Kanine Records To Release Zambri Debut EP “Glossolalia”

Sister synth-pop act Zambri have signed to Brooklyn-based Kanine Records, and will put out their debut EP, Glossolalia, this November.

Zambri’s unique avant-pop sound mixes experimental beats, moody synth soundscapes, and dueling female vocals with soaring melodies. Led by captivating sisters Jessica and Cristi Jo, with Will Spitz and Seth Kasper on live drums and keyboards, this band is something to see live. Keep up with them on Facebook.

According to Zambri’s announcement…

“Most of the sounds on the EP are homemade, many of which are built from vocals, which is perhaps what inspired the title. ‘Glossolalia’ refers to speaking in tongues; it is a mystical language. They met a like-minded friend in preeminent indie producer Chris Coady, who handpicked Zambri as one of his favorite upcoming New York bands.  While Coady scores production credits on “To Keep Back” and “News,” Noel Heroux  (Hooray For Earth) lends a hand with mixing “On Call” and “On Call (biddibiddi).”

Other tracks on the EP were mixed by Rick Kwan. Glossolalia was mastered at The Lodge.

Paul McCartney, Lou Reed, Bjork, Mark Ronson Recording at Avatar

We’ve got the latest on who’s been recording at NYC’s Avatar Studios most recently. Check it out:

In the legendary Studio A…Paul McCartney recorded a Buddy Holly tribute with producer David Kahne and engineer Roy Hendrickson, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro; Lou Reed recorded (and mixed) music for a TV commercial with producer Rob Mathes and engineer Elliot Scheiner, also assisted by Lodeiro;

Mark Ronson recorded music for Warner Brothers Pictures’ upcoming film Arthur, with engineer Vaughan Merrick, assisted by Bob Mallory; and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks continued recorded music for HBO’s Mildred Pierce with producer/engineer Stewart Lerman, assisted by Rick Kwan.

James Carter Organ Trio also recorded an upcoming release in Studio A with producer Michael Cuscuna and engineer Jim Anderson assisted by Aki Nishimura, and an upcoming release for Kendrick Scott’s “Oracle” was recorded with Scott and Derrick Hodge producing and Joe Barbaria engineering, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Stanley Jordan was at Avatar recording an upcoming release with a “who’s who” of top jazz musicians that included Mike Stern, Christian McBride, Charnett Moffett, Nicholas Payton, Bucky Pizzarelli, Charlie Hunter, Russell Malone, Regina Carter and Kenwood Dennard. Al Pryor produced the session with engineer Todd Whitelock.

Meanwhile in the large, Motown-inspired and Neve-equipped Studio C, recorded for an upcoming release with engineer Damian Taylor; Kelli O’Hara recorded an upcoming release with producer Dan Lipton and engineer Lawrence Manchester; Louis C.K. and engineer Robert Smith worked on music for Season 2 of the FX show, Louie.

In the SSL 4000 G+ equipped Studio G, Hal Willner produced a “Sea Shanties” project that featured vocals by Sean Lennon, Michael Stipe and Courtney Love, all recorded and mixed by engineers Martin Brumbach and Roy Hendrickson, and more vocals for Fox’s Glee were recorded and mixed with producer Tommy Faragher and engineer Bryan Smith.

Finally, in Studio B, Isabella Rossellini recorded a voice over for an upcoming environmental documentary Home with producer Eva Ferrero and engineer Neil Dorfsman; and Renee Fleming was in for a video shoot for a Sydney Opera House performance. The session was produced by Alex Coletti and engineered by Aki Nishimura.

Lou Reed, Kurt Elling, Bobby McFerrin Recording at Avatar

Who’s been recording at Avatar Studios recently? Check it out:

Lou Reed recently recorded “Peggy Sue” for a Buddy Holly tribute project in Avatar’s Studio A with engineer Mark Urselli assisted by Fernando Lodeiro. And Bobby McFerrin recorded in Studio G with longtime producer and manager Linda Goldstein, engineer Bob Power assisted by Rick Kwan.

Songwriter and producer Paul Brill booked Studio C to record new material with engineer Robert Smith assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp was held at Avatar recently, with producers Mark Hudson, Rudy Sarzo; engineers Steve Greenwell, Robert Smith assisted by Bob Mallory and Charlie Kramsky. Roger Daltrey came in to record with the campers.

A performance by Kurt Elling was recorded in front of a live audience in Avatar Studio A for broadcast on WFUV. The session was produced by Dave Einstein and engineered by Brian Montgomery assisted by Aki Nishimura and Charlie Kramsky.

The Christian McBride Big Band recorded and mixed at Avatar with engineer Joe Ferla assisted by Rick Kwan, Michel Camilo recorded with engineer Phil Magnotti and Fly recorded and mixed with producer Manfred Eicher and engineer Aya Takemura.

Music for Fox’s Glee continues to be recorded and mixed at Avatar with producer Tommy Faragher, engineer Bryan Smith assisted by Charlie Kramsky. And Carter Burwell continued recording his score for HBO’s mini-series Mildred Pierce with engineer Todd Whitelock. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks also recorded for the show in Studio A with producer and music supervisor Randy Poster and engineer Stewart Lerman.

Visit www.avatarstudios.net for more information, and booking.

Seth MacFarlane & Norah Jones, Suzanne Vega and All Time Low Recording at Avatar

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is recording an album of 1940s and 50s-era Broadway standards for Universal Republic Records, working with producer and arranger Joel McNeely.

MacFarlane and McNeely recently recorded for the project in Avatar’s Studio B, joined by Norah Jones, with engineer Frank Fillipetti. Rick Kwan assisted on the recording sessions.

The album is reportedly being produced using recording techniques from the 40s-50s era — MacFarlane singing live backed by an orchestra and big band all in the same room. They’ve been recording at Capitol Records Studios in Hollywood, utilizing the same microphones, mic pre-amps and signal chains (to analog tape) used in recordings made there by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney.

Naturally, when in NYC, they booked time at Avatar where the production could continue in that style with much (if not all) of the same gear.

In other recent sessions at Avatar Studios…

- Alicia Keys recorded in Studio A for an interactive Music Experience project by Sony Wonder Technology Lab with producer Chuck Fishbein, engineer Jeff “Jedi Master” Jones (also assisted by Kwan).

- Randy Travis and Kristin Chenoweth recorded in Studio G with producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner assisted by Bob Mallory.

- Suzanne Vega recorded in Studio A with engineer/producer Joe Blaney.

- All Time Low recorded in Studio C with producer David Kahne, engineer Roy Hendrickson, assisted by Aki Nishimura.

- More music for Glee was mixed in Studio G with producer Tommy Faragher, engineer Bryan Smith, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

- Tracking sessions for the Mildred Pierce (HBO) score continued in Studio A with composer/producer Carter Burwell and engineer Todd Whitelock assisted by Rick Kwan and Fernando Lodeiro.

- Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut recorded in Studio B with producer Todd Barkan, engineer Katherine Miller assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

- Jazz guitarist Steve Khan mixed in Studio C with engineer James Farber assisted by Rick Kwan.

- And The Great Unknown recorded in Studio C with children for an ASCAP and America Scores (a nonprofit group that runs after-school programs) songwriting project produced by Sue Devine and engineered by Rick Kwan.

“Mildred Pierce” Score, Jazz, Big Band, Pop & Soul Sessions at Avatar

Music for HBO’s upcoming five-part miniseries Mildred Pierce has been recorded at NYC’s Avatar Studios.

Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks supplied the period music for the show, recording in Studio A with producer and music supervisor Randy Poster and engineer Stewart Lerman, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.  And NYC-based film composer Carter Burwell (True Grit, Twilight, The Kids Are Alright) recorded the score in Studio C with engineer Todd Whitelock, assisted by Rick Kwan.

Recording sessions with Ricky Martin continued in Avatar’s Studio B, with Desmond Child producing and Kevin Killen engineering. The Linda Eder Big Band also recorded at Avatar with producers Frank Wildhorn and Jeremy Roberts, engineered by Todd Whitelock.

And in other recent Avatar sessions: jazz artist Charnett Moffett recorded with engineer Anthony Ruotolo, Fox’s Glee was back recording and mixing with producer Tommy Faragher and engineer Robert Smith, and Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds recorded with producers Patrick Ermlich and Eshy Gazit for Modern Vintage Recordings, with engineering by Anthony Ruotolo.

Clara Lofaro also recorded at Avatar with engineer Robert Smith. And Erin Barra worked in Studio W with engineer Ari Raskin. The Young People’s Chorus recorded in Studio C with producer Nancy Bloom and engineer Bryan Smith, assisted by Aki Nishimura. Jessye Norman and Lynn Harrell recorded in Studio C with producer Allan Abrams, engineer Fred Vogler. And Grammy Awards nominee Chandrika Tandon was recording in Studio B and G with producer/engineer Jeffrey Lesser.

For more on Avatar Studios, visit http://www.avatarstudios.net

Who’s In The Studio: Avatar, NYC

Avatar Studios has been plenty busy this Fall, once again hosting sessions for all manner of media — radio tapings, music for television and video games, and album production. Here’s a rundown of recent sessions:

Prince Royce and Ben E. King recorded “Stand By Me” in Studio C and mixed it in Studio G for the Latin Grammy Awards. The session was produced by Sergio George and engineered by Roy Hendrickson, assisted by Aki Nishimura.

Elvis Costello performed live in Studio A for the top donors of [our favorite local radio station!] WFUV. The performance was recorded and produced by Dave Einstein, engineered by Brian Montgomery assisted by Aki Nishimura. Click to listen to the performance on NPR.

Josh Groban’s live performance was videotaped for “Walmart Soundcheck” in Studio A. Charles Gant produced the session and Allen Sides engineered, assisted by Fernendo Lodeiro and Aki Nishimura.

Lenny Kravitz recorded in Studio C with engineer Tom Edmunds assisted by Bob Mallory.

Ricky Martin recorded in Studio G with producer Desmond Child and Hendrickson engineering, also assisted by Mallory.

Imelda May recorded with Lou Reed and mixed in Studio C. The session was produced by Tony Visconti with engineer Mario McNulty, assisted by Charlie Kramsky.

Trans Siberian Orchestra recorded and mixed in Studio B with producer Paul O’Neil and engineer Dave Wittman. And Esperanza Spalding mixed in Studio C with engineer Joe Ferla assisted by Rick Kwan.

Avatar also hosted projects for ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox within a span of a few weeks — first with Glee‘s Darren Criss into record and mix “Teenage Dream” in Studio B and G with producer Tommy Faragher and engineers Robert Smith and Bryan Smith. The episode aired on November 9 and the single hit #1 on iTunes.

ABC’s Nightline did a story called “The World on Autotune” in Studio G with reporter Jeremy Hubbard, and engineer Roy Hendrickson. The show was produced by Dan Przygoda and engineered by Hendrickson. The “Sign of the Times” segment aired on October 22.

Mike Tompkins, an a capella artist who became famous for his YouTube viral videos covering popular songs, assisted Today Show anchors Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and Al Roker with the singing and beat boxing to make a “Dynamite” viral video. The process was recorded and taped in Studio B and the resulting video was aired on November 15. It was produced by Robin Sindler and engineered by Rick Kwan. Check it out here!

Bill Cosby recorded the winning giggle for a press event by Kraft for Jell-O’s “Give It A Giggle” tour in a session produced by Greg Lederer and engineered by Bob Mallory.

Finally, THQ recorded music for an upcoming video game Homefront in Studio A with producer Frank Di Minno and engineer Gary Chester.

Rubicon Score, Alicia Keys, Jesse Harris & Punch Brothers Recorded At Avatar

AMC’s new series Rubicon features a brilliant, subtly-suspenseful original score by Peter Nashel of NYC music production company, Duotone. And the composer/producer has been recording said picture-perfect score at NYC’s Avatar Studios, with engineer Roy Hendrickson assisted by Aki Nishimura. Tune into Rubicon Sundays at 9PM!

Avatar has been booked by a variety of other artists, film and theater projects of late, including:

Alicia Keys recording with engineer Ann Mincieli, assisted by Rick Kwan; Ricky Martin recording in Studio G with producer Desmond Child and engineer Christian Baker; singer/songwriter Jesse Harris recording and mixing a self-produced project in Studio C with engineer Mark Plati, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro; and Punch Brothers recording a new project for Disney with producer Joel McNeeley and engineer Frank Filipetti.

Filipetti also recently engineered on sessions for producer Phil Ramone with singer/actress Elaine Paige in Avatar’s Studio G.

The cast album for Broadway’s La Cage Aux Folles starring Kelsey Grammer was recorded in Studio A and Studio G with producer (and PS Classics co-founder) Tommy Krasker and engineer Bart Migal assisted by Bob Mallory and David Rowland.

And the score for the upcoming film, The Beaver, was recorded in Studio A with composer / producer Marcelo Zarvos, director Jodie Foster, engineer Richard King assisted by Fernando Lodeiro and Charlie Kramsky.

For more information on Avatar Studios, visit http://www.avatarstudios.net/ and follow them on Twitter — where they are known to announce last-minute deals on studio time — @avatarstudios!

Avatar Studios Hosts Paul Simon, Moby, O.A.R. and More

Paul Simon recently spent time recording at NYC’s Avatar Studios, working with producer Phil Ramone, engineer Andy Smith and assistant engineer Justin Gerrish.

Moby‘s also recently recorded in Studio A, with engineer Scott Norton and assistant engineer Rick Kwan.

Meanwhile, roots rock quintet O.A.R. recorded in Studio C with producer Matt Wallace and engineer Mike Landolt. Other acts that recorded in March include Teddy Thompson, Proud Simon, and The Script.

From the jazz world, the Christian McBride Big Band recorded in Studio A with engineer Joe Ferla, while woodwind specialist James Carter recorded in Studio B with producer Michael Cuscuna and engineer Jim Anderson, assisted by Fernando Lodeiro. Other notables were Michel Portal and The Don Friedman Trio, both of whom recorded in Studio C with their producer/engineer teams.

Studio A recently hosted several TV and theater projects as well. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks recorded music for the upcoming HBO series Boardwalk Empire with producer Jim Dunbar and engineer Stewart Lerman. Also, the cast of Broadway’s Million Dollar Quartet recorded with producer Hank Neuberger and engineer Chris Steinmetz.

And finally, the music for Life Begins At 8:40, a 1934 Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / Yip Harburg musical revue, was recorded in Studio A with producer Tommy Krasker and engineer Bart Migal.

For more information on Avatar Studios, visit their website at avatarstudios.net.