February 2010 News

With a band name like Wild Beasts, audiences would most likely expect something primal and fierce to accost their ears upon listening. However, what you get is delightfully different. The boys in this band have an almost poetic vibe to their lyrics and album titles, and to further set them apart, lead singer Hayden Thorpe holds the rare distinction of being a countertenor. Hailing all the way from Kendal England, the Wild Beasts were brought to The Village by KCRW and the Morning Becomes Eclectic team this February. They worked in Studio A with Ghian Wright engineering. Annie Erin Clark, better known to her fans as St. Vincent, was also a guest on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic this month. A former member of The Polyphonic Spree and a touring musician with Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent is no stranger to creating beautiful music. Her sound is intricate in structure while remaining truthfully simple. Ghian Wright engineered while Chris Owens assisted. This December, Sony Pictures will release Burlesque, the story of a small town girl who moves to Los Angeles with big dreams. The cast will consist of greats like Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane, Stanley Tucci and the one and only, Cher. The Village had the pleasure of hosting this multi talented diva in Studio A along with engineer Steve Lindsay and assistant Chris Owens. She was recording tracks for the film which, from the sound of it, is sure to be a smash hit. After winning an Oscar, an Emmy, three Golden Globes and a Grammy, Cher’s career has been on an upward climb since the 60’s and does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. This month is Studio D, The Cars took up a brief residency to record a new album. Since the 1970’s, this Boston based group did pop/rock their own way. In the early days, record labels told the guys their look was “too weird” to sign. But, The Cars proved them all wrong and went on to make hits like, “Just What I Needed”, “My Best Friends Girl” and “Good Times Roll”. Garrett “Jacknife” Lee produced while Sam Bell engineered and Chris Owens assisted. Some artists possess the fortunate trait of having an extremely recognizable voice that sets them apart from their peers. Macy Gray is one such singer. Her distinctive brand of R&B/soul burst onto the scene in the early 90’s when a vocalist failed to show up to a session. Since then, she has been performing and recording all over the world and we were thrilled to have her working in The Village with Concord Records. Jared Lee Gosselin engineered while Ghian Wright assisted.