I have been actively engaged with music and the music industry for most of my life. I started writing melodies and songs when I was five, long before I had access to or tuition in any instruments. From the age of seven I began to teach myself to play the keyboard and found myself able to understand complex music theory straight away. I had a few piano lessons when I was eleven but found them to be more restrictive than anything else. In my teens I taught myself to sing by singing along to my favourite bands and later taught myself to play guitar and bass. Since then I have written hundreds of songs and been in three bands of my own: Emporia (2003 - 2005), Origins of Oceania (2007 - 2009) and The Tandem (2011 - 2012). I am currently writing and recording for my solo project Mailman: http://www.mailmanstan.co.uk
I became interested in production in the mid nineties after simultaneously falling in love with the Seattle scene and The Prodigy led UK rave scene. My first busked effort at production came about by accident after being asked to remix a track a friend of mine was working on for an independent trip-hop band called Lowlife. They liked what I did so much that I ended up coming on board as their producer and recorded, co-wrote, produced and mixed (on borrowed gear!) their album Lovelife in 2002. This led to a management deal and serious interest from EMI Publishing and Sony BMG but sadly the band split before any deal could be done.
After this I decided to go to university to study my craft properly - culminating in a degree in Music Technology from Rose Bruford College in 2008. Whilst there, I produced an EP for my then band Origins of Oceania and conceived, directed, edited and appeared in an accompanying music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR9XK1IbCC0
During this time I was lucky enough to work with some world class musicians including legendary session drummer Clem Catini (T-Rex, Bowie, The Kinks etc.) and bassist Colin Farley (The Cutting Crew).
Upon graduation I was fortunate enough to be offered the job of resident recording and mix engineer with established music producer and programmer James Sanger (U2, Brian Eno, Keane, Dido) at his studio in France. During this time, I gained much hands on experience. Since then I have been working as a freelance composer and producer and have worked on various projects including the following:
Antoine Architeuthis - Evening On The Hill EP
http://antoinearchiteuthis.bandcamp.com/
The Tandem - Silver Remains EP (Manifest Records)
http://randomtandem.bandcamp.com/
Mailman - The Long Walk Home EP, Karma Session Vol. 1, (ZM MUSIC)
http://mailmanmusic.bandcamp.com/
I am always on the lookout for genuine talent to develop, produce or work with in the future. So if you need a song critique or are looking for a creative producer with a proven track record, use the dropbox to send me something to listen to - I will listen to it thoroughly and tell you honestly what I think of it and what, if applicable, I think you ought to do next.
