NZ is home to some amazing beat makers and producers and this week I wanted to point you over to a couple of new mixes which have just been put together by the boys over at The Jewel School on Radioactive in Wellington. The mixes were out together for NZ Music month and feature some amazing tracks by artists including Ladi 6, Fat Freddys Drop, Julien Dyne, Electric Wire Hustle, Opensouls and Adi Dick.

The boys don’t just focus on the bigger NZ artists so there’s also a whole bunch of unreleased tracks including a couple by yours truly (The Shades remix and my new moniker BVX). I’m actually really proud to by included in such great company and am excited to see just how cutting edge and deep NZ production is at the moment. You can check out the mixes online and I’ve asked if we can make them available for download, i’ll let ya know here and on my Bluevibe studio twitter page when you can grab em as a download.

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BVX – Steppin back

So here’s the first track from a new project moniker I’ve been working on called BVX. I originally posted about the BVX track a year ago and actually shelved the project to work on a few other thing’s. Since then I’ve been working on a few more tracks which fit under the BVX moniker and thought I really should finish the mix and get this one out there.

I originally wanted to get a new vocalist on the track but decided that the Dwight Trible vocal I used from his “Love is the answer” album works really well and actually inspired the tune so I’d keep it. If you haven’t checked out any of Dwight’s music then you really should head over to his website and get some knowledge. I’m hoping he likes the track because it was really inspired by his voice and his music plus I’m giving it away as a bootleg so I hope he don’t mind.

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So the registrations have closed and we’ve drawn the winner, so congratulations to Hugo Tichborne who wins the Vestax Handytrax turntable and vinyl prize pack. I’d like to thank everybody for taking part in the draw and because it’s a stunning day here in Auckland I’ve decided that everybody who registered will be getting all of the future Bluevibe studio releases free, in digital format .

Ok so here’s some news from the studio, I’m really excited to start mixing the new EP from Jellphonic, http://www.myspace.com/jellphonic , really blessed to be involved in this one and will be trying to help Jeremy release it, well, because the tracks are killer and really need to be released. The EP has been a huge success for me in term of getting the opportunity to start working with new artists and getting asked to do more remixes. I’ve also had several labels get in touch to license tracks for compilations which is really exciting, watch this space for future Bluevibe goodness.

The next project out of the studio will be a new Ghostfaders EP which I’m hoping to put out before christmas, if you haven’t got your free copy of the first EP just head over and grab one from here. http://www.bluevibestudio.com/the-ghostfaders/

I’ve been pretty quiet on the blog lately because I’ve been working with The Depot Artspace to build a new blog, it’s going to be a resource site for artists and musicians and is an amazing project to be involved with. I’ll let you all know more about it once it’s launched and I’ll also be looking to get people involved so watch this space. I’m also going to be posting more regularly on here and putting more emphasis on featuring new and up and coming artists who I’m really diggin, keepin it deep and heavy, nice!

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Now that the first stage of the EP launch is over I’ll get back to some of my regular blogging duties. I thought I’d start by letting you all know about a great new site which has just been launched by local electronic artist Module – Pattern Dot Life

Jeremia describes the new site as – "PATTERN DOT LIFE is a project in 3 parts or versions. alot like software releases.

Part one (version 1.0) is the free live album and the remix packs, embracing the open source movement. so you can download the album share it around, and also download the remix packs, and re-upload your remix back to me.

Version 2.0 is produced versions of the live tracks and featured remixes
which you will be able to buy on iTunes mid next year.

Version 3.0 (Final) is going to be a double CD with a DVD which I plan to record overseas somewhere in the future. which I will properly release."

This is a great live electronic album and well worth a listen, the fact that it’s free and you can download stems from each track to remix yourself is even more of a bonus. As you all know I’m a big remix fan so having the full album available "open source" is really exciting for any up and coming remix producer. Jeremia has also stated that any elements of the tracks can be used in of your own productions so you could also build some of your own sample packs out of the available audio, nice. This level of engagement with fans is always admirable and it will be interesting to see how the whole project works out from both a creative and promotional point of view.

Make sure you check out Module’s blog for more info on releases and live shows.

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Bluevibe studio is pleased to announce that the first in a series of new EP’s – This life volume.1 – will be available in New Zealand on October 15th and worldwide by early November.

Come and join us at the EP launch party in Auckland and get a free digital copy of This life volume.1 – Rakino’s October 15th – featuring Lisa Preston live vocal jam with Gene Rivers on the decks. DJ support from Dylan C , Mark Robinson, Bromide dub and Adone .

With influences from Talkin Louds UK soul through the beats of Dilla to the futuristic essence of Spacek and Marc de Clive-Lowe – Bluevibe studio mashes up some beautiful vocal performances from Lisa Preston and Lesley Paton to bring you This life volume.1 , the first in a series of EP releases from the heart and soul of the Bluevibe studio. This life volume.1 also features the keyboard skills of Lewis McCallum on the track High times plus 2 bonus Bluevibe studio remixes previously only available in demo form.

For volume 1. of the series Bluevibe called in remix support spanning genres through dubstep to vintage funk from an eclectic blend of international producers including magOwl (Sweden), Soliloquy (Sweden) and Adi Dick (NZ).

Track list: ***click on the player below each track name to listen***

1. High times featuring Lisa Preston and Lewis McCallum
2. Holdin on featuring Lesley Patton
3. Holdin on – Magowl remix
4. High times – Adi Dick remix
5. Holdin on – Soliloquy remix
6. *Bonus Track* Ambitions end – Skahlah – Bluevibe studio remix
7. *Bonus Track* Wait a minute – The shades – Bluevibe studio remix

I’ll keep you updated with all the latest news on where you’ll be able to get your copy of the EP and I’ll be posting further details on the amazing artists involved and an exclusive look at the artwork as soon as it’s finalised this week.

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So it’s actually been a year since I started the tracks for the Bluevibe studio presents EP and they’re finally ready to go off to get mastered. This EP has been a bit of a labour of love for me and while I actually have another 2 EP’s more or less completed I’m really excited to be finally getting these tracks out. It didn’t actually seem like a year until Lisa Preston pointed it out, I guess that’s because I’ve had a baby and started a new job since this project kicked off and the months have just flown by, that’s babies for ya!

In my previous post “Bluevibe studio presents – finishing the tracks for the EP” I outlined 7 stages in the release and I’m now up to stages 3 and 4, funding and mastering. I’m still working on funding options so I’ll run through the mastering this week and get on to funding the EP next time.

My good friend Kerry Adams from The Proof will be taking care of the mastering duties, he’s got a wicked ear and works in quite a few different genres so he seems like the perfect man for the job. The EP consists of 2 main tracks with 2 remixes of each track plus 2 bonus tracks which have previously only been available in demo form. I mix on Genelec monitors and although they are excellent my mixes sometimes don’t translate too well when played on other systems. This makes the mastering stage even more important for me and is the key reason why it’s great to have a a mastering engineer work with each track to make sure they sit together on the EP and translate across different playback systems. I would always recommend you get someone else to master your tracks but if you don’t have any budget and really want to DIY then here’s a list of some great tutorials for you to check out.

Next week funding!!! It’s the big one for me as I’m basically an unknown independent artist doing his first full EP release so I’m going to have to get creative with the cash if I’m going to make the most of it!!

• The secret of the mastering engineer – Bob Katz – mastering manual from the TC electronics finalizer written by Bob Katz, well worth a read.
• Mastering with plugins from Har-bal.com – complete in the box tutorial.
• The elements of home studio audio mastering – nice simple tutorial over at tweakheadz using some of the excellent uad plugins.
• Mastering masters – Mastering article from the excellent Sound on Sound website.

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Since launching the blog I’ve been getting more and more requests from people to come and record at the studio which has been great but I’ve now decided that I’ll only be working on my own projects and collaborations. I’ve been really busy finishing the new EP and working on new tracks with more collaborators and the commercial nature of the studio has taken a back seat. With that in mind I thought I’d put together a list of studio’s in Auckland for those of you who need to get some recording done. I’ll still be doing remixes and working on collaborations so get in touch if your feeling some of the Bluevibe tracks.

The first studio I’m going to recommend is Depot sound over on the shore in Devonport. This is a community studio which is part of The Depot Artspace and has an excellent sounding live recording room. The rates are very cheap and the staff are always excited to work with new artists. This studio has a basic level of kit based around a Digi002 protools system and is an ideal place to record if your on a tight budget. It’s also great for home producers who may want to track drums in a budget studio and mix the project at home. The other reason I’m recommending Depot sound is because I work in the same building as the studio and while I’m not personally involved I love the fact the studio focuses on offering a great service at a budget price to bands who would not be able to record anywhere else. I also love that Calum (studio manager) often uses connecting the art gallery as a reverb chamber with amazing results!

If you have more of a budget check out some of these other studios, check out their websites to get an idea of their kit list and the type of clients they work with. I like a studio with a bit of vibe to it so make sure you go and check the place out before booking anything, obvious I know but you’d be surprised how many people like to book studio time without seeing the place. If you’ve got any studio’s you’d like to add to the list just let me know and I’ll add them if they’ve got the right vibe!

Depot sound
Kog studios and mastering
Lab Recording Studio
Beaver Studios
Platform studios
York Street Recording Studios
Studio 203
The Rock factory
Earwig studios

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Just wanted to let you all know that The Shades have recently released their debut EP, it’s a deep slice of funk & soul and well worth picking up.

I did a remix for The Shades a while back and will be twistin “Liquid Situation” from the new EP as soon as I get the stems. They’re having their EP release up at Rising Sun on March 7th and will be heading down to Wellington for 2 shows on the 11th and 12th. Make sure you head along and support them, the EP’s totally self funded and it’s great to see them getting some respect for their efforts.

You can buy the EP from Conch in Auckland or jump online and get it from the Conch website or over at Amplifier.

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This mix has been put together by my good friend Kerry Adams under his Bromide Dub moniker and features the first airing of the Bromide Dub remix of High Times featuring Lisa Preston from the upcoming “Bluevibe studio presents” EP. Kerry is an amazingly talented producer who releases music under many different production names including Tech and the Filter brats. He also runs a a great blog called The Proof where you can check out all his music and read production tutorials and gear reviews. Check it out and leave me a comment, it’s great to get some feedback on the tracks and make sure you head over to The Proof and get your heavy heavy bass fix womp womp womp booooooom tish.


Track listing

Vaccine – Side Effects
Skream – Make Me
Skream – Clock Watching
Bromide Dub – High Times
Djuna – Ites
Martin Buttrick – Well Done (Papa Ench Remix)
Tech – Snowflakes (Bromide Dubs Remix)
Telefon Tel Aviv – I lied
DZ – Strong on Ya
Excision – Warning
Ghilslain Poirier – Blazin (Modeselector Remix)
Bromide Dub – Call and Response

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Holdin On – MagOwl edit – pre master version

I’m currently finishing the new EP which is the first in the “Bluevibe studio presents” series and has been in progress for about 4 months. What I’m going to do is go through all the stages involved in putting out this EP so that you get an idea about the release from start to finish and hopefully collaborate on a few ideas. The track you should be listening to whilst reading this is a remix of the first track on the EP my MagOwl. It’s a pre master version but is essentially finished except the final master. I’m currently in stage 2 of the release, outlining these stages has been a great exercise and is helping me stay focused on actually getting this EP out.

These stages are my method of working and may not be yours, I’d be interested to here how you define this kind of process and what works for you? Ok lets look at the stages then.

1. Write the tracks: for me this is the stage I actually don’t like to study too much because, well, I don’t think about it too much. I write everyday and really enjoy the whole process of getting in to a creative space and going with the vibe to see what comes out. Maybe I’ll focus on the writing process in a later post.
2. Finish the tracks: now this is the difficult one because I produce and mix everything myself. I’ve been a musician for over 20 years but have only really been learning to mix and produce for about 5 so this stage can be the most difficult for me.
3. Funding: gotta get that cash to so I can master everything, manufacture, promote etc
4. Mastering: some would include this in the finish stage but I’m gonna let this sit after funding because, well, it costs to get it mastered.
5. Production: CD, Vinyl, mp3, quarter inch tape?
6. Distribution: one of the most important decisions for any independent release. Defining who your core audience is and how to get your music to them is, in my opinion the job of a distributor. I could try to do it myself but I’d rather leave it to the experts, we’ll look in to different options and if there ARE any experts out there in a later post.
7. Promotion: the other most important decision for the release and another stage I’ll be getting help with this time.

Obviously these 7 stages are huge topics to cover so I’m going to let you know what I’ve been doing and also point you in the direction of some great resources so you know why I’m making these decisions.

This EP is basically 2 songs featuring 2 amazing vocalists with 2 remix’s of each track. I’ve managed to get some fantastic people involved in both the originals and the remix’s and can’t wait to get this EP finished and out there. Register for the email updates, sign up for the RSS feed or check back soon for more details of the release and more pre release demo’s.

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