Tuff Mastering

𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕓𝕠𝕒𝕣𝕕 whilst I don’t think there’s anything inherently better about mastering analogue, there are a few analogue processors I’ve worked with over the years that simply don’t have as pleasant sounding a counterpart in the digital world. I come out on a Mytek Brooklyn p2p on a super short cable run then back into digits via a Burl. everything’s housed in the beating heart of the whole studio: the custom Predki desk designed & built by Piotr Prędkiewicz at @predkiworkshop . just really up there as one of the finest pieces of furniture ever made; we salute you, Piotr 🫡 although they may have spent the past century mercilessly stamping out democratic movements in developing nations in favour of their own material interests with impunity, nobody holds a candle to the Americans when it comes to designing and building mastering equalisers and compressors, imo. I have a couple of absolute OG, stone cold classics in the Sontec & Pultecs, plus a Manley valve (🇺🇸tube 🇩🇪Röhren) EQ for when I need something more coloured. API & Rupert Neve (repping for the UK) bus compressors and a beautiful-sounding (if absurdly hench) peak limiter from Undertone Audio which is a really nice modern spin on the Fairchild.

I know I drunkenly posted a gazillion stories about this last night but feel like it deserves its own post as it’ll probably never happen again. thanks to all the members & judging panel at the @musicproducersguild who awarded me UK Mastering Engineer of the Year 2022. much like the Ballon D’Or, it seems a bit weird awarding individual awards for music production as, like football, it’s a team sport so massive love to every artist, musician, producer, A&R, manager, mix engineer or anyone else who’s ever entrusted me with their record, I wouldn’t be able to do the thing I love (listening to awesome music on massive, expensive speakers everyday) without any of you. it was really special being presented the award by my dear friend and nailed-on, future mastering award-winner @cicelybalston (HAPPY BIRTHDAY CICELY) 🥳 it was also really lovely being congratulated by @katietavini & @puttingitonwax who are both formidable mastering engineers I look up to a lot and who will both finish their careers with their mantelpieces creaking under the weight of even more awards. wicked seeing everyone out last night after all that lockdown stuff, thanks for all the drinks - I am absolutely fucking dying today you bastards! 😘🍾

I’m not sure what it says about the nature of the human condition under late-capitalism that we so readily mediate our own sense of self-validation and worth via pieces of paper like this one but I do. So many thanks @recordingacademy for the Grammy award certificate and an extra special thanks to the incredibly talented @originalkoffee whose wonderful music is really what won this award. It’s up on the wall at @alchemymastering between all of Bazza’s platinum records 🏆

“Is This How Happiness Feels?” the marvellous eighth studio album from the irrepressible @reverend_makers is released today via the fine folks over at @distillermusic He might be the new Chairman of @_sheffieldfc but our Jon still found the time to make another corker of an album of R’N’B and Northern Soul-infused-bangers that, for my money, might just be their best one yet… Produced by @danny_lafrome Mixed by the inimitable @ashhowesmusic Featuring the wonderful guest vocal talents of @vicky.mcclure & @robbiewilliams Mastered by me

The Sorry Window, the sensational sophomore album from False Advertising @falseads is out now. We started working on this record back in 2024 but a line-up change to the band meant delays, rethinks and a tracklist change. Two years later and I’m so thrilled this album’s finally out because it’s a personal favourite, every song could be a single, platforming lead vocalist Jen Higley’s songwriting chops. The Sorry Window was produced by False Advertising with the help of the man, the legend @_luke_pickering who also mixed the record beautifully over at @churchstudios An absolute dream to master this one, grab your copy now!!

was great speaking to the folks over at @songwritingmagazine about the ways in which we in mastering (right at the end of the production line) are still intrinsically linked with and in service to the songwriters right at the start. Thanks so much for having me! head over to their page to subscribe 👉 Thanks @davidd7177 for the hookup 🤝

3 months ago I ended my 26-year-long love affair with / addiction to smoking. you hurt me baby but you were always there for me when I needed you… I also quit having hair at some point but I feel like I had way less agency in that particular decision. So it goes.

Stars and Teeth, the incredible début album from the wonderful @sophiemay.uk is out now via those cool cats over at @psychicmusic_ It’s been my great privilege working with Sophie over the past few years & EPs leading up to this album, she possesses an uncanny vocal style that recalls the great Patsy Cline (one of my favourite singers, growing up) & Mary Weiss coupled with the acerbic wit and gallows humour of Samuel Beckett, writing songs that are as uncomfortable and thought-provoking as they are beautiful. Stars and Teeth was written and performed by Sophie May with the help of @matthewmaltese @charliegrimwood_ @casper_miles Produced with the wonderful @josh_scarbrow Engineered by the don @simontodkill Mixed by the great @leesmithmixer Mastered by Kevin Big love to @sahilv_

‘PRINT’ the début EP from my bro @kilusmind is out now via my West London OG legends over at @regalrecording Kilu’s one of the most exciting new voices to emanate from my ATCs over the past couple of years, making the kind of emotive, epic, indie rock that helped me first fall in love with music. PRINT was produced, engineered and mixed with these total legends @samellwood @jamierendle Drew @vberg_industries @maxwolfganguk @sophie_ellis_ & Richard Woodcraft Mastered by Kevin

and there she is, ensuring we have a little bit of Christmas here the whole year round… 🎄 another huge congratulations to @kylieminogue and everyone at @parlophone & @warnermusicuk on the number one album, Christmas #1 single and just brilliant campaign all round. Shout out to the team @ashhowesmusic @markspikestent @biffco @bylukefitton @kurtmartinez @tomsparrow_ Many thanks @officialcharts for the very fetching awards, if anyone ever tries to break in, I’ve got something effective to hand to bludgeon them in the head with. #practical #christmasnumberone

Wishing a huge happy release day to the incomparable (and fellow Scorpio ❤️‍🔥) @tianamajor9 whose debut album November Scorpio drops today, just in time to soundtrack your Valentine’s weekends you crazy love birds, via the good folks at @plus1records One of my favourite albums I’ve had up on the ATCs here in recent times, a truly special record ✨ Produced and mixed by the master @prgrshn With additional production from @brody_myles @perakrstajic @mattyspatsmusic @jonahchristian.wav Featuring guest performances from @yebbasmith & @keyonharrold Mastered by Kevin here at the lab Shouts to the team @CoreyKastner

Leaves Do Tumble is all yours at midnight tonight 🍂 We’ve truly never felt as proud of a song as this one. Plenty more to come too. Huge thanks to @soundslikemaisy @mottsyj @tuffmastering and @apollodistro for making it possible x