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
Dexter, Underbelly, True Blood, Gossip Girl, Boston Legal, Letterman, Sunrise and Lareline, how's that for a mixture?
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.
Studio 52 (Empire)'s Details
Status:
Single
Here for:
Networking, Friends
Orientation:
Straight
Hometown:
Melbourne
Body type:
6' 6"
Zodiac Sign:
Gemini
Smoke / Drink:
No / Yes
Occupation:
Studio Manager
Studio 52 (Empire)'s Schools
Kingswood College
BOX HILL, Australia
Graduated: 1980
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Major: Music
Minor: Art
1980 to 1980
Trinity Grammar School
KEW, Australia
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Major: Music
Minor: Art
Studio 52 Recordings Pty Ltd Melbourne, Victoria AU Managing Director
since 1986
Kool Skools Project Melbourne, AU Director
Kool Skools Since 1996
Empire Records Melbourne, Victoria AU Director
Empire since 1991
Studio 52 (Empire) Busy recording the new Katie Underwood album and preparing for the Kool Skool Awards in November, promoting Marc Collis to radio & booking the studio. Posted at 11:23 AM Oct 20 view more
About me: Hi, checkout these videos we made and recorded for Empire Records artists Marc Collis and Zero Degrees.
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, The Uncovered Project 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, 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. Empire Records is gearing up to release some sensational new music from Marc Collis, Medee Bear and Zero Degrees, all of these releases have been in production through 08/09 at Studio 52.
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 2009 has just kicked off and will run till mid-October, when it culminates in ARIA-style awards showcases in 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!"
.
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.
ETE presenting Pro Rata, The Broadway Heist, Cotton Sidewalk, The Thieving Gypsies, Busted Spies & The Green Tea Circus this Friday Night @ The Noise Bar!!
6 awesome bands and several awesome beers, check it out!
David Hosking is launching his new album at the Thornbury Theatre
with very special guests The Killjoys. Friday 6th November. Hope you
can come. www.thethornburytheatre.com
Just dropping by to say Hi and see what you’re up to and how you are doing.
As always, wishing you well. Stay positive, productive & purpose driven.
Peace
Michael
G'day , Hope all's well! Just wanted to thank you for accepting us as friends, & hope that you enjoy our summer tunes! We're trying to get airplay on Triple J Radio, so if you like our music we have decided to give a free download @ http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=14312 or just click on the banner below. And all we ask in return if you can rate & leave a review of our tunes on the Triple J download page as these two things are what they will be looking at when deciding. We'd really appreciate it!
Hi Studio 52 (Empire), thanks for accepting my friend request. I appreciate the opportunity to introduce You to the music of ALIEN SKIN.
If you enjoy the MySpace song previews, you can listen to DON’T OPEN TILL DOOMSDAY by visiting my band-website (below) … AND while you’re there, help yourself to the selection of free downloads!
My debut video clip "CRAWL" is now on The Country Music Channel's Top
30 (CMC Foxtel), would love it if you would help me climb up the charts
by requesting 'Crawl' on CMC at http://www.countrymusicchannel.com.au/cmc/Requests.aspx.
Would love you to check it out and let me know what you think!
SATURDAY 9th MAY upstairs @ The Laundry, 50 Johnston Street, Fitzroy. Butterthief presents the second Melbourne V.High.P Jam. Boasting a massive lineup of SA and Vic artists along with some special guests, the night will feature REASON (VIC) with Fraksha (Nine High, UK), DJ Mark 563 and LOTUS, SOCIAL CHANGE with FUNKWIG AND DJ SNAIR (SA), BRIGGS (VIC), DJ Kansel (Battlehoggs, SA) METRICAL MINDS (SA) ELOQUOR (VIC), LKR (SA), and INKSWEL & MR MONK (VIC). Doors open 9pm, 18+, ONLY $10 entry. Bring ya Mamma!
xx
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