September 2025 Newsletter
- The Premises Studios
- 19 minutes ago
- 6 min read
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“The key to using songs for CPR is choosing one with a tempo within the recommended range to support the best resuscitation efforts.” The Red Cross
Well, talk about songs in the key of life! If you are pumping a chest for life-saving reasons, the suggested BPM is between 100 and 120, but how are non-musicians to work that out? They give us the songs, many of which are by Dua Lipa, a few famous Justins and a kiddie song called Baby Shark. And in the olden days it was The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” the title of which, certainly has a form follows function vibe, but do we really think of pop songs while thumping a heart back into life? On an emotional level, songs can really change your life, in a homeopathic way. Feeling sad and want to get it all out? Listen to a sad song. Feeling happy? Listen to a happy song to make it all a bit MORE. But literally saving a life? Pop seems less important in the circs, but it never is here! That said, if you happen to be rehearsing here when suddenly thrust into that mortal coil, please let us know your preferred CPR song and we will endeavour to thump you to that particular beat. And now, in livelier news….
BASS AND RHYTHM PLAYERS... SUPERCLASS
Yolanda Charles, who ran an intensive bass and rhythm section workshop over a weekend in March, is back in October to run a similar course, this time over one day.
Yolanda is one of the most in demand bass players in the business, having worked with Hans Zimmer, BB King, Mick Jagger, Paul Weller, Squeeze, Queen, Eric Clapton and countless others. Now she divides her passions between her own band, teaching and collaborations.
The course is in two parts, and you can do one, or both. The morning session is for bass players who want to expand their knowledge about the practical uses of all those scales and exercises.
The bass part will run from 10-2 and will give you solid, creative ideas highlighting how to apply the knowledge you already have, but still feel unsure about how to actually use it! This creative session explores how to write basslines, how to play with feel, how to lock with the other musicians and what you can do to improve your playing style by making small, but impactful changes to your playing.
Then in the afternoon, from 3-5, you can join this: INSTRA-MENTALS - trio clinic, and you can be a bass player or guitarist or drummer for this part, which includes Yolanda’s group with Nick Linnick on guitar and Nicolas Viccaro on drums.
This masterclass will showcase the power of effective listening, reacting and improvising. The trio will perform songs from their setlist, demonstrating elements contained in the arrangements. Bass players, guitarists and drummers will have the opportunity to play through musical ideas and ask in-depth questions about harmony and rhythm throughout the session.Here’s a blast of Yolanda and co (recorded here in Studio A).
Costs are: £75 for the morning session and £50 for the afternoon one but if you book both, we can do you a combined rate of £110.
For more info: michele@premiseseducation.org
YOUNG PEOPLE SING, JUST BECAUSE...
There we were, working and minding our own business, when a glorious choral sound, rich in tone, harmony, and soul, came bursting out of studio 3. Well of course, it’s the nature of what we do, but the cool thing with this collection of young people was that it was the first time they’d met and played together under the direction of choir leader, composer and educator Ty Lowe, and they were terrific from the get go.
Ty would send about half a dozen young people into the corridor to “work out an arrangement” and this they did brilliantly. His trusty assistant Elijah was buzzing on the professional atmosphere of Premises. “We didn’t want to do this in a community hall or youth centre because that doesn’t feel the same as here. And we’re not doing this for a performance. We are just jamming and learning how to be team players and take direction.”
Well done, the musical youth of today. Though they were all from different places, a fair few were from here, which is worth checking out.
PIANO WEEK A TRIUMPH AS USUAL!
Not ones to blow our own trumpets (we leave that to the pros) but our 27th Piano Recording Week with Nikki Yeoh (above right) Tim Richards, Andrew Chen and Zoe Rahman (above left) boasted one of the best cohorts we’ve had the joy to host. There’s no other way to say it, but everyone who recorded, aged from 10 to 60 something, was really, really good, and even those who were quite good at the start became REALLY good by recording day.
The atmosphere was electric, with new tutors on board and a massive expansion of the choice of songs for recording from the entire Real Book, with tunes like Spain, Fiesta, Satin Doll, Beatrice, Cherokee being played with great diligence and ease with the students and our ace rhythm section, Dominic Howles on bass and Miles Pillinger on drums.
Student Jose Alverez was in raptures about the course: “I am self-taught and always dreamed of being a musician and wanted to join a music school but then this course came up and it felt like a mirror, in that it showed me where I was and where I wanted to get to with my playing, and how to get there. Now I can say I AM a musician. Nikki is an outstanding teacher who is able to untangle complex problems very quickly as well as making you feel at home in the studio.”
Plenty more where this came from. Watch this space for news of our future piano courses, coming up in 2026.
CASH MONEY FOR PRIZE WINNERS: HELP MUSICIANS!
Jazz musos! Act quickly. There’s a great grant available through our partner Help Musicians, which supports musicians at the start and development of their careers. Here’s all the info:
Help Musicians is now accepting applications for the 2025 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award. Please share with musicians in your network who might be interested in this opportunity. You’ll find all the details on their website, including eligibility criteria and application guidance: Help Musicians | Peter Whittingham Jazz Award and you can always give them a call on 020 7239 9101 or email: support@helpmusicians.org.uk to find out more.
The winner will receive:
£5,000 in financial support towards their work. This could include recording new material, a period of mentoring, promotional activity and much more
One-to-one business advice, tailored to their needs and delivered via experienced music industry professionals
In addition, a further £5,000 is distributed between musicians demonstrating potential to make an impact in the scene. Those musicians will also receive one-to-one business advice.
FINAL EARLY BIRD CALL...
Step into the room with Lurine Cato MBE, award-winning singer, powerhouse performer, and one of the UK's most respected vocal coaches. With over two decades in the music industry, Lurine has shared the stage with icons, toured internationally, and trained voices that have graced world-class stages. In this dynamic workshop, you'll learn how to:
Unlock your vocal range
Command any stage with confidence and presence
Deliver unforgettable performances
Suitable for singers of all levels, though some experience preferred.
Fee before 12 Sept is £67. After that, £90.
NEW LIFT INCOMING!
A promise and a warning... starting in a few days time we’ll be stripping out our old and sometimes cranky lift with a super-smooth £100k replacement.
This is going to mean some disruption for a couple of months but fear not, we’ve been planning this for a year now.
Heavy impact noise will be restricted to the hours of 5am-10am and help will be available for load-ins and load-outs.
However, please email us well in advance if you’re planning to bring in heavy gear, particularly for production rehearsals.
Our snazzy new lift should be completed by Nov 8th.Until then we’ll do our level best to minimise any inconvenience.
Bear with! bookings@premisesstudios.com
WHO’S BEEN IN?
We had a robust August with bands bustin’ out all over, though not literally, which would be messy. While some of you have been to the South of somewhere hotter, we’ve been here with the likes of: Hero Baldwin, Blank Canvas, Save Ferris, Beaney McSweeney, Vasili, Bree Runway, Savanna Ministry, Natalie Findlay, PP Arnold, The Hunger, Triggerfish, Max Allais, Clover, Malibu Hot Flush, Harper Finn, Bar Italia, Rizzle Kicks, Saleen, Anna Stella, Tonderai, Alfie Whitbread, Odeal, Do It With Soul, Linda Dawn, Mark Alexander, Omar Puente, Elle Coves, The Divine Comedy, DJ Shadow, Bradley Brockwell, CSX Pistols, Iraina Mancini, Singing Bowie, M.J.Cole, Saga Faye, Pathways2Performance, Miraculous Mule, Deyyess, Urban Soul Orchestra, Boy George, Sunny Afternoon, Ty Lowe, House Gospel Choir, Springfield Quintet, Adam Buxton, Irene Taylor Trust, Ali Grigor, Matters Unknown, Dan Oates, Pedro Santos, NXDIA, Sharp End Trio, Autoheart, Jenny Smyth, Shean Roberts, Strandz, Crash Face, Attawalpa, Jade Thirwell, Folded Wing, Girls of The Internet, The London Voice Academy, Danny Silverstone, Fossils, Charlie Bubbles, Coza, Dignity of Labour, and many others.
(Quick Quiz: Which of the above wrote in their book (of our very own Michele Kirsch): “If I ever see her again, I’d like to spit in her face.” ?
AND FINALLY...
