Sam Smith and Comp – A little video from the band featuring what they have been upto this week. 

Biography

Standing 6’ 3” tall, with a slim build and jet black hair, Sam Smith has the look of a man who might’ve chanced a career striding down the catwalk as a male model. Such trivial pursuits were never on the agenda. Growing up in the former coal mining, cotton milling town of Atherton (near Wigan), a young Sam was instead enthralled by football and music.

Escaping to Manchester “as soon as I had the deposit for a flat” afforded Sam the opportunity to indulge in his twin passions. A football career was never a serious proposition “I’ll often lie and say I hurt my knee when I was 13…the truth is I wasn’t any good”, so instead he settled for watching his beloved United and writing songs.

He possesses a clutch of future classics already, each eschewing conventional boy-meets-girl indie travails and instead focusing on distinctly more punk rock themes of urban struggle and alienation. This isn’t the sound of a tortured artist, however -‘Some Facts’ is an anthemic celebration of city life and the riotous ‘Three Stripes’ will have marketing men at Adidas grinning from ear-to-ear once they hear it.

Primary influences include New Order, Springsteen, Greg Dulli, The Clash, Tom Petty, Neil Young and QOTSA. Having spent several months last year honing his craft at solo open mic nights throughout the city, younger member Johnny recently joined on bass, childhood friend Chris on Guitar and drummer Pete recruited via an online ad.

Sam Smith & Company will be gigging extensively throughout the North West over the coming months. Go see them.

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Current Release: Show Me Mercy:

Next Release: Della May:

Review from http://newbeatsmedia.com

Following the warm reception that was given to their previous two singles, the groovy Slam the Door, and the brown sugar likeCandy Snake, Mancunian blues — soul three piece Turrentine Jones come back with their latest single, Show Me Mercy.

This song has more of that lovely brand of laid back grooving and warm, droning organ. Tweedy guitar and soulful vocals are held together with subtle, then gloriously splashy percussion. What gives the song its stand out edge is the use of that Hammond organ providing rich tone and bass. The sound of it is just delightful, and there’s a real feel of integrity and tradition about the whole thing. These guys seem to have the knack of recording contemporary, genuine blues music and giving it a smoky warm edge and making it all seem as though it required minimal effort to complete. The track listens like a fine jacket, no frills to the eye, but you know it is of the finest quality. The track seems to grow and grow each time you listen to it, giving a little more with each repeat.Quality stuff.

Review from http://www.cafemaroon.com

Ever listen to a track and feel like it should be in a movie scene. That’s the feeling we get when we listen to Turrentine Jones’, “Show Me Mercy.” The Manchester three-piece formed in 2010 are relative new comers in the game, but are already making noise in their UK. Thanks to Turrentine Jones recently winning two awards at Exposure Music Awards in London for Best Blues/Jazz/Soul Act and Best Male Act.

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With hard times around for the majority of people, funding your recordings is a hard slog. Thats why the album is being fan funded via Pledgemusic. A handy tool for anyband looking for funding wether it be recording, touring or printing, head over and have a look. Pledge HERE

Some video footage from the sessions for you to have a gander at. Most tracking taped, just vocals, percussion and a few surpises for the album to be done.

With hard times around for the majority of people, funding your recordings is a hard slog. Thats why the album is being fan funded via Pledgemusic. A handy tool for anyband looking for funding wether it be recording, touring or printing, head over and have a look. Pledge HERE

'PledgeMusic is a direct-to-fan platform that provides artists and labels with the tools needed to get fans to engage early. With an arsenal of tools including our website, preordering system, iPhone app, email marketing, social media dashboard, data collection widgets, and more, artists and labels can let fans become partners in the creative process.'

Northern Uproar Facebook

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Plenty of talented bands, artist's and mixes have come through the doors from rock, blues, soul to some damn right crazy music. A big thanks to all you guys… Ya know who you are. Hope to see you again next year or for a Christmas beer!

Here's an old promo video from a very old studio! 

HO HO HO! Chris H x

Happy Christmas From Toast

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Looking for a recording studio in Manchester. Record live all in one space, using vintage gear such as the Trident 80b 54 track. 2 Inch analogue Tape,vintage microphones and to top it off an awesome engineer / producer at your service!

We are " One of Manchester best kept secrets" apparently. Hidden away from public knowledge in a converted house in Salford, Greater Manchester. The studio boosts a whole load of treats to give you a great time. Experienced and talented staff always aiming to get you the best results. Just listen to the music on this site for examples of what we do. We don't kick and scream about having the biggest names in gear, just a careful and well thought out selection. If your looking into studios at the moment, i'd recommend a trip down for a chat and brew. Until then chow for now.

Chris

Vintage Microphone

MTR 90 – Reel to Reel – 2 Inch Tape

Control Room – Trident 80b – From the 1980's 54 Tracks. Quested / Yamaha Monitors

Live Room 1. Fit full size drum kit, guitarist's and keys all playing together. All patched to house
and other rooms.

Live Room 2. House a full band in to play live, patched through to amps and other players
else where in the studio.

Live Room 2 again

PS

For More iamges of studio click HERE

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*Please enjoy Mancunian goodness in moderation. Excesses of having a great time may cause heart disease. 

FACEBOOK EVENT

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My training is tailored to the individual with a hands on approach, backed up with exercises and theory, using a professional or home studio setup.

The main core of the training is focused on recording and mixing bands, singers and instruments. We will be using some vintage and modern analogue equipment and up to date software. Each studio also has access to top of the range microphones and professional studio monitors.

I have two dedicated spaces to teach you all the tricks and techniques – giving you an edge to take sound engineering onboard in your own creative way.

Studio one – Is a full analogue studio with the use of a 54 track Trident mixing desk with pro tools HD and 2 inch 24 track tape for the slightly more advanced.

Studio two – Is kitted out with a Mackie 32 channel desk with Pro tools and Cubase. Perfect for home recorder or someone who wants start a career in sound engineering.

I have over 13 years in recording bands and producing in commercial recording studios. I have worked with countless amounts of bands from all over the country. I have also been involved in building and designing four commercial recording studios. My portfolio and other information can be found at toastrecordings.com

Here are a few topics that are relevant to what I can teach you:

Setup:

Computer
Audio Interfaces
DAW – Prot Tools / Cubase tutorials
Mixing Desks
Speakers

Micing:  

Choosing the right microphone for the job
Positioning
Microphone types
Cables

Recording:

Gain structure
Sample / Bit Rate
Multi track recording
Acoustics / Recording Environments

Mixing:

Editing / Manipulation Audio
Balancing / Automation
EQ
Compression – Multiband – Limiting
Effects
Bouncing

Creative Listening:

A/B different Mic’s and placements
Panning
Mixing Styles

If there is a certain subject that you wish to be taught on then just let me know, there are so many different areas and job roles within the Audio and sound engineering. The subjects above are pretty much the starting block to engineering.

PLEASE CONTACT CHRIS ON: 07964 957458 – Thanks

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We also have bands on…

The post ANIMALS ON TOAST 28th October 2012 appeared first on Producer | Sound & Mix Engineer Chris Hamilton | Record Studio.

Well with all this rain lately, I just had to dig out a few of those 78′s and do a little mix ahead of our next all day event at Antwerp Mansion – Vintage fair and music event on the 28th October.. Hope you enjoy your free download and come and join us for a little bit of old school dancing…

http://www.facebook.com/events/276925762424214

Mr T…

Track listing:

1. Bix Beiderbecke – Dear Old Southland (1930)
2. Cliff Edwards – A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
3. Frankie Trumbauer Orchestra, Bing Crosby – Mississippi Mud (1928)
4. Abe Lyman’s Califonia Ambassador Hotel Orchestra – Amen (1942)
5. Bix Beiderbecke – For No Reason at all (1927)
6. Arcadian Serenaders – Just A Little Bit Bad (1925)
7. Eddie Cantor – Charley, My Boy (1924)
8. Coon Sander’s Nighthawks – Harlem Madness (1929)
9. Annette Hanshaw – A Precious Little Thing Called Love (1929)
10. Clarance Williams Washboard Band – Cushion Foot Stomp (1927)
11. Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra – Blue Lou (1923)
12. Ace Brigode and His Virginians – Yes, Sir, That’s My Boy (1925)
13. Al Lentz – Deed I Do (1928)
14. Ben Bernie And All The Lads – Rythm King (1928)
15. Annette Hanshaw – Chiquita (1928)
16. Gene Kelly – Singing In The Rain

Free Download - CLICK HERE TO LISTEN / DOWNLOAD

The post Mr Toast’s – Singing In The Rain 1920′s Mix appeared first on Producer | Sound & Mix Engineer Chris Hamilton | Record Studio.

Here’s a fine review of Manchester’s Baked A La Ska – Just Desserts from the Sunday Times. Congratulations to the guys for a fantastic album, mixed here with Toast Recordings studio. The album is available from the bands website or iTunes.

Album: Just Desserts

Recorded: John Ellis
Mixed: Chris Hamilton
Mastered: Eric James

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