Music, songwriters, recording, great production, great players & singers
Music
into everything good. In this business, it helps if you have a diverse interest in music. I have always been interested in all kinds of music, but most recently my personal favourites have included the Black Eyed Peas, John Mayer, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay and Prince. I am also a long time fan of Steely Dan and Frank Zappa. As a young muso I grew up learning guitar and piano from an inspiring teacher named Andy Vance, from an amazing group at the time called Chetarca (one great album on Atlantic). It was Andy who introduced me into the world of Jazz-Rock Fusion music such as Return To Forever, John McLoughlin & the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report and Keith Jarrett. When I was younger I was into Deep Purple, ACDC and other heavy music. Some of the albums I bought from a very early age included Daddy Who Daddy Cool, Deep Purple's Made in Japan, Skyhooks' Living in the 70's, Frank Zappa's Over-Nite Sensation, Santana's Caravanserai, Carole King's Tapestry, Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior, Gentle Giant Live, PFM Chocolate Kings, Al Dimeola's Midnight Sunrise and Weather Report's Heavy Weather & Madagascar. Hence my wide and diverse interest in music. I was also one of the generation that grew up addicted to Countdown every week on the ABC. My entire family was held at ransom over that show, no matter what else was happening I had to be near a TV to see every Countdown.
Movies
Two of my favorite comedies include Bowfinger and Spinal Tap, because of their clever parody of the music and film industries.
Television
tell you soon
Books
too busy recording
Heroes
Luckily for me I have met many of them in person through my career. Many of the people I admired as I grew up I have since met or worked with through the studio.
About me: ***The Alpine Uncovered Project is Now Available. Get it for FREE and see the feature now at www.news.com.au/heraldsun.entertainment/music or www.studio52.com.au ***
Hi I'm Paul Higgins, manager of one of Australia's finest recording facilities. Four studios at one Melbourne location, we do everything from demos through to completed major albums, mastering, artwork, photography and CD manufacture. Studio 52 is also the home of The Kool Skools youth music project, Alpine Uncovered and Empire Records.
Some the artists whose careers we have played an important role in include Delta Goodrem, Missy Higgins, who did her first recordings with us, Kasey Chambers, who recorded her first ARIA award single with the Dead Ringers at '52, Marc Collis, Plunja (a.k.a. The White Room), and lots of artists from the Blues scene, including Dutch Tilders, Geoff Achison, Andy Cowan and Blue Heat, to name a few.
As a studio, we work with all kinds of music. We love working with modern, cutting edge acts but also enjoy getting involved with many world music projects, jazz and Blues albums, and with country acts from time to time. Our engineering and production staff bring a lot of combined experience to the studio.
Our label, Empire Records, was basically a Blues and Indie distribution label but doubles as our 'development' label, which was used when we signed Delta and Plunja. One of the most successful series that Empire launched was Real Australian Blues. This CD series is still the best archive of Australian Blues artists and their music.
One of the big projects I manage at '52 is The Kool Skools Project. This is an annual project that provides a great start to many young musicians and songwriters throughout Australia. Kool Skools 2008 has just kicked off and will run till mid-October, when it culminates in ARIA-style awards showcases at the Concert Hall, Melbourne and the Metro in Sydney. More information about Studio 52 can be found at www.studio52.com.au and more about Kool Skools at www.koolskools.com.au. See also www.empirerecords.com.au
Who I'd like to meet: All musicians and songwriters out there who are keen to make great recordings
Checkout the latest video clip for Katie Weston from the Alpine Uncovered Project with her latest single "This is what I Really Want!"
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We would also like to hear from everybody that has taken part in the Kool Skools Project since 1996. There are a number of new opportunities existing for previous Kool Skoolers including new recording opportunities and gigs. Contact me now! I'd also like to hear from any young bands who want a big break - enter our competition for Kool Skools now - pick up an entry form at JB HiFi or Billy Hyde Music stores.
.. ..PONY MUSIC's new State of the Art ULTIMATE MUSIC COMPLEX is NOW OPEN in Hallam, Victoria (just 30 mins from just about anywhere in Melbourne via Monash Fwy and Eastlink!!)... .. ......REHEARSAL STUDIOS also available in ROWVILLE -Melbourne's South East.
For full details visit our website at www. ponymusic. com. au or call us on (03)9702 3244 .. <
Hello , Thank you for your friendship and support, it's greatly appreciated! Your invited to come by and sign our new G.R.I.T.S. World Guest Book. It is a rectangle under our calendar of events on the upper righthand side. Upload a picture and say 'Hi!' Please come through anytime. Have a plum pleasing, fantastic day! -The Sledge G.R.I.T.S. Band Keiko and Kariel, Mimi and Bo-pah Sledge!
