Great Producer Makes Great Session Players Accessible!

Posted bythestevebellprojectsPosted inUncategorized

Inspired by the sounds of Earth Wind and Fire, Steely Dan, George Benson, David Foster, Jay Grayson & Co. my songs needed a world class sound that required world class session musicians. No doubt John Mcall Darryn Farrugia Carlo Barbaro Craig Newman Trevor Carter delivered on both albums. Recorded and produced beautifully by Empire Music Studios (aka Studio 52) here in Melbourne, Australia, ‘We Won’t Forget You Andy’ says it all!

But when I first walked into Empire Music Studio’s I felt kind of disarmed and definitely like I was batting above my grade. I knew I had some quite good songs but my inability to mix and engineer my home recordings left me feeling vulnerable. But producer/engineer Trevor Carter was reassuring. ‘These are great songs, they just need the best musicians in the country (Australia) to play them to do them justice.’ Said Carter in his normal calm and positive tone.

I love working with Trev Carter. He is so good at bringing the best out of the artists around him. His quiet unassuming manner is complemented by incredible skill and experience. You are never dealing with his ego and this combination leads to the greatest musicians in Australia having the utmost respect for him. you can see it in the interactions they have with him – there is never a harsh word.

Trevor sets the tone of Empire Music Studios. A tone that means an artist like me, who us limited to having a good ear and a natural capacity to write good smooth jazz pop songs, can thrive in an an environment that includes some of worlds best jazz pop musicians. His tone somehow means that no one is forced to prove themselves, rather they just bring the best of what they have. In fact, isn’t that what a great coach does?

Producer/Engineer Trevor Carter, John McAll (keyboards), Craig Newman (Bass), Darryn Farrugia (drums) and Carlo Barbaro (sax) in action on The Steve Bell Projects album In This World.

Carter is also great musician himself. His guitar playing is world class and he apparently does well on the drums. This capacity also engenders respect in the studio. It also means his positive feedback is treasured and his ideas for improving an arrangement or songwriting phrase are highly valued.

In the end it is the ability to be constructive and sensitive that make working with Trevor Carter a treat. I couldn’t recommend the Empire Music Studios too highly. It is a place to share your talent in a truly positive and respectful environment.

Published by thestevebellprojects

Listen to the music of The Steve Bell Projects on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music via this link: https://linktr.ee/thestevebellprojects ‘My thrill is to take relatively unknown, very unique and talented singers and compose and arrange retro songs that they record.’ Born in Melbourne, Australia, Steve Bell was brought up on seventies and eighties pop, soul and funk. He was obsessed with Earth Wind and Fire, Bee Gees, Al Jarreau, Gino Vannelli, TOTO, George Benson and, the great, David Foster. He liked class music with rich melodies - a big feature of his own writing today. While at college he played drums in numerous bands, but in his own words ‘wasn’t much chop at that’. But he did have a knack for playing piano by ear and writing ‘kind of cool’ ballads and soul songs. In his twenties he had a part-time role (on top of his day job) as a pop music critic for a local arts magazine, where he interviewed acclaimed artists from across the world. His interviews were always deep and focused on learning more and more about great songwriting and performing. Then he took a break - for over 25 years, running his company and being a family ‘guy’. However, he yearned for creative endeavours and once locked down during the COVID crisis, he started writing songs again. His first song ‘Lonely View’ was written looking out across the local bay from his composing studio and recorded using the amazing vocals of Jennifer Davids. Thus he started the journey of identifying a talented singer every few months and penning them a song with rich 70s and 80s melodies and jazz pop inspired chord structures.

Leave a comment