In Music & Sound Engineering from Kingston University & Gateway Studio - which has recently rebranded as Visconti Studio, due to the welcome involvement of legendary engineer Tony Visconti.
Originally using fabulous analogue reel-to-reel tape (4 / 8 / 16 / 24-Track), alongside digital systems such as Cubase, Logic Audio and ProTools.
By all things music technology, recording studios and studio production techniques, and have been ever since since my early teens.
This is in no small part thanks to my oldest friend Peter Hilton, and a keyboard / music tech shop in Worthing (called Hands Music, sadly no longer) run by the amazing and talented Chris Harvey.
Endless thanks to both of you.
The club scene, festivals, raves, and the joys of DJ'ing (House, Techno, Dub, DnB, Ambient) whilst at University.
My then-housemate and all-round great guy Nick Davies took me to my first proper club night, and I was taught how to use a pair of Technics SL1210 MKII by my classmate Richard X.
Turns out that our cohort group had a fair chunk of musical talent - Hard-Fi, Strike, Sugardrum, Future Paradise amongst many others doing cool things in the industry - we all studied at Kingston, and we had some really great times.
After graduating I built my own 16-track DAW recording setup - called Twifty Studios - in a rented flat in New Malden, Surrey.
It featured a lovely analogue mixing desk (sourced from my great friend Tony Edwards, thanks dude) and a purpose-built Mac Pro. I cut & soldered every connection and cable by hand, and it was the best way to learn.
As a Sound Engineer at Mixing Lab Studios in Vauxhall (not the one in Jamaica), home to a great DnB record label called Trouble On Vinyl & Renegade Recordings. I was also briefly signed to their Pure Bliss imprint to deliver a dance track.
Amongst other things, the fabulous Trip-Hop album Hip Journey, by The Lee Curtis Connection, released on Blindside Records in 1995. The credits read: Mixed By Lee "Duck" Heron. It's a long story.
I also had the pleasure of mixing several cuts there for the Soul City label, including Sassy Me by Freee Stylle, and Do Me Right, by Karleen.
Big thanks to Big Trev for all the opportunities. As he always put it, we were well mashed up!
My first festival experience was at Phoenix Festival, and then at Glastonbury Festival for three years running whilst working for EMI Records. Lucky me had the VIP camping & catering experience of the festival, right behind the Pyramid Stage, which was just awesome.
In 2000, like an idiot, I forgot my tent and ended up sleeping under the dragon sculpture in the Green Fields most nights.
I was honoured to sing with some amazing people as part of:
We performed some truly amazing works in some wonderful places, including:
Endless thanks to the fantastic Aiden Kerney MBE and John Bate for their leadership and inspired musical choices.
I had a great time playing with some really enthusiastic musicians, as part of:
We performed some brilliant works in many diverse venues including:
I played lots of Funk & Blues at University, then moved into bands including Sleight (now Sugardrum) and Jubilation Lee (RIP Richard, who sadly passed on 16th May 2009).
We gigged in many famous pubs, clubs & venues, including:
Great fun.
Still not as well as I would like, though. Maybe this year is when I finally learn properly.
I do love programming keyboard parts during production sessions, but some of my first actual live gigs were on keyboards with the band Regardless, playing popular covers around the Worthing, West Sussex area with my friends Alan (Guitar), John (Bass), and Harvey (Drums). Good times!
If I know you though music, we probably shared some awesome times, so reach out and say hello.