Bits & Bobs

Just a quickie to show a few things I’ve been getting sorted to help the summer months be even more fun.

Over the last 2 or 3 months I have been tarting up the outside area at the back of the studio. When the extension was built the builders kindly offered to lay some decking and as they did this we plopped a patio in place, but never quite finished it off. It’s been too long and I decided to tidy it up.

So starting with the patio I pulled it all up, jet-washed the slabs and bought some new ones to make relaying a more complete job and really have the farm builder to thank in helping to do this. Top job completed. The last bits involved finishing off the edges and borders, adding some outside furniture and I found some rather cool false ivy to decorate the fence - so I’m ready for suggestions for where to go next!!

The view from the decking is great and we often use out here to chill down from the parties when kids are getting too hot, plus it’s used for private parties. The pic of overgrown weeds is from 2 years ago - never knew weeds could grow so tall!

Break out gig for Danny Ansell & co.

Wow - these last 2 months have been intense working with Danny. We have 6 songs recorded (almost) with 2 that could be hits. But Danny is far more about performing live, so we have been having lots of rehearsals at the studio getting ready for the breakout gig this Saturday - details:
Venue - Square One - student hub, Coventry Uni
Doors Open - 6.30pm. We should be on 3rd at 8.30pm.
Tickets on door or via Danny

Danny Ansell & co. Tickets.jpg
Danny Ansell & co..jpg

Xv Frames debut EP

When young band Xv Frames came to the studio they didn’t know why they were called Fifteen Frames (well that’s how you say it apparently!) so maybe if you read this post you should go ask them directly!
I always ask what I think are pertinent questions of any new band using the studio to record, but have never in 25 years of owning the barn come across a band who don’t know why they are called what they are! Good start - but it got us talking.

Being young they had a small budget but big aspirations and tons of enthusiasm. With only 2 days booked to record 6 songs it was all quite feasible and they certainly had practiced well, showcasing the songs to me before we began the set up procedure. After 2 days of organised chaos we had 6 songs in the can - 3 full band songs and 3 acoustic tracks with various singers and arrangements. A well organised and productive group.

The songs are now available on iTunes and all those other streamy places:

More Than You Would Do - EP - Xv Frames

A very happy band comprising 5 main chaps (Sam, Ollie, Sean, Aiden & George) plus female backing vocalist Grace, with great songwriting skills and a good amount of punch - check them out on Instagram too:
@XvFrames_

BBStudio XVFrames.jpeg

Vocalists from West End

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to help a wonderful local singing school (Sophisticate West End) in a large project involving over 20 of their students. The 2 main tutors also wanted to make a demo song for their students to showcase their own singing talents with a simple video. They chose a song from the musical Mean Girls titled Apex Predator which I hadn’t heard of at the time, but have since watched the film (it’s really good - definitely worth a watch) and here is their video.

The tutors (Sophie Ayers and Djalenga Scott) only needed to sing the song about twice each and delivered this amazing song with ease.
Visit the West End Camp Video Page

Doing something like this is a great way to get your message out there and I regularly make simple videos like this for artists using the studio. An in-studio shoot only takes a few minutes to set up with all our specialist lights. Green Screen filming also available or outside on-location style videos are great fun to make - whatever you want really. For more information on the studio please contact BB Studio.