32 posts tagged “andy”
We don't post as much as we should cos we are too busy.....but enough excuses.....here's several reasons why we are the best studio in Brum :o)))
A
Yes.....it is true......
In the meantime it is good to be back......our website has been down for nearly 2 weeks due to server errors with our suppliers ( no names!!) but we are back up at www.musoplex.com - where this news will also end up!!!
Back to business - as well as just finishing some excellent recording sessions for Red Lite Run (hooky, catcy, indie), Skull Fox (due to be the best metal band of this generation), Zanzibar (proper, adult songwriters) and Police Bastard (in final mastering.....brutal punk) we have also just finished the latest in TV recording for Race TV and spoken word recording for www.imagetextimage.com. We are also filming at Rebellion at Blackpool in August for the forthcoming Police Bastard video. Look for a fat, middle aged man with a film camera sticking out like a ore thumb but singing along....that'll be me!!!!
We have also agreed to release and record the next single for local legends the E-Go's (www.egoarmy.co.uk) and hope to capture sheer brilliance of their live set on audio and video prior to release late 2009 or early 2010. Sincere thanks to the E-Go's for giving us the opportunity to promote them - the sort of band I'd go and see day in, day out anyway. Check out their fledgling website which has got some tunes from their last EP and a video for The Lights and news of up and coming gigs as well as a chance to join the fanclub - The Ego Army!!!!
More to follow but I have got so much ironing to do :o))))
Peas out....Andy :o)
Musoplex
A huge hello to all those who read our vox blog as well as this feed embedded in our website and myspace and facebook etc :o)).
It has been a while, has it not...? Not through laziness and not through a lack of love for my blog - just been stupidly bust chasing my tail all day every day for over a month......let me explain......
Every year, Si, my business partner, goes to Italy on hols for anything between 3 and 5 weeks - this year was about 4 and he also got married while he was out there to the lovely Maria - so sincere congratulations to Mr and Mrs Reeves. however, this left me with me.....and some supposed help - which would only materialise, and only sometimes at that, for money - which is only to be expected - after all we need to make our way and pay our bills. But....I have been up to my proverbials in it.
So, Si is back, this is what has been happening....
Rehearsal room 4 is sooo nearly completely finished....but was so in demand it is already being used as Police B*****d prepare to go on tour.
We have recorded and mixed and mastered (for free!!) 4 more bands in the last 4 weeks for radio broadcast and have several more interviews lined up.
Mike - our graduate producer, continues to cut his teeth on several new projects and we feel he is going to be a real asset in times ahead.
We have been working on TV audio for Race TV - many thanks to Nick
We have been working on corporate audio and are soon to start filming modular teaching videos.
We have just finished recording new material for Skull Fox, the Yipes, A Shot in the Dark, Zanzibar, Police Ba****d, Beechwood and many many more...bless you all for using us!! From acoustic bliss to some of the most vitreolic metal I have ever heard - excellent :o))).
We are about to start mastering an album for a recently found local producer called Elliot - watch this space - really excellent work.
A big hi to Strikes - our first Grime artist - see you again soon - really top tunes.
I have been on WCR fm for an interview with the Unsigned Show hosted by Katy Jay and may have a 2 hour special of my own coming up in the future. Loads of love goes out to Katy and Steve Morris (Station Manager) for the continued mutual support.
2009 will see a few changes coming up at our creative playground - watch this space cos these will get more frequent and some small and big changes are afoot.
Andy 'Don't Fear the Bass' Ward
We have succumbed to the first mass frenzy of the 21st century and joined twitter (http://twitter.com/musoplex). Follow us as we post really banal stuff interspersed with more interesting and relevant stuff about our studio, photography, live recording, video making, gig promotion, record label and more.
Go on....follow us....and join up.
Andy
2008 is finally over and as I start to settle into 2009 I thought I would spend a while reflecting on last year and moving on into the new year....
So - first and absolutely foremost - a HUGE thanks to everyone we have worked with or met in the last year. Way too numerous to name them all and rude to single out a few so just a big cheers to you all - it remains a pleasure.
In what was our first full year since the studio relocation we have seen rehearsing bands that we have heard from day 1 as a shamling wall of dischordant noise that now sound like working and coherent units with some budding, developing and downright excellent songwriters and players.
Pete has made some great and diverse videos - from a live tour of Germany with anti-fascist punk band Police Bast*rd to bang up to date current work of DVD filming, editing and authoring for Barry Steele - the UKs Number One Roy Orbison Tribute (is that okay Barry?? :o)).
We registered our label (unless you are deadly serious don't go there!!), released our 1st label material for The Cubans and Skull Fox and in 2009 will look for more as we get better at it.
2009 will also see Replicant (the live recording arm of the business) move into more frequent gig promotion - in Jan-Mar we will be looking for venues and acts. We will also be introducing a rewards system for bands - getting free photo shoots, days in the studio etc.
We also start a regular last Wed of every month local radio slot at the end of this month - fielding ourselves, our own guests, our own recordings etc..
And - speaking of our own recordings - Si and Mike are both pretty solid and all weekends are now booked until March - and even they are under negotiation and likely to go pretty soon - but this does leave weekdays etc easily enough - sometimes.
So - a great year - for which we are hugely grateful - and a very promising 2009 beckons.
A
Me!!!
Well....we have to start somewhere and at the bottom will do. Pete took a nice pic of me yesterday (no mean feat) while we were checking the setup for a photoshoot for The Follow On (Ex No Flash Photography) - recordings and pics to follow. So what better chance to say hello and "pleassseeee Mr Takamine - give us an endosrement" :o). Just look how much we can suck up :o).
I'm Andy and co-own Musoplex Studios and all its offshoots with the dynamite record producer Si Reeves. I'm 41, married, have a great wife and kid (Hell, ## and Alec, 5), 2 kittens (Mac and Flo) and a fish (Mr. White - from Reservoir Dogs).
One thing harder than running a business is not running one cos when you're hot, you're hot and busy.....ohhhhh so busy. Over the last few months Si hasn't known what has hit him, we have made some great new friends to do business with, rehearsals and the photo studio are always busy and fun and the studio is a very happy place to be around. Our latest recordings have been folk to metalcore and beyond.....we will catch up on the backlog of mixing / production and mastering this week so keep your ears open for music from Julie Small, Through Her Eyes (studio virgins) and The Follow On. We need to get on top cos Zanzibar start their album this weekend.....
So more me....I love Tarantino films, Futurama and my family but not in that order. I am a bass player of some ability and a keys player, guitarist and singer of not so much ability.......but I do like to play. I do the studio and off-site live recording, mixing and mastering as well as a lot of photography for sheer enjoyment and man a camera for video shoots.
Enough - I am even boring myself now and let's face it this really is just another photo op! :o)
Except to say we have a new onsite guitar / bass / drum teacher!! see www.musoplex.com
Sozza.
A
And.....Discotheque Wreck, Red Already and Laika Dog are on their way. In the meantime here is a taster of Eureka Machines - Leodensian genii who gave a frankly startled and amazed audience the show of the year to date.
Cheers
Andy
SORRY - THIS HAS BEEN REMOVED AS IT WAS ON AUTOPLAY AND CLASHING - THIS WILL BE RECTIFIED ASAP
First of all - sorry - I don't get much of a chance to do this at the moment and really it takes minutes rather than hours but we can still hardly get the time in.
We hit 10, 000 hits on our website (www.musoplex.com) and for a year in wayyyy exceeded out plans and hopes. We are rapidly approaching 1000 myspace friends too so a big tanks again.
We had a fun week and weekend with 3 recordings booked in - one of which we had to put off till next week so a big big sorry Steve - see you Wednesday :o)
On Thursday we live recorded Laika Dog (the new band of Terrorvision's Tony Wright), Eureka Machines (if you see a poster - go and see them), Red Already and Discotheque Wreck - both under construction but had a massive turnout and justifiably warm reception.
On Saturday we did a PA hire and engineering of a 2.5kW rig for Millenium of Blood (very metal night) and within 5 minutes one of our brand new set of midrange speaker stacks had blown and had to be replaced. Skullfox were show stealers, the PA worked in the end, Martyr de Mona were stylish and Adrenaline did exactly what they said on the tin. Not everything will always run smoothly and Si got us through it all.......cos I forgot I was playing myself in Dudley that night. We set up, soundchecked, changed speakers, crossed our fingers and hey presto. I had to leave at 9.30, play a 40 minute set 15 miles away then come back to strip down. An interesting day that saw me start at 1pm a finish at 3am.......
This week we mix the live stuff from last week, record Steve Hadley, Police Ba****d are in writing material for a new album, the rehearsal rooms are all buzzing, we hire out the PA again on Sat, Pete photoshops pics from Thurs night and on Sunday I see my lovely wife and see if we recognise each other. Guess what we are doing.....go on.....that's right - going to see some bands in Cannock hahahahaha....
I'll post the pics and live recs from Thurs when we get them finished....
Between now and the end of the year we already have to start 3 studio albums and record 4 EPS and are expecting a 5th or 6th too....but have no fear - we're here to help and can always do more as long as we don't compromise either your material or the studios name. We don't allow jobbing producers - everything that goes out the studio bears our name and we value it so you can always be assured of the best possible service and sound.
CHEERS
Andy
Courtesy of reverbnation.com......12 months in the making - some of the bands that have come through our doors in the last 12 months.....from acoustic to grindcore....watch out!!!
SORRY - I HAVE TAKEN THIS OFF TO REMOVE THE AUTOPLAY - THIS WILL BE RECTIFIED!!! SOON