May 2024

Grey May heats up with music from Down under to LA, Detroit, and Cannes. Meet an award-winning engineer and producers developing their own music in the studio and on the road, when not working with you! We have new gear, news of a major gift, label promotion, and dates for your social calendar.

We remain grateful to you, our valued creators, contributors and supporters. Grab an espresso and enjoy this month's serving!

Top: Engineer Matt Brownlie at East West studio 1, below with producer Brent Fischer at The Village and at Conway.

photos: studioexpresso

Matt Brownlie has recorded everything from jazz ensembles and chamber orchestras to voice- overs, audio books, and podcasts.

In 2013, Matt won a Grammy® in the Best Latin Jazz Album category for his recording and mixing of The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band, ¡Ritmo!, arranged, directed and produced by Dr Fischer's son Grammy®-winning composer/arranger, Brent Fischer.

"Brent was one of my first clients at the beginning of my career. I remember initially being hired to do some editing on my laptop at his home after being referred to him by another engineer. Eventually, I was his main tracking and mixing engineer. We have a working relationship to this day," says Brownlie who's celebrating a birthday this week!

Brownlie has also worked with Bette Midler, LL Cool J, Destiny’s Child, Frank Ocean, Kesha, and many more.

"I love the ATC speakers at East West and The Village. I occasionally reference the music I'm recording or mixing on the mains, and find the near fields to be great even after long periods of listening," say Matt about ATC monitoring.

When asked about advice, received or given, Matt adds: "The best advice I've received from a producer is to always anticipate the clients' needs and I suggest up-and-coming engineers do the same."

Read his full profile here

"You got to groove in the face of adversity," says the 6x- Grammy®-winner producer and Detroit-native Don Was about his new band, Pan-Detroit Ensemble.

This month he takes the band on the road. P-DE took the stage at Orchestra Hall on May 24th. “It sounds incredible,” Was says comparing it to playing at Carnegie Hall.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra hosted Don and the band for a sold out show during which they were joined on a few numbers by special guest and event curator Terence Blanchard. The new ambassadors of Detroit are comprised of long-time collaborators like Blue Note Records artist Dave McMurray on sax and Eminem’s Oscar-winning collaborator, keyboardist Luis Resto. Additional musicians include trombonist Vincent Chandler, trumpeter John Douglas, drummer Jeff Canady, percussionist Mahindi, guitarist Wayne Gerard and vocalist Steffanie Christi’an.

Don Was has worked with practically every A-list musician of his generation — to name a few, Bob Dylan, Michael McDonald, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger, Iggy Pop, and Brian Wilson. He co-founded Was (Not Was), which made some of the most eclectic dance music of the 1980s. Later, he won multiple Grammys (including Album Of The Year for producing Bonnie Raitt’s 1989 career revamp Nick Of Time), a BAFTA (Best Original Score for Backbeat), and an Emmy (Outstanding Music Direction for The Beatles: The Night That Changed America). Since 2012, he’s been the president of the venerable Blue Note Records — and he also hosts a weekly radio show in his hometown of Detroit.

Enter the raw and soulful sound of Detroit music. PDE's 11-city tour in US includes stops at the Monterey Jazz Festival and select European cities will be announced next.

The Pan-Detroit Ensemble will be performing at the @Bearsville Theater in Woodstock New York on June 1. More info here

Guitar Hero Don Felder's Favorite Things

Creativity in the Studio with Avid ProTools and ATC Monitoring

The song Hotel California has served guitarist Don Felder quite well over the years. He was the lead guitarist of the rock band Eagles from 1974 to 2001. Felder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 with the Eagles

"Here (in the studio), I spend a lot of my time when I’m not on the road. The creative part of being a musician is one of my favorite parts next to playing live for you guys. The writing, recording, exploring new ideas musically and lyrically are always exciting places to be.," Felder says in a post from his studio equipped with Avid ProTools and ATC speakers.

Felder has also recorded with and performed alongside top-drawer artists all throughout his career such as The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper, Warren Zevon, Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Vince Gill, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and the aforementioned Stephen Stills. (Don’s impressive list of collaborators, like the road, could literally go on forever.) “I grew up with Stephen Stills. His tour starts in Sherman, TX, at Hot Summer Nights on Thurs June 6th. For more details visit Don Felder official

East West's legendary Studio One (Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones) is booked for variety of sessions from single voice to 70-piece symphonic orchestra. Brent Fischer Orchestra recorded in one with a 56-piece ensemble.

Spanning over 61,000 cubic feet with a vibrant sound, the iconic studio comes complete with a spacious isolation booth and a beautiful Bechstein D-280 Concert Grand Piano. The control room features an 80-channel Neve 8078 Console, the largest in the world (originally commissioned for Michael Jackson's best-selling album, Thriller).

Each room at East West is equipped with a DB Technologies db4496 A/D-D/A Converter and ATC SCM25 Pro Mk2 house monitors along with NS10/ProAc speakers and are set up with Pro tools HD.

RIght: Grammy-winner producers Brent Fischer and Dave Reitzas in studio one control room during a VIP event hosted by Source Connect

photos: by the C

Housed in 1920s Medinah Temple, the historic landmark studios, for almost six decades, The Village has recorded hundreds of legendary Grammy Award-winning albums and Academy Award-winning movie soundtracks. One of the studio's Grammy-winning, staff engineers, Alex Williams, used ATC 25s on the Jon Batiste We Are sessions, as well as the award-winning Odessa sessions. He also worked with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Regina Spektor, Perry Farrell and many more. Noted Williams, “The quality of ATC’s design and construction is apparent upon opening the box. From recording to mixing, the ATCs perform flawlessly on rock, pop, hip-hop, jazz, or orchestral. I know what I’m hearing is what I’m getting. I’m thrilled that The Village is outfitting three studios with the new ATC SCM25A Pro Mk2s.”

“Having The Village purchase three pairs of the ATC SCM25A Pro Mk2s for their main studios is an incredible validation of this product’s excellence. It’s amazing,” Concludes Brad Lunde, president and founder of TransAudio Group.

Top Right: Jeff Greenberg, owner and CEO with Snoop Dogg at The Village

Spacey Jane: l-r: Kieran Lama, Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, Peppa Lane,and Caleb Harper.

Indie rock foursome Spacey Jane (name derived from one of the member's friends) is originally from Geraldton (West Australia). Singer and guitarist Caleb Harper and drummer/band manager, Kieran Lama, met in high school, and played together in a grunge band called Sicchino. Harper's most important influences growing up included The Pixies, Wilco, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys. Spacey Jane continued developing their sound for Here Comes Everybody, which was praised for showcasing new instrumentation and Harper's fuller use of his vocal range. The band offers shimmering guitar riffs, raspy vocals, pulsing drums, and driving bass-lines. Released in June 2020, Sunlight chronicled Harper’s experiences with mental illness, juxtaposed with clear-eyed lyrics, sunny guitar sound and catchy choruses. It entered the ARIA charts at No.2, has since accumulated close to 100 million streams.

“Spacey Jane have had phenomenal breakthrough success in Australia and are now poised to repeat that success on a global scale. The band are a joy to work with, and we are delighted to be making this long term commitment to helping them grow their audience internationally and achieve their full potential, both creatively and commercially,” says Paul Hitchman, AWAL President who renewed a global deal with the band this year. Watch It's Been A Long Day from their Album Here Comes Everybody directed by Serena Reynolds on YouTube

Top:Jack Antonoff with Bleachers

Producer Jack Antonoff has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award and won ten Grammy® Awards, including the 2022, 2023, and 2024 Grammy® for Producer of the Year.

Antonoff took a break from producing and writing with artists like St Vincent, Lara del Rey, Lorde and Taylor Swift, to record and release his band's self-titled album , Bleachers. The delux double vinyl album and cassette was dropped on May 8th via Dirty Hit label, featuring fourteen tacks.

The album is front man, Antonoff’s distinctly New Jersey take on the bizarre sensory contradictions of modern life - from his position in culture, to the things he cares about. Sonically, it's a mix of meloncholic mood meets bliss, suitable for drives on the open road, to family celebrations.

Singles include Tiny Moves and Modern Girl The album features backing vocals from the likes of St Vincent, Bartees Strange, Claud, Clairo, and Lana Del Rey. Ryan Beatty and Kevin Abstract wrote on the song Call Me After Midnight, plus Matty Healy from The 1975 also plays piano on the track Hey Joe. 

Antonoff formed his New Jersey-based rock group Bleachers in 2013.

Antonoff produced the soundtrack for the Apple TV+ series The New Look and contributed to the production of the Kendrick Lamar diss track "6:16 in LA" in 2024.

Bleachers also announced a four-date U.K. tour in promotion of the record for spring 2024. Tour dates here

Starstruck Entertainment, the parent company of Starstruck Studios was founded in 1988 by Narvel Blackstock. Located on Music Row, Starstruck Studios is considered one of the top iconic Nashville recording facilities, and recently chose an ATC 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos configuration and paired it with their SSL System TS-500 console for their Dolby Atmos room.

"ATC 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos system is cited as the speaker system of choice for the growing number of multichannel immersive sound studios.

Manufactured and designed in the UK to the highest engineering standards, it was only natural ATC could develop this solid niche," says Brad Lunde of Trans Audio Group.

Invest in Good Speaker Stands. Why? While looks can be deceiving, you must have seen concrete blocks and other DIY configurations used in some project studios. Speaker stands may not be on top of your purchasing list, but this 19-minute video by Colt Capperrune @ColtCapperrune may change your mind. $20 block stands are compared with professional stands ranging from $140 Gators to $1,200 Sound Anchor stands. Can you guess which one performs the best? check it out here Adjust-ability is also important for Speakers. For optimum sound quality the speaker’s acoustical axis should be at approximately ear level for the most consistent and best sound.

Sound Anchor adjustable monitor stands allow you to adjust the position of the monitors (height, angle and tilt) so you can place the monitors where they need to be for the highest quality sound.

Sound Anchors and Redmount products are designed and manufactured in Palm Bay, Florida U.S.A. using American parts and skilled American labor. click here for Sound Anchor dealers in USA

ATC models:

SCM25As

SCM45As,

SCM50ASLs

SCM100ASLs

"ATC monitors are something you have to experience to really grasp how different they are from everything else. Lets just say that you can hear details you’ve never heard before, leading you to faster, more accurate decisions in your creative process," says Brad Lunde, President of Trans Audio Group

ABOUT TRANSAUDIO GROUP

TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm.

ATC SCM 25a pro mk2 has been upgraded with ATC’s hand made proprietary SH25-76S Dual Suspension Tweeter, extending the high-frequency response with a reduction in distortion. " Like the original SCM25A, the new upgraded Mk2 is a compact 3-way high-performance active studio monitor loudspeaker, based around the hand made proprietary ATC 3”/75mm soft mid-dome driver and 6.5”/164mm bass driver loaded in a 25-litre vented cabinet," adds Brad Lunde, President of Trans Audio Group. The monitor’s combination of exceptional mid-range clarity, high-output, extended bass response and modest size make it ideal for nearfield monitoring across a wide range of critical applications. ATC of England is the insider’s studio monitor, demanded by the very top level of the music recording community. ATC designs and manufactures nearly all their proprietary components, drivers, and electronics in-house to the absolute highest quality standards. The best of the best rely on ATC monitoring as their main solution for tracking, mixing and mastering. Models range from $5,000 to $50,000 per pair and all share a very similar sound. For larger rooms and midfield, applications check out the SEM45 with dual 6.5-inch drivers and the fantastic SEM150 with a 15-inch woofer and 350 Watts of power. Choose the size that works for your space. More info here

TransAudio Group, U.S. distributer of the finest professional recording equipment in the world, is pleased to announce the new ATC SCS70 Pro, a compact, ultra-high performance subwoofer using ATC’s first, in-house-designed and built sub driver.

Designed by Billy Woodman and his team of engineers, this new 12-inch sub driver delivers the kind of honest and detailed low-frequency information that professionals have come to expect from ATC.  “Subwoofers can be a source of distortion, making the mixing or mastering process a guessing game. Now an ATC system, complete with the one or two SCS70 subs, can deliver full bandwidth audio for any genre, enabling superior translation on any system it gets played on, from ear buds to home hi-fi to clubs and everything in-between. Other subwoofers rely on EQ and poorly implemented ports, transmission lines or passive radiators to boost low end and make their subs sound impressive," says Brad Lunde

USA List Price: $5,490.00 USA MAP: $4,990.00

FISCHER LATIN JAZZ + SINGERS

@ LACMA

5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Sat June 29, 5-7 pm

FREE Concert

Latin Sounds at LACMA features world-renowned artists performing everything from Indigenous music to the latest sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Los Angeles. Fischer West Coast sounds return to LACMA by popular demand on Saturday June 29, 5-8 pm with band leader, Grammy®-winning producer, arranger, and multi instrumentalist, Brent Fischer.

studioexpresso community is invited to 2024 Salsa picante Reunion & celebration!

The Hip Hop Block Party

@ The Grammy Museum

800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles

Th June 6, 7:30-11:30

Tickets: $10.

Daniel Anthony Farris (right), known professionally as D Smoke, is an American rapper and former educator from Inglewood, California. He first became known as the winner of the Netflix hip hop-based reality competition series Rhythm + Flow in 2019, and later appeared as himself in the Peacock series Bel-Air, in the episode "PA to LA", based on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. On May 24, the Grammy Museum featured him in Backstage Pass: D Smoke.

Next month on June 6, 7:30-11:30 Grammy Museum invites you to The Hip-Hop Block Party

Tickets are $10. and aim to celebrate and empower local artists and businesses, creating an unforgettable celebration of creativity, community, and culture in celebration of Black Music Month.

This event is made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.   Artist include: DJ R-Tistic, Leslie “Big Lez” Segar, Richard “SWOOP” Whitebear, Larry “RUIN” Combs, Alicia Reasons, Marlyn Ortiz, Garland Spencer, Cross Colours, Black Design Collective, Alvin Allure & Entertain the Angels, Corentin Villemeur, UraelB and Xian Bell

studioexpresso and Trans Audio Group have featured many producers, and musicians over the past ten years of TEC Track's history at NAMM

Curt Bisquera (Sarah McLachlan, Elton John), Kenny Aronoff (Smashing Pumpkins, John Mellencamp, Sting), Greg Penny (Elton John, KD Lang), Rafa Sardina (Lady Gaga, John Legend), Niko Bolas (Neil Young, LeAnn Rimes), Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hedrix, Kiss), Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More), Cheche Alara (Christina Aguilera), Kim Bullard (Elton John, Kelly Clarkson), Cristina Abaroa (Celine Dion, Enrique Iglasias), Brady Leffler (Hot Chelle Rae, Justin Beieber), Al Schmitt (Diana Krall, Paul McCartney), Alex Acuna (LA Phil, Beck), Teddy Campbell (American idol, The Tonight Show w Leno), Ellis Hall (Ray Charles, Tower of Power), Jacob Armen (Prince), Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt), Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Melody Gardot), Manny Marroquin (Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys), Dave Schiffman (Adele, Limp Bizkit), Gregg Field (Sinatra, Pharell), Sylvia Massy (Tool, Johnny Cash), CJ Vanston (Toto, spinal Tap), Dame Gail Dorsey (David Bowie, Gwen Stefani), Jenny Mason (The Mrs), Neal Pogue (Outkast, Andre 3000), Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, James Taylor), Moogie Canazio (Sergio Mendes, Sarah Vaughan), Daniel Seeff (KJazz, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz), James Torme, Zev Feldman of Resonance Records (Sarah Vaughan, Bill Evans, Nat King Cole), John Wooler of Mood Media (Flying Lotus, Elton John, Miles Davis), David Benoit, Matt Wong, Ryan Ulyate (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Ian Charbonneau (Mana, Neil Young, Jake Owen) and Grammy^®-winning Brent Fischer (Usher, Elvis Costello, Symphonic Prince).

Marek Walaszek, inventor and founder of Bettermaker, enjoys a glowing reputation of creating award-winning, professional grade mixing and mastering hardware and software. The new Bettermaker Valve Stereo Passive Equalizer (VSPE) is the first Bettermaker product featuring original tube technology along with new company designed and manufactured transformers.

"The vacuum tubes selected for the VSPE are military grade with very strict requirements for extremely low levels of noise and distortion," says Brad Lunde of TransAudio Group, the distributor of world-class audio equipment.

A breakthrough in audio engineering, the VSPE combines the warmth of a vacuum tube stereo EQ, with the precision of digital control and recall. Bettermaker’s new transformers were designed after analyzing over a hundred different vintage transformers from esteemed manufacturers. The difference between the units proved not only audible but measurable. One of the most glaring differences arises in the lower frequency range where sound falls short of musical expectations. After years of research, Bettermaker decided to develop their own transformer that satisfied them – as musicians, engineers, and electronic developers.

Bettermaker’s VSPE includes a DAW plugin that allows you to control and recall all settings of the analog hardware via USB. Along with standard parameter control, it provides high-quality digital HPF and LPF spectrum analyzer session snapshots, dual mono operation, audio level metering, and quantize (step) mode for all hardware knobs. VSPE filters are also adjustable by dragging handles on the EQ curve graph.

“This is the real deal," noted Brad Lunde, founder and president of TransAudio Group. “Bettermaker continues to amaze the industry with both beautiful sound and digital smarts. The vintage analog sound of passive EQ’s so loved by engineers is replicated in the new Bettermaker Valve Stereo Passive Equalizer. Implementing new military grade vacuum tubes and in-house designed and manufactured transformers, the VSPE easily captures the musicality and tone of a performance with digital precision. It’s almost impossible to think of improving passive equalization beyond the Bettermaker VSPE, but I guess I’ll leave that up to Bettermaker.”

For technical specifications, go to the VSPE Product Page.

Units are Now Available. Price: $2999.00

Bettermaker Mastering Limiter 2.0 Convenient, easy-to-use plug-in control and instant recall.

“From Grammy-award winners, to top international recording artists, home and free-standing recording studios, the original Mastering Limiter is that piece of go-to gear that adds that particular dynamic edge and significant touch towards the end of the recording process.

The Bettermaker Mastering Limiter 2.0 has faster release time, a lowered noise floor and the same 100% analog signal path with the ease of digital plug-in control and recall. This one is a superstar product,” adds Brad Lunde, president, and founder of TransAudio Group

Watch Vlog review by DJ, Producer, Jon Sine of the new Bettermaker Mastering 2.0 here

The Bettermaker Mastering Limiter 2.0 is priced at $3,500 in USA and is now available for shipping.

"The Daking Mic Pre 4T, nominated for a TEC Award 2023, will elevate any recording offering unique solutions to common problems," say Brad Lunde (click top left image for a video presentation by Brad Lunde). The “low-distortion” Jensen input and output transformers offer more linear low-end performance under super dynamic conditions. Daking’s own variable high-pass filter dials out the low-frequency mud that can be subsonic and will decrease available headroom. Built in the USA, Daking uses only high-end parts like Jensen input and output transformers in a high-end design using all-discrete transistor Class A circuitry. Unusually high 24dB of headroom and easy to read twenty segment meters make proper gain staging easy and forgiving under a wider array of conditions.

Auratone Celebrates its 50th anniversary, Auratone and its US distributor, TransAudio Group, introduced the first-ever Active 5C, nominated for TEC Awards at NAMM 2023.

A careful R&D process has been implemented to maintain the original characteristics of the 5C, utilizing the same amplifier design from the NAMM TEC Award winning A2-30 amplifier.

“We were happy to get boutique Polish manufacturer Bettermaker together with Alex Jacobsen, owner, and grandson of founder Jack Wilson, for the perfectly matched A2-30 amplifier. Now, the two companies have collaborated to get a mono amplifier that contains the guts and soul of the A2-30 into each chassis for the active version,” says Brad Lunde, founder, and president of TransAudio Group.

The Auratone Active 5C is now shipping • MAP: $749/pair

Like the other 5C variants, the Auratone ACTIVE 5C is made in the USA.



Trans Audio Group -- The Recording Studio Equipment Experts. Call to order from their trusted brands:

A-Designs (USA), ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Auratone, Bettermaker, Daking Audio, Drawmer, Hakan, Latch Lake, Mojave Audio, Mutec, Pete's Place Audio, Sabra-Som, Subwoofer Pros, and Tube-Tech 

Questions- pricing, availability and dealer locations please email sales@transaudiogroup.com

TransAudio Group, the U.S. distributor of world-class audio recording gear, announces the

Drawmer 1977 – the company’s most versatile channel strip to date.

“For over 45 years, Drawmer has been on the forefront of creating and manufacturing beautiful sounding analog gear,” noted Brad Lunde, president, and founder of TransAudio Group. “With the Drawmer 1977, they combined the richness of analog sound with the functionally needed in today’s recording environments. The concept is legendary. The implementation is difficult. Yet somehow Ivor Drawmer and his team made it happen with the creation of the 1977 Channel Strip. I’m excited to bring this product to market. It’s going to meet the almost eternal quest to bring more of that ‘70s analog sound to today’s recordings.”

The Drawmer 1977 is priced at $1749 and is now available.

The new Drawmer 1971 4-band parametric EQ, available in the U.S. from TransAudio Group.

Trans Audio Group (TAG) has made its mission to deliver creative, problem-solving, and bulletproof products to recording studios around the world. This month, the U.S. Distributor for Drawmer, TAG, is introducing the all new Drawmer 1971 4-Band Parametric EQ. This new edition to the Drawmer 70s series of FET-based gear offers two channels of fully featured 4-band parametric EQ and a new CRUSH button with the ability to deliver a myriad of unique musical applications on each bandwidth.

Additionally, variable low-cut & high-cut filters perfectly tune out any unwanted signals, while switchable slopes on the low and high bands allow you to alter the focus at the top and bottom frequencies, plus a low peak setting that magnifies the bottom end.

All four bands have fully variable frequency controls and offer cut and boost of +/-12dB’s. Additionally, the two mid bands have completely variable filter bandwidth controls, enabling the user to focus on very narrow sections of the audio spectrum, or apply a broad natural sounding filter, and anything in between. This makes the 1971 incredibly versatile and capable of modifying everything from subtly fine-tuning mixes to tone sculpting problematic recordings.

But what really sets the 1971 apart from other parametric EQs is the CRUSH button. It adds a fixed time constant, auto gain makeup compressor, while also giving a wider rounder bandwidth, and introduces some musically pleasing harmonics and saturation.

Available as a switchable option on all four bands, it can fatten up drums, the bass guitar, and other elements of the rhythm section in the bottom end. In the mid frequencies it will help to warm the mix and enhance the presence, thickening guitars and adding punch to percussion, and at the high frequencies it will bring out the shimmer of cymbals and brighten string instruments.

With the CRUSH feature engaged, the boost control can be used to enhance the harmonic distortion. The effect is progressive, so as more boost is added to the band the CRUSH effect is more apparent.

Indented & accurate potentiometers provide greater precision with fast and simple recall. The 1971 is perfect for tonal shaping, staying true to the sound of the 70s, and ideal for any recording engineer or musician.

Noted Brad Lunde, president and founder of TransAudio Group, “Widely popular, the Drawmer 70’s series has received many industry awards, and this new EQ is sure to follow. The features embodied in the 1971, plus the amazing new CRUSH button, allow for fine-tuned tactile tone sculpting. CRUSH is a dramatic tool. Engineers and producers will love the diverse and subtle creative options. Drawmer gear is designed and handmade by Drawmer in the UK – no small feat for a pro audio manufacturer.”

Units are Now Available. Price: $1799.00 Details here

Will Hunt has been promoted to the role of vice president of A&R at AWAL. 

Reporting to Matt Riley, managing director in AWAL’s London office, Hunt will continue to lead in the development of AWAL’s roster.  

Since joining AWAL from Columbia Records in 2018, Hunt has worked with successful artists including Girl In Red, Dayglow, CMAT and Josef.

He continues to work with a broad range of artists across the roster, with recent additions including Clara La San, Nieve Ella, Mikayla Geier, Sarah Julia and Brandon Nembhard. He also heads up AWAL’s relationship with Rules The World Records. 

“I’m delighted to be stepping into this role,” said Will Hunt. “AWAL is a cutting-edge record company where there is an opportunity to sign incredible talent and do artist development, which I love. I’m honoured to be able to contribute in my own way to its story and keep working with the special team here.”

“Will has world class A&R instincts and a unique approach when it comes to finding and developing artists,” said Matt Riley. “AWAL has been on an A&R-led journey for many years now and we have managed to cultivate one of the best rosters out there. Will has played a key role in this and it’s been a privilege to witness his personal development to become an essential part of our global A&R team.”

Mohammad Rasoulof's film The Seed of The Sacred Fig explores Iran's recent Women, Life, Freedom movement through a middle-class family whose two daughters question their father’s role in the regime. This month at 77th Cannes festival, the film received a special Prize from the jury. The movie won the Fipresci prize, the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury, the Prize of the French independent cinemas (“Prix des cinémas Art et Essai”), the François Chalais Prize and has received wide offers from global distributors. The photography exhibition Women, Life, Freedom, showcased at the Hôtel Le Majestic for the duration of the festival, pays tribute to their courage with a series of giant portraits by photographer Moja.

Iranian rapper Toomaj (nee Salehi), known for his protest songs, has been in prison for almost two years and, according to some sources, he's sentenced to death.

His 2021 song, Soorakh Moosh (Rat Hole), targets the Islamic Republic directly, as well as Western nations and organizations who turn a blind eye to the oppression, naming US-based lobby group, National Iranian American Council (NIAC) in the song. The 32-year-old was initially arbitrarily detained in the Isfahan Province. “I very much wanted to be part of this campaign to save Toomaj Salehi @toomajofficial whose life is at risk. In our countries you get fame and fortune for making music but for Toomaj he gets the death penalty. This is barbaric and must stop," said Peter Gabriel in a social post on May 16. Among those signing were Duran Duran, Richie Sambora, Pet Shop Boys, Jack Antonoff, Chrissie Hynde/The Pretenders, Tom Morello, Tayla Parx, Peter Frampton, and Nile Rodgers.

Swiss architect Peter Zumthor has unveiled preliminary plans for what he hopes will be the new home of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). It is an organic shape, like a water lily, dubbed "The Black Rose" floating and open with 360 degrees of glass facing Hancock Park, the La Brea Tar Pits, Wilshire Boulevard, Chris Burden’s Urban Light, and Renzo Piano’s new galleries.Nearly five years in the making and to the tune of $650 million. Its huge roof covered in solar tiles will soak up the energy of the Cali sun. The building will give more energy back to its neighbors than it takes from the city. As winding bicycle paths and walkways inhabit the landscape at ground level, the building’s main level will be hoisted more than 30 feet into the air atop seven separate “pods.” Each of these uniquely designed pods will contain a staircase and ground level storage capable of exhibiting its contents to the public through floor-to-ceiling glass walls. If approved, this $650 million proposal - nearly five years in the making - would replace the dated William Pereira-designed campus

The proposed building is intended to create a cultural and social place for the city of Angels.

Rendering of the new redesign for Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) by architect Peter Zumthor

Until next month,

Enjoy outdoors summer concerts and cherish friends and freedoms.

Stay creative and tell us about your new release, event, or reach out for music production support.

Stay well and in touch, until next month,

Music Lives and Moves!



Claris Sayadian-Dodge, founder/editor

claris@studioexpresso.com