LSS Newsletter Issue #04 - April 2007

LSS News

Aside from eating excessive amounts of chocolate over the Easter period, we've finally knuckled down and started to put together some exciting new courses to bring you over the coming months. As well as the new one- and two-year diplomas in Audio Engineering, existing and former students will soon have the opportunity to sign up for one of our advanced production, recording and mixing courses.

Following the huge response to our Mixing Masterclass, we'd like to open up the floor to suggestions about what you'd all like incorporated into our new courses. So if there's a topic you'd like to learn more about but can't find a suitable course, get in touch and we'll see what we can do. Contact info@londonschoolofsound.co.uk with requests, and keep your eyes on the website for more details soon.

Work Experience Opportunities

Self-funded singer songwriter with own production suite in a studio complex requires a Sound Engineer asap to record some new material. Needs someone who charges reasonable rates that is used to recording live instruments. Contact Preet on 07834 999583.

We are looking for sound designers, composers, DJs, musicians, computer geeks, producers, and singer-songwriters anxious to see the future of music-making technology in Ableton Live 6. Live Arto Live focuses on using Live at different private parties, and is based in Barcelona. Please reply with the following references: LIVE607, Claudia Lucas, claudiajlucas@yahoo.com

Competitions and Funding

It’s that time of year again where you get the chance to show off your talents to the panel of judges at Diesel. Previous winners have included Mylo, We Are Scientist and Tom Vek, so if you want to add your name to the list upload your tracks now…or at least by 11 May. Click here for more info on entering.

There’s still time to get your application in for one of the BBC’s Fame Academy Bursaries, and with six awards of £20,000 on offer it’s well worth entering. The bursaries can be used to pay for tuition fees, private lessons, living expenses, travel, studying abroad, recording, marketing, or even commissioning new music. If you’re aged between 16 and 30 and have a passion for music, visit the website now.

Noticeboard

Sub-fusion live set at Transcience, Camden – 15 April, 7.45pm
Featuring a former LSS student and two equally talented cohorts, Sub-fusion are an electronic three-piece serving up what they describe as ‘a lethal cocktail of wicked beats, dark electronica and gorgeous vocals’. Catch them perform live at Camden’s Proud Galleries, or if you want a pre-gig taster check them out first at www.sub-fusion.com. 

London Guitar Show: London ExCel – 27-29 April
Now in its fifth year, the London Guitar Show has moved from Wembley and is bigger than ever. Window-shop for some of the coolest guitar gear around, and get to see some of the finest guitarists do their thing – including a masterclass from the legendary Steve Vai. For more info go to the website www.londonguitarshow.co.uk.

Bainbridge, Berio and Meredith: Queen Elizabeth Hall London – 30 April, 7.30pm
Simon Bainbridge’s Music Space Reflection is a musical reaction to the soaring architecture of Daniel Libeskind. Written for the irregular spaces of Imperial War Museum North and receiving its London premiere at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Bainbridge combines four groups of musicians and surround-sound live electronics into an all-encompassing acoustic experience.

Luciano Berio's Laborintus II is a 1960s classic combining narrator, tape, whispering chorus and echoes of jazz and Monteverdi into an exuberant homage to Dante. Anna Meredith uses DJ software to expand and transform the sound of instruments in her playful new work, flak.

Each month, we’ll bring you the best the web has to offer as far as the music industry goes – along with some irrelevant cyber tit-bits that brought a smile to our faces…

Xone Mixed In Key
Not content with coming up with one of the best DJ mixer/controllers around, Allen & Heath have teamed up with Mixed In Key to offer a piece of software that allows you to mix in perfect harmony. The PC and Mac compatible programme eliminates all key changes, out-of-key vocals and muddy mixes from your DJ mixes, making your sets sound flawless every time.

iPod Digital Drumsticks
We've all indulged in a little air drumming to our favourite tracks before, but now you can actually arm yourself with a set of motion-activated sticks, plug them into your iPod and hear your wildly out of time thrashings for real. And all for around £15!

Serious Sounds
Another forum for the musically minded to loiter in.

Space Invaders
You can keep your Wiis and your PS3s – Space Invaders has always been where it’s at, and to relive those glorious top scores you can play it again online here – free!