New Desk will be used primarily for the organization’s accredited vocational training programs. “The sound of the desk seemed to be a great fit for the work that takes place at Higher Rhythm.”
Studiocare Professional Audio in Liverpool supplied and installed the SSL ORIGIN in the studio, which is also outfitted with long list of high-end equipment, “They did it all in a day,” Littlewood reports.
Higher Rhythm offers not only artist development, music production and technology training but also a licensed FM and online radio station, a record label, music publishing, distribution and events promotion. The organization has come a long way since it was established by CEO Steve Mundin and alternative provision tutor Alex Dean, former music technology tutors at Doncaster College, in 2001. “Fast forward 20 years, and to have a place with an SSL ORIGIN desk is major progress,” Littlewood says. “These things shouldn’t be reduced just to the equipment—because obviously it’s about the people—but it shows how far the organization has progressed.”
In terms of the artist development work, he says, there are two levels. “There’s artist development work, where artists come in and produce a single and receive intensive artist mentoring during that production. Then, the artist can graduate from that experience onto a longer, 12-month artist development program. That includes things like how to operate as a freelancer and an independent musician, how to release music independently, how to communicate with other professionals and so on.” Artists can release music independently or through Higher Rhythm’s in-house label, Circuit Records.
One person to benefit from Higher Rhythm’s offerings is Joe Russell Brown, who started as a supported artist on a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner-funded program. He now leads that development program, working with other young emerging artists, from behind the studio’s SSL ORIGIN. “I joke about Joe sitting down at his first job as a student engineer at an SSL desk,” Littlewood says. “He’s been spoilt—his first job is on an SSL ORIGIN! But that’s a fantastic thing to be able to offer a young person and a young engineer starting his career.”
Next year, Littlewood says, Higher Rhythm expects to be able to offer Level 4 and Level 5 Higher National Diplomas, the equivalent of first- and second-year university degree courses. Meantime, he says, “We also do a lot of work with schools in the area and we are getting requests from schools to bring their students in to do their Level 3 work. Because it’s a totally different environment than schools and colleges in the area offer currently.”
About Solid State Logic
Solid State Logic is the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and provider of creative tools for music, broadcast, live and post production professionals. For more information about our award-winning products, please visit: www.solidstatelogic.com.
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