Corpse,
Toby Burke, Steve Balsamo
Nigel Hopkins - keyboards of any description including an
out of tune accordian! - Nia, Amsterdam, Steve Balsamo, and Martyn
Joseph
Tony Kiley - Chris De Burgh, Dina Carrol, Alison Moyet,
Blow Monkeys and the Coleman's Mustard advert!!!!!!
Mal Pope - Best known as a singer/songwriter Mal is also
a top quality producer, piano and guitar player, and mighty fine backing
vocalist - having worked with Elton John, Art Garfunkel, Martyn Joseph
to name just a few.
LORRAINE
KING - Everyone who hears this amazing singer/songwriter, is
instantly transfixed, she has a beautiful and adaptable voice, that boast
an enormous range. She's also a first rate songwriter who has produced
some exquisite compositions. Working from the studio she teaches vocalists,
guitar and composition, and takes care of most of the administration work
in the day to day running of Hot Town.
HELEN
ENSA MORGAN - also a singer/songwriter with a very fine range
of sweet to gutsy vocals, Helen completes our fine group of backing vocalists