Posts tagged recording

A unique scheme that provides musicians with interest free loans of up to £5000 for recording services has been extended for 2010. Applications are now being invited for the 0% Recording Loans that are exclusively available to artists and bands recording at Astar Studios www.astarstudios.com .The loans are provided subject to status and can be repaid over a maximum period of 2 years.

Based in Heywood, Lancashire with nearby residential facilities, Astar Studios is owned by international writer/producer Andy Ross (Clippers, Spain) and has been custom built to meet the growing demands of today’s cost conscious record labels and flourishing independent music scene that continues to prosper with over 150 million download sales last year.

The elegantly designed studio boasts the latest state-of-the-art digital control room technology, a spectacular classic-sounding live room and relaxing chill-out area. For artists looking to release independently and engage directly with the market, special recording packages are available with support from creative and promotional associates with a wealth of music industry experience and for projects needing session players, Astar draws upon some of the UK’s finest musicians.

Despite the recent closure of London’s famous Mayfair and Olympic Studios and EMI currently looking to offload Abbey Road, since Astar Studios opened, Andy Ross has been flat out writing for and producing an eclectic mix of back to back albums, for independent and major release including the highly acclaimed ‘Yamaha New Jazz Sessions’ albums that have featured in successive years on the Xmas cover of Jazzwise Magazine. Andy also recorded tracks for Classic FM’s ‘Summer Piano’ CD and the highly acclaimed debut trio album ‘Golden’ (Basho) by BBC Jazz Awards winner, Kit Downes that recently received a 4 star review from Guardian Jazz Critic John Fordham. International writing credits last year included 3 tracks on the new ‘G Punto’ album ‘Da La Cara’ (Universal/Vale) and a commission for Andy to write and produce the music for ‘Anphoria’s Empire’ – a new classic rock style music spectacular set to tour UK arenas from Autumn 2011 with an all-star cast, using a new generation of special effects set around a fantasy storyline by Temple Clark, storyboard artist for the Harry Potter and Bond movies.

Astar’s Andy Ross explains, “We are delighted with the success of the loan scheme that has enabled us to work with talented musicians and projects we might otherwise have had to turn away on grounds of means. Getting any type of credit has always been extremely difficult for musicians and the creative sector, so the opportunity to offer interest free finance for recording services sits well with Astar’s philosophy to empower artists with the best possible recordings, visuals and business plan to get them noticed. The loans are of course subject to status but can be taken out either by the artist directly or on their behalf by a manager, family member or friend. This opens the door for artists and bands to make the record they always dreamed of and spread costs of promotion and gigging. For independent managers and labels on a limited budget it also creates the opportunity to develop new artists on a profit share basis.”

Astar Studios is licensed as a credit broker by the Office of Fair Trading and a member of the Association of Professional Recording Services.

For more information call 0161 280 0908 or visit www.astarstudios.com