Hiiii - i'll keep this bio short n informal, it's here to give you an idea of who you will be working with, and an insight into my musical / producing background. See "Biography Pics" on sidebar for related photos.

I grew up in Barnard Castle, Co.Durham, a lucky choice as the town, however small, is home to Teesdale Community Resources, ( TCR ). This organisation provides the local community... with resources, whatever thay may be. Projects include a succesful Transport service, Youth club, Garage skills project, Dance lessons... the list goes on, one of the most succesful projects still going is the Studio. Set up in the 1990's in response to requests by the then users of TCR mobile youth bus. 

I first got involved with TCR studio in 1998, when i was 16 and playing drums ( badly! ) for my first band, Kef. We had got a few songs together and were playing a few gigs, so thought about time we got a demo / album sorted. The "learn by doing" approach allowed us to get involved entirely, resulting in a self recorded, edited and produced debut album, aptly entitled, "Fecked from the start"! It was by no means an engineering or production masterpiece! I have included a track in this pages playlist, see for yourselves! 

However bad the end result, the experience stuck with me, and the want to improve and create never left me. Over the next several years i remained at TCR, learning by my mistakes, i was at this time completely unguided, so didn't even know about compressors etc! Can ya tell!? haaaa. I actually ended up working for TCR for my final 3 years in Co.Durham, but in a completely different scene, as Transport Co-ordinator for the still running transport service.

Whilst living in Teesdale i began to aquire more and more equipment as all musicains / producers do, and eventually began recording bands at my house, Arlaw Banks Cottage. A beautiful little house out in the fields, perfect for making loadsa noise, and a tranquil retreat for bands, good times. Here i was equipped with a Roland VS2400, a comical set up by todays standards, but it did have the basics of computer based recording, and so began my journey towards Pro Tools. The next couple of tracks are from the Roland era, i discovered compressors at last! 

In 2008 i lost the perfect house due to a stupid girl! Unsettled and in need of new inspiration i moved to Manchester. Despite having a bit of work from time to time in Barnard Castle, i hoped to begin a proper career in engineering / producing, and a City such as Manchester seemed the best direction. And so far, it seems to have been the best desicion i could have made. During my time at Arlaw Banks and Manchester i began playing around with computer based recording, with Programs such as Cubase / Nuendo, and of course Pro Tools. My years of editing and mixing on far inferior set ups paid off, the creativity of these programs is unreal. The next couple of tracks are from the last 2 years, drum re-sampling, guitar re-amping, vocal tuning, quantizing drums all aid in creating tracks with more impact, more depth and more enjoyment for the listener and creator alike.

I owe my current position to TCR, and the guys who selflessly run the projects there, Over the past 5 years they have been fighting a war with politics to build a home for the charity, called "The Hub". It will have all the facilities TCR has become known for under one roof. All the fighting paid off, it is under construction now, and will be completed later this year! For me the most exciting aspect is the 3 room studio, the design of which i was very lucky to be involved in. It will be equipped with Pro Tools HD and enviable outboard and equipment, along with the natural rooms and large control room, it should be a perfect place to create. I look forward to doing some sessions there soon!

So that's me, i'm a friendly kinda slightly eccentric kinda duuude, i enjoy my work and working with people to create tracks they'll love forever, and hopefully others too! Get in touch for an informal chat about you / your bands needs, and join / contact me on Facebook, and i look forward to working with you soon, traaaaa, Tommie.

 

Playlist tracks -

1. "Menace" - Kef - 1998/2000? @ TCR Studio

2. "All the Same" - The Anxious Animator - 2004 @ Arlaw Banks

3. "Bar Bar Barray" - Tommie - 2005 @ Arlaw Banks

4. "Wake This City" - Tommie Vox - 2009 - @ TVAA

5.  "Rodeano" - International One - 2010 @ Redbridge / TVAA