Your thoughts on the state of the industry

What do you think?

How are artists that make non-mainstream music going to survive in the future especially as nobody is really making money off album sales anymore?

Yes, we get to do what we like everyday which is the most important bit but is it wrong to want to earn a bit of cash from our musical creations?

Thoughts?....

Rhodes Mark 7

Im extremely excited about the release of this new product. Its a proper Rhodes but built for now with a better action, midi, a great built in preamp and above all, its lighter! Yes- no more broken backs (though i have got carrying my rhodes mark 2 on my own with the lid off down cold!)

Whilst the Mark 7 has been seen a trade fairs around the world for a while now and many have doubted that it will be going into production, nobody has got their hands on a production model-yet! Well, hopefully that person is going to be me over in the UK as im angling to get it tested on a few gigs and review it for Future Music Magazine. As soon as i have more info ill report back.

Fingerz Crossed!!!

Bruce Swedien Interview

Bruce is one of my heroes. His work as an engineer/producer with Quincy Jones on albums by The Brothers Johnson, and Michael Jackson is second to none. Incredible sonics-these records sound like nothing else! Bruce is the king of sonics in my opinion!

Coupled with amazing songwriting from Rod Temperton (Heatwave) and stellar arrangements from Quincy, right now all the Quincy/Swedien produced/engineered records are getting lots of rotation in my car, studio and ipod.

Oh yeah and most of the musicians on records such as Off the Wall and Thriller are heroes of mine too! Rod Temperton, John JR Robinson, Greg Phillinganes, The Pocaros, David Paich, David Foster.What a line up!!!

Not forgetting the awsome Seawind Horns lead by Jerry Hey, probably the best horn section around. Google them for more info and discography.

inspirational stuff!

Check out a great interview with Bruce here

http://absy.com/ABSMMI/ITV/SWEDIEN/ukitvbsw.html

Love the bit about Quincy's chicken sandwich making! Enjoy...

New Apple Quad-Core Macbook Pros!!

Well, thats the rumor and thats what im waiting for at the mo...the trusty scarred powerbook is finally being retired and ill finally be at the forefront of technology again. Now we know new ipods are being lauched on september the 9th at the apple event but im praying in my techno-crazed mind that the new macbook pros will also hit the stores sometime this month, either launched at this event or a week later or something...

apples control of rumors about upcoming products is strict to say the least..

oh yeah and if your visiting itunes any time soon make sure you pick up a copy of my album

JD73-Zeros and Ones

Over and out for now

weather

The British weather stinks...its official!!

No summer and now we're into autumn and the weather automatically turns worse..whats going on...

makes me think about those chem trails theories..

anyway, still out of the studio today...

Focal Twin 6BE speakers

Ive just had the pleasure of reviewing a pair of Focal Twin 6BE monitors for Future Music Magazine that came to me via SCV London, Focals distribution company in this country. All i can say is what amazing speakers the Focals are. Ive been using Mackie HR824's for the last 6 years and mixed my album Zeros and Ones on them recently with no major problems however the focals seem to REALLY tell me whats going on in my mixes! Transparent, great bass extension etc etc. Read more in next months review in Future Music mag..

Its true up to a point that as long as you know your speakers and your room well then you can get a good mix on practically any speakers, but its amazing how truly great monitors like the Focals make mixing so much easier and less of a chore by far!