Abbey Road Rewind is back for 2023, as our cracking team of engineers share studio stories, highlights and their ones to watch for next year.
Find out what mastering engineer
Geoff Pesche, senior runner
Sarah Meyz and studio runner
Al Russell shared from their year at Abbey Road.
What was your favourite project at Abbey Road this year?
Geoff
"Beverley Knight - The Fifth Chapter album. Always nice to see Beverley, one of the best UK soul vocalists. I’ve mastered all the records going back to the '90s."
Sarah
"There were many amazing projects I’ve worked on this year, but one of my favourites certainly was working with Matt Bellamy, for a soundtrack in Studio One. Muse has always been a huge part of my life, so working with Matt was truly a fantastic moment for me."
Al
"I really enjoyed working on the new Ezra Collective album which was recorded by Ricky Damian in Studio Two. The group were a pleasure to work with and their music was dynamic, energetic, and felt like a spiritual experience. They also performed a live set of their album to a small group of friends and family which I got to engineer front of house for, it might be the best live gig I’ve seen all year! I’m looking forward to hearing the final project when its released."
What was your favourite album of 2023?
Geoff
"Bob James - Jazz Hands."
Sarah
"Difficult one! I’m a bit tough on having full albums as my favourites, as I really need to be drawn into it from beginning to end. But for this year I’d say Lana Del Rey’s Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. It’s sincere, real and raw. I cannot listen to A&W and not feel instantly moved by the lyrics and the entire production of it. Jack Antonoff and Lana make an amazing producer and artist duo!"
Al
"My favourite album of the year was An Inbuilt Fault by Westerman. The album is a collage of folk inspired songs which interweaves quirky sounds and intricate production choices to create a unique sound world that makes you pause for thought. I’ve listened to this many times while setting up for recordings in the studios and it always transports me to a calm and quiet place!"
Which new artist / band are you most excited about for 2024?
Geoff
"Ruthven. South London neo soul singer with a great range signed to XL. Also mastered by yours truly."
Sarah
"So many great artists and bands keep gifting us with incredible music, and that is something that always inspires me as well, in my own music, which is what I am most excited for in the next year. To keep creating, writing, producing, and experimenting with mixing my harmonica playing with odd plugins and synths, as well as my vocals and other sounds, within the alternative pop and indie world."
Al
"I’m excited about DOMi & JD BECK and what happens next for them. Their debut album was an interesting crossover between Contemporary Jazz, Hip-Hop and Neo-Soul, and I can’t wait to see what direction they take their music in for 2024!"
