December 2025 Newsletter
- The Premises Studios
- Dec 4, 2025
- 5 min read
OK, we need to talk about Santa.
“He knows when you are sleeping, and knows when you’re awake...” which is lyrical proof that Santa is a stalker, plus, a philanderer: “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus”. Plus his BMI is way too high: “ Santa got stuck up the chimney”. Not to mention a terrible driver, having run granny over with a Reindeer. And to top it off, according to The Kinks he got mugged by a bunch of little oiks who demanded, “Father Christmas, give us your money”. Really, say what you like about the “Ho Ho Ho” Man (and honestly, what sort of catch phrase is that?) we feel, lyrically, the evidence is stacked against him. That said, let’s leave the big ole faker and get on to all things Premises...
SAFEGUARDING IN STUDIOS CONFERENCE
We had a great turnout in Studio 2 last month for this important topic of making music studios safe from any form of bullying, bad behaviour and sexual harassment. We invited people who work in studios or use them, with the aim of not just acknowledging this still goes on, but more importantly, to devise a code of conduct whereby each studio would be clearly signposted to say this behaviour is not tolerated and that there would be repercussions for anyone who doesn’t comply.
Our panel comprised musician and journalist Naomi Larsson Pineda, Music Producer’s Guild executive director Emma Townsend, mastering engineer Cicely Balston, and our own recording engineer Ula Wodarz. We also had input from Niyi Akeju from CIISA-The Creative Industry Independent Standards Authority, which sets out minimum standards of behaviour across all UK creative industries.
Key points of discussion were that freelancers felt they had less recourse to complain, because if they’re shown to ‘make trouble’ it will be harder to get work in the future. And while harassment goes on in most forms of employment, the set-up of say, a recording studio, where it might just be one producer and one artist, could lead to a situation at best, of a power imbalance and at worst, sexually inappropriate behaviour. Naomi added that in a similar situation the music was not released at all, and Cicely added that women get infantilised all the time, and then sometimes try to act like “one of the lads” to fit in. Emma called for a strict code of conduct with open and accountable reporting mechanisms, and for a responsive learning culture. In a sense, it’s a music studio specific version of what CIISA already has in place. Once the documentation is in place, it will be rolled out in select studios, including The Premises. Hopefully this will become the benchmark for all music studios.
YOLANDA CHARLES’ BASS AND RHYTHM WORKSHOP
We had a very full house for Yolanda Charles’ popular bass and rhythm workshop,
which was a two parter including intensive tuition and then an afternoon instructive
jam with Nick Linnik and Nicolas Viccaro. There was so much material to pack in
and there was plenty of feedback from students. The most common comment was
about Yolanda’s teaching style, that it was both gentle and enthusiastic. Specifically,
they mentioned the “touch, emphasis and feel” exercises and one enthused that they enjoyed learning “that a bass riff can be made funky by the use of dynamics.”
Another really dug the use of triads, root notes and chord progressions. Another
said, “We just wanted more time. There was so much to learn and Yolanda’s energy
and passion made the day just fly.” Yolanda is now working on a new model of bass
workshop. We’ll keep you posted!
WE'RE IN THE OBSERVER!
We had a superb feature in The Observer last month, with a lot of love directed at Nural and Ali, who run the Premisers Café. Anyone who eats here regularly will know that Nural and Ali learn everyone’s name very quickly and are masters at multi-tasking, but always stopping for a chat. The walls of course are festooned with photos and affectionate messages of all the great and good who have recorded and rehearsed here, (and it is a honour to be on those walls) but one of the main attractions for those who work here is that many of the ideas they come up with are chatted over a Menemen or Full English. Nural says, “It’s like a family. I know many musicians and I’ve known them for a long time.” She fondly recalls a bear hug from Patti Smith after the two had not seen each other for two decades. Big shout outs go to resident producers and café regulars Nicky Brown and Hannah V, who both expound on the creative cross-pollination that goes on within the studios and the café. The writer ends on a lovely note: “In a city where creative work is increasingly forced into the margins - priced out, pushed on, or flattened into something tidy - The Premises remains unvarnished.” You can read the whole thing here...
CHRISTMAS SINGLE PLUG!
Official friends of The Premises and all round jolly good people Dovile and the Moonbacks are driven by songwriter & producer Anthony Doll, together with vocalist Dovile Piripaite. They recorded their latest Christmas single here called “Christmas in The Air” which is a radical departure from their doom laden, nihilistic, noise fuelled and totally Goth “This Side of Xmas”(we might be joshing, here) though we loved the tune itself and the merry line dancing video. Now they’re back and channelling that love of good old-fashioned British pop, heavy on singalong melody, without being cheesy. More than music to baste your nut roast to, it’s darn catchy, and they’ve not stopped there, with a second release, “Xmas Kiss” on the horizon, and this one with a more sweeping, cinematic feel. Preview “Christmas in the Air” via Spotify and via SoundCloud, or give them a follow on Instagram or X (Twitter)
OUR CHRISTMAS CLOSING HOURS...
Please note, we will be Closed for Christmas and New Year from 5pm 23rd December to 10am 2nd January. A very Merry to you and yours and we’ll see you all in the New Year! For anything urgent, we’ll still be checking emails: bookings@premisesstudios.com
OUR CHRISTMAS BARGAIN
What is Christmas without a bargain? In our own extended remix of Black Friday, have we got a recording deal for you....
UPCOMING FOR YOUNGER SINGERS...
Advance notice of our next hugely popular Voice Jam for singers 11-18!
It's all free but register early: michele@premiseseducation.org
WHO’S BEEN IN?
Last month, before we got proper stuck into the Holly Jolly vibe, we had Alfie Whitbread, Yves Jarvis, Neve Ella, Lipgloss Twins, Beverley Knight, Conor Benn (clearly, we provided the edge over Eubank Junior!), Jasmine Jethwa, Kevin Barrett, Alfreda M, Wytch-Post, Charles Lacey, Reva Gauntlet, Anna Calvi, Danny Silverstone, Mayelli, Max Allais, Savannah Ministry, Singing Bowie, Celeste, Child and the Banned, Naomi Scott, Ella Burns, Hania Rani, Duke Street Band, Sophie Faith, Marlo Shankweiler, London Voice Academy, Naomi Scott, Nectar Woode, Springfield Quartet, Fran and Flora, London New Wind Festival, Arthur Hill, Strandz, Jamie Lopez, Trinity Laban, Fossils, Casey Elisha, Eileen Gogan, The Jam, Yolanda Charles, Glory Choir, Timothy Porter, Jonny Woo’s Unroyal Variety, Nubya Garcia, Rizzle Kicks, The Sisters of Mercy on Ice, Filomenas, Delta, Triggerfish, Clive Langer, Rascal Xmas Band, Ruff Squad, Mellina Tay,Vula Malinga, Horrifix, Irene Taylor Trust, Keshav Kanabar, Grace Gachot, Terry Washington, Phil Robinson, Sophia and the Antoinettes, Jonathan Jeremiah, Lips Choir, Lust Ritual, Stephen Cooper, Berwyn, Shekinah, Passing Ships, Remetik, Shabaka Hutchings and Camilla George, Attawalpa, BMG Gospel Choir, Say She She, Beth McCarthy, Scout, Senseless, Facesoul, Beyond Vocals, Soloman Fox, ‘Gloria’, Kuleeaugee, Richard Ampadu, Orphy Robinson, Alistair McKellan, Malibu Hot Flush, Erin Le Count, I Am Not What You Think I Am, Tanis, Rachel Chinouriri, Wassim, Patrick Lawrence, Porridge Radio, Annaiis and many more of the great and good…
AND FINALLY...
