MEIS Study Abroad London 2016, Part 2

Part 2: London to Liverpool
Click here for part 1

The Beatles, Liverpool

Liverpool is home of the Beatles. For "part 2" of our trip we experienced this historical place and attended our next conference/festival, "Liverpool Sound City".

Penny Lane in Liverpool, England

The "Magical Mystery Bus Tour" took our group around to see sites that appear in Beatles songs such as "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever", and also to the birthplaces and childhood homes of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The story of how John Lennon's mother, Julia, was killed in a car accident was made more poignant as our bus passed through the intersection of the tragedy and the song of the same name played on the loudspeakers.

At the Beatles History museum, Beatles legal expert Professor Stan Soocher shined as he contextualized much of the exhibit for students, from the period of time during which rock and roll was being "born" to the controversy surrounding the Beatles' break up in 1969.

Professor Soocher at the Beatles Story museum

Students felt the power of the location, and during a trip to the historical Cavern Club, one student wrote, "I have had one of those 'holy s---' moments in life, after being in Liverpool for only one hour. The amount of talent that has come through this town and amount of history is entirely captivating."

Students pose with statues of the Beatles on Albert Dock

MEIS Music Business alumna Genevieve Binder met with us for a chat about the music scene in England. She answered questions about studying in England as well. Her incredible resourcefulness was a great benefit to students.

MEIS Music Business alumna Genevieve Binder (far left) joins students for a chat over dinner in Liverpool

The Liverpool Sound City Conference brought us back to current times, featuring conferences and performances. Attendees were given insight into the Liverpool scene, and Liverpool Sound City COO Rebecca Ayres took some time to talk to our students about how the festival, now in its eighth year, was coordinated and about festival promotion, including how to break in to the events scene.  Ms. Ayres expressed her enthusiasm for this incredible opportunity CU Denver and CAM gives our students to travel abroad, gain exposure, and network.

LSC COO Rebecca Ayers (far right) chats with students

Of course, the performances were plentiful with 6 stages of constant music featuring the latest in music technology, from live sound reinforcement rigs running Dante networks to and from the stage, to performance technology of all kinds: from acoustic guitars to CDJs (a kind of "digital turntable" if you will) and Ableton software. 

DJ at the Warehouse stage

Singer / Songwriter Daniel Docherty at the conference stage 

A demonstration of Abelton in live performance with electronic controllers and acoustic instruments.

During our wrap up session, I talked to the students about their takeaways from the two weeks. Here are some of their comments and observations:

• Impressed with the number of SSLs in use in England (London) compared to Denver, and with the ability to transfer knowledge of the SSL 4000 to the SSL AWS series
• Festival stages had really fast turnarounds, partly thanks to newer technology which allows A/B swapping and backlines on carts that can be rolled on and off stage - EVERYTHING was on wheels.
• Learning from classmates about guitar pedals and seeing them in use (peer learning)
• Noticing a difference between the progression of artists who adapt music technology (such as customizing or "breaking" Ableton)
• Ableton doesn't mean EDM!
• Funding for creative activities (as described in conversation with Genevieve). Maybe in the US there are just so many bands and because ours (the US) is the biggest market, so other countries want to come here.

That concluded our time in England. I heard from everyone how powerful the experience was, and I look forward to seeing how everyone puts their knowledge to use in the months and years to come.

Farewell dinner at Essenza in Notting Hill

MEIS Study Abroad London 2016, Part 1

First night: "Welcome Dinner" at Le Nantain Bistro in Brighton, UK

Part 1: Brighton to London

Our trip began in Brighton where we arrived for the Great Escape Festival. The event began with conferences about trending topics in music business. Among the lectures highlighted was a series on issues facing YouTube, including the "safe harbors" controversy, Content ID and copyright.

A lecture on some issues surrounding music on YouTube

Technology seen at the festival included the latest in live sound gear as well as performance tools such as Akai track pads, a Roland SPD-SX, laptops running Abelton, guitar pedals, and so much more.

Performers, panelists, and engineers were happy to speak with our students, who took advantage of many opportunities to network.

Student Hunter Burnette meets the guitar player in Samm Henshaw's band

Nick Calafato of Last.fm joined us took time out to join us for a chat. They have been around since 2002 and are at the forefront of online music communities. Their platform is amazingly effective for marketing because they can provide data to festival promoters about musical preferences in nearby cities.

Nick Calafato from Last.FM speaks to students at the Brighton Great Escape Festival

Solid State Logic is in Oxfordshire, England. We were treated to the tour of the factory and got to see the "cousins" of our own SSL console (the SSL AWD 924). As a bit of foreshadowing, we learned the history of the SSL 4000 and 5000, which happened to be used in our session a couple of days later. The company is owned by Peter Gabriel, whose picture is featured prominently in the lobby.

Students get a demonstration of the SSL C100 broadcast console

Later that afternoon, mastering engineer Mandy Parnell (Björk, Glass Animals, Snoop Dog) gave some straight talk to students about breaking in to the business, and demonstrated a lathe which she uses to cut acetate "dub plates" used as test pressings for vinyl records. Lots of yummy equipment in her studio, including Sadie, Sequouia, and Samplitude which you can hear her talk about in this video.

Here, Mandy poses for a group picture after the talk.

Students with mastering engineer Mandy Parnell

A tour to the British Library was next, which features an impressive collection of memorabilia connected to the Beatles and other famous British music acts. Next door was a punk rock exhibit, "Punk 1978". Later in the afternoon, students got to see a musical re-telling of The Kinks' rise to fame in "Sunny Afternoon". In this photo, students pose outside of the Rolling Stones exhibit at the Saatchi Gallery, "Exhibitionism". The exhibit spanned two floors and several thousand square feet. Highlights included a recreation of their recording studio and interactive iPads where visitors could remix hit songs such as "Miss You" and "Start Me Up" using faders for each instrument (drums, bass, vocals, brass, etc.) Students are pictured here posing outside of the exhibit.

The study abroad group posing outside of the Rolling Stones "Exhibitionism" at the Saatchi Gallery

...which brings us to our latest adventure, the recording session at Livingston Studio with engineer Matt Foster (Jamiroquai, The Gorillaz). The band Audio Death Threat talked with students about their instruments, favorite tones and timbres. Students got to see new microphone techniques and vintage microphones as well as a professional recording process. The band were gracious enough to let our students have the raw tracks to do their own remixes.

Yue-Han from Audio Death Threat talks about capturing the perfect guitar sound

Drum microphone techniques

Engineer Matt Foster demonstrates recording techniques on the SSL 4000

 As of this writing, the students have just arrived in Liverpool for the next adventure, Liverpool Sound City. The impact of the trip can already be felt: Hunter is inspired to write and has his guitar with him. Davis is networking with a DJ he met at the recording session who invited him to stay in touch, and is getting lots of ideas for new and ongoing projects. Kelly was invited to perform a track on the recording and is envisioning ways to break into the festival promotion industry.  The professionals who we meet with are incredulous at this opportunity that our students have to network and see a side of the music industry they wouldn't normally see in school, or in the US.

Students, members of Audio Death Threat, student peer Axel Drioli, and engineer Matt Foster

Click here for part 2