The Studio · A&R · Artist development
A&R and artist development
A&R (artists and repertoire) is how a label finds artists and helps them make their best records. With us it means four things: we listen to your demos properly, we give you honest creative feedback, we develop the songs and you as an artist, and we shape the whole project around them, from the sound to the release plan and the team. You make the music. We handle the maze.
01 · Demos
We listen to your demos, properly
Send us one to three songs. A voice note, a rough home demo or a finished recording are all welcome: we are listening for the song and the artist, not the production. We listen to every submission, all the way through.
There is no obligation, and we keep your details private.
02 · Feedback
Honest creative feedback
If it clicks, we talk. We tell you what is working, what is not there yet, and where we think the songs could go: the hook, the structure, the arrangement, the lyric, the performance. Plain words, no flattery, and always in service of the song you are trying to make.
03 · Development
Developing the songs, and the artist
Artist development is the longer game. It is not only about finishing one record; it is about helping you become the artist you are aiming to be.
The songs
Songwriting and arranging with you in pre-production: the structure, key and tempo, the parts and who plays them, so the session days are spent making music.
The sound
Finding the sound that is yours, with a room full of real instruments to try ideas on, from the 1904 Steinway to a horn line.
The artist
Performance in the live room, your story and your content. Every session is filmed, so the making of the record becomes the way people get to know you.
04 · The project
Shaping the project, the rollout and the team
Once we know the songs, we shape the project with you, and walk every step of it together.
Single, EP or album
Which songs, in what order, and whether they work best as a run of singles, an EP, an album or something in between.
The recording
Tracking in the live room, overdubs where the song wants them, then mixing and mastering in stereo and Dolby Atmos: stereo masters, Atmos masters, instrumentals and stems.
The release plan
A rollout built around the songs and the session footage: release dates, singles, pre-release content, editorial pitching to the DSPs, and what happens after release day.
The team
Paul produces, engineers, mixes and masters, the in-house players add parts in the room, and session musicians come in when a track calls for strings, horns or a specialist.
How it works
From demo to release
Every project is shaped around the artist, but most follow the same path.
Send your demos
One to three songs and a few lines about what you want to make.
We listen
Every submission, properly. If it clicks, we arrange a conversation.
Feedback and a plan
Honest creative feedback, and the shape of the project.
Pre-production
Songs, arrangements, parts and players worked out before the session.
Tracking and overdubs
Recorded live in the room and filmed from several angles.
Mix and master
In stereo and Dolby Atmos, with stems and instrumentals.
Release and grow
The rollout, pitching, press, your EPK, your store, and campaigns after release day.
Not sure what pre-production, stems or a rollout are? Talk to us. No jargon, no pressure.
Send us your demos
Share one to three songs and a short note about what you would like to make. We listen to every submission, and there is no obligation.
Common questions
What is A&R?
A&R stands for artists and repertoire. It is the part of a label that finds artists, listens to their songs and helps them grow. With us, A&R means we listen to your demos properly, give you honest creative feedback, develop the songs with you, and shape the project around them: the sound, whether it is a single, an EP or an album, the release plan and the team who play on it, produce it, mix it and master it.
What is pre-production?
Pre-production is the planning before recording. We go through the songs together: the structure, the key and the tempo, the arrangement, who plays which part, and what the record should feel like. Doing it first means the recording days are spent making music, not making decisions.
What are stems, and how are they different from masters?
A master is the finished, release-ready version of a song: mixed, polished and ready for listeners. Stems are that same mix split into a few grouped parts, such as drums, bass, music and vocals, so someone can adjust or remove one part. Stems are handy for remixes, live backing tracks and sync, where a film or TV editor may want the song without the vocal. Every release we make comes with both.
What is an Atmos master?
An Atmos master is the finished Dolby Atmos version of a song, where the sounds are placed all around and above the listener rather than just left and right. It is delivered as an ADM file (a broadcast wave file that carries the audio and where each sound sits in the space), alongside the usual stereo master. Listeners hear it as Spatial Audio on Apple Music and in Dolby Atmos on Amazon Music and TIDAL. We mix and master in our Atmos room, so every release has one.
What is a rollout, or release plan?
A rollout is the plan for how a release reaches people, not just the day it comes out. It covers the release date, the order of singles, the pre-release weeks (teasers, session clips, pitching), release week itself, and the content and campaigns that keep it moving afterwards. We build the rollout with you around the songs and the session footage.
What are DSPs?
DSP stands for digital service provider. It is the industry name for the streaming and download services where people listen, such as Apple Music, Amazon Music and TIDAL. When someone says "out on all DSPs" they mean out everywhere people stream.
What is a pre-save?
A pre-save lets a fan save a song before it comes out, so it lands in their library on release day. It is one of the tools for the pre-release stretch of a rollout. Whether it suits your release depends on where and how the music goes out first, and we plan that with you.
All artist questions and the A to Z of industry terms
How we pitch your music for film, TV, adverts and games
Not sure what any of this means? Talk to us. No jargon, no pressure.