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'The Only Living Thing On Mars' The Only Living Thing On Mars |
'Heavenly Mortals' Space Girl |
'The Black Wish Hounds' Pulling me under |
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Bonus track: Please don't cry (extended video version) |
Bonus tracks: I Believe In You |
Bonus tracks: Waiting for the rain |
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Album of the week |
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Michael Casswell has played all the guitar parts on 2 of my albums 'The only living thing on Mars' and 'Heavenly Mortals' and a few other tracks in between. Not only is Michael a highly acclaimed and accomplished guitarist (in other words Brilliant!) but also a talented singer songwriter and producer. In the mid 90's, just before the untimely and tragic death of drumming legend Cozy Powell, Michael wrote and produced the last Cozy Powell album titled 'Especially for you' which was released on Polygram records. Michael has a very impressive and extensive musical history, touring with some of the greatest names in the music industry such as: the Queen guitarist Brian May, Ronan Keating, Rosy Royce, Cozy Powell, UK based Japanese blues guitarist Saiichi Sugiyama (musician), Dean Freidman, Limahl (Kajagoogoo), Rhino's revenge band (bass player and drummer from Status Quo) and many more. Michael's playing has been heard on countless TV ads, jingles, theme tunes and in the late 80's William Friedkin film 'To live and die in LA'. |
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Michael's extreme ability in mastering the guitar is such that there is nothing he can't play, from country to heavy metal, funk to swing jazz. Whatever song needs guitar parts adding Mike can play it. I personally feel that one of the contributing factors that makes Mike such an excellent guitarist is his ability to interpret with tremendous thought and sensitivity to what a particular song needs, not only in the style and technique of playing but also finding the right sound. Each time that Michael has popped down to the studio he has never ceased to amaze me at his care and professionalism in his guitar work, bringing the songs to life with his own unique style of playing. |
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I would like to say a very special thank you to Phil for playing bass on my latest album 'Heavenly Mortals'. Phil is an exceptionally talented bass guitarist and musician, a true professional and a great pleasure to work with. Phil is co-founder of The Satellites studio team and is also a long-term member of Tony Hadley's band. His experience in the live field is all-encompassing, ranging from world tours with Kim Wilde in the early 90's, to 'We will rock you' in London's West end. Phil has served as a corporate musical consultant for Sony international's corporate events. He has also worked with Keith Emerson, Squeeze, Go West, Roger Daltrey, Rick Wakeman, ABC and Gary Barlow and is an active member of The Satellites studio team. His experience spans sessions work and composition for soundtracks, advertising, television and radio and has recorded bass guitar DVD's for 'Lick Library' and product endorsement for Yamaha spanning over 10 years. |
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A very special thank you to Tim for playing drums on my latest album 'Heavenly Mortals'. Since working on this album I have had the great pleasure of working with such fine and professional musicians, Michael Casswell, Phil Williams and Tim Bye. Tim is also an exceptionally gifted musician, a great drummer and a pleasure to work with. Tim began his career with Universal signings Un-Amercian, who toured the states throughout the 90's and were chosen by Pete Towsend to support The Who at Madison Square Gardens and the Hollywood Bowl. Since then he has been very busy on the UK session scene, carving out a great reputation for his feel and song-driven approach. He works alongside other core members of The Satellites regularly, both live and in the studio.
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Pete Varkala I have known for quite a few years now. He is an exceptionally gifted producer, recording engineer and songwriter and a very competent and versatile musician playing guitars, bass guitar, piano and I'm sure I've seen him put his hand to playing the drums to. Combining his talents with musician and songwriter Brian Powell and under the flag of their company 'KLIKTRAX' they composed bespoke pieces of music for film and television and supply many publishers and libraries as well as corporate clients. I first met Pete in the late 90's. I had just completed writing an album called 'Stranger to love' and was then looking for a studio and producer to begin work recording this album. I arranged a meeting with Pete at his recording studio to discuss the album and the ideas I had for it's production. Within a very short time of our meeting I knew Pete was the right person to record 'Stranger to love'. Since then I have recorded another two albums with Pete 'The only living thing on Mars' and 'Heavenly mortals'. |
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In all the times I have recorded with Pete I have felt that he has had a tremendous amount of respect for my work, listening to possible ideas that I may have and using his own ideas to bring out the best in the material. It's always a great pleasure working with Pete and I very much value his professionalism and judgment. If something doesn't work or sound right, he will say, which helps me feel more relaxed in being able to trust his opinion to strive for and to achieve the best results.
I remember in 2004 doing a recording project of a song called 'Please don't cry' which was accompanied by an extended instrumental version totaling eleven minutes in length which was to be used as a backing track for a video to promote a charity, based in Africa helping orphaned children called 'The friends of Sanyu'. It turned out to be the most difficult recording project that I have ever done, fraught with problems and being faced with so many challenges that at one stage I didn't think it would be possible to finish and it was very nearly scrapped. But stubbornly I wasn't going to be beat, I know I can do it but also thanks to Pete's understanding, support and encouragement the project was completed, leaving me feeling utterly exhausted but pleased with the end result.
The extended instrumental piece is probably one of my favourite pieces of work, with Michael Casswell's exceptionally haunting and wonderful guitar work, being the centre piece that runs through the whole track changing in mood and feel as it follows the changing structure and arrangement of the piece. Also what gave this piece an additional touch was Richard Holmes' superb piano playing. The combination of guitars and piano worked beautifully. It's a very dramatic piece of work and will be included on the re-released album 'The only living thing on Mars' which will be digitally re-mastered and will also include some other new tracks.
 A photograph of myself with Richard Holmes during the recording session of 'Please don't cry' |
 Michael Casswell during the 'Please don't cry' recording session |
Richard Holmes has worked for the BBC and is an established recording artist and musical arranger / composer and on many occasions has worked at Abbey Road studio.
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Doug Scarratt has played guitar on three of my albums 'Hello America', 'Bad boys' and 'Stranger to love'. Doug is an exceptionally talented and gifted guitarist and songwriter that I have had the pleasure of knowing. Now very much an established member of the legendary heavy metal band Saxon who have a strong and devoted following throughout Europe and America. My personal favourite tracks that are embellished with Dougie's superb guitar work are 'Angry at the world' and 'One more day' from the 'Stranger to love' album and both title tracks from the albums 'Hello America' and 'Bad boys'. |
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Andy Ellis who has designed this web site is also an exceptionally talented and gifted guitarist and has put down additional acoustic guitar parts on two tracks for the forthcoming 'Heavenly mortals' album. Andy has spent the last few years working on a project with singer songwriter Abbo and plays alongside Paul Roberts (legendary ex Stranglers front man) for their band Soulsec, having recorded their latest brilliant album 'End Games'. Also Andy is a very well respected guitar tutor having many pupils of all ages under his wing, has taught at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music , published tuition books for the Xtreme series with Sanctuary Publishing / Music Sales Group and recorded instruction videos for ShowMeHowToPlay. |
When I first moved to Brighton I had only a handful of very basic 4 track demos which in those days were recorded on cassettes.
I had recorded these songs when I was living in Hastings whilst being a member of a band called 'My eyes my eyes' and still very much in the experimental and development stages of learning the craft of songwriting.
Then came a chance meeting that was radically going to change things by moving my songwriting much further and giving me the chance to really develop my skills.
I was working in a printers in Brighton and a customer walked into the shop wanting business cards and letterheads designed. This person was no other than Jeff Daniels who had co-written with Dave Clark the musical 'Time' and which became a West End success starring Cliff Richard. I mentioned to Jeff that I was a singer songwriter and he invited me over to his place to listen to my demos.
I arrived at Jeff's with my handful of demos stashed in a briefcase feeling very nervous. I sat down placing the briefcase on his coffee table and one by one he sifted through the cassettes. After spending some time listening to what I had to offer he stood up and reaching for his phone made a call to a songwriter and producer who owned a private studio in Brighton, this person being Richard Thomas. In the phone conversation to Richard, Jeff said I have a very talented singer songwriter here with me now. Would it be possible for him to come into your studio to do final vocals on already recorded backing tracks but adding bits and pieces to spruce up the tracks? Richard said that it would be ok and a date was set to go into the studio.
This was the first time that I had been in a full recording studio to do my own songs. The two songs that were presented to Richard were 'Love talks' and 'Angels in the rain'. From that moment and over a number of years Richard kindly allowed me the time in the studio to put down certain ideas - for this I will always be deeply grateful for Richards kindness in giving me the breathing space to develop my skills as a singer songwriter. If it wasn't for Richard's help in the very beginning stages I might not have achieved what I'm doing today. I sometimes feel it's been a very long but interesting journey in development to get to what I think is my strongest piece of work 'Heavenly mortals'.
info@kevankoya.com
Copyright Kevan Koya ©
Last Updated 27/06/2009
