Jason Farrar Explores with His Stick

Renowned bass player and vocalist Jason Farrar, accompanied by his bass stick joined Shirtlifter at JL Studios to lay down melodies for two songs on the up coming, "More Songs About Gods" album.

After graduating in classical piano and voice at the Royal Conservatory, Jason Farrar has gone on to unfailingly pound and caress his way through hundreds of gigs and rehearsals. His band credits include J. Englishman and Brother Love Canal, the Sattalites, Megan Morrison, Blues Element, and the Greg Wyard Band, but to name a few.
In 1993, Leslea Keurvorst and Farrar formed Kuru, a Toronto-based dark-wave band. Their classical training combined with their use of technology and the human voice gave them a unique and dark sound that was perfectly suited to the needs of the film. Their work has appeared in a number of films and they have produced several independent recording projects during their eight years together.
In spring 2004, Jason joined "Classic Albums Live" project as choirmaster. Classic Albums Live is fast becoming one of Toronto's biggest attractions. The Classic Albums Live group draws on the finest musicians from around the world to create a track-for-track, note-for-note experience duplicating an album from the annals of rock history.
Farrar performs regularly in Toronto, Canada and around the world.

Darryl Sutton from BRTB Connects

Darryl Sutton from BRTB ventured to JL Studios to personally deliver an order of cable connectors. The guys at BRTB pay meticulous attention to detail and you will be hard pressed to find better customer service.

If you need pro audio and video cabling that rivaIs Mogami at a more competive price, then I suggest you check out BRTB.

"The Audio division of BRTB is 10 years old and has quickly built a reputation for quality audio cabling. BRTB Audio products consist of standard audio cables to snake systems, recording snakes, connectors, bulk cable and accessories. All BRTB audio assemblies are manufactured at their modern facility located in Markham Ontario, Canada."

Courtesy of brtbcanada.com

Richard Thomas at JLS Recording

Veteran actor Richard Thomas trecked to JL Studios between performances to record a voice over for "Hope For Life".

"Thomas is in Toronto staring as courageous Juror #8 in Twelve Angry Men, which hit the stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre Jan. 8. Most remember Richard Thomas as John-Boy from The Waltons in 1972, the role that first made him a household name. During the Waltons years, Thomas starred in several well-mounted TV movies, including the 1979 remake of All Quiet on the Western Front. Ever seeking opportunities to expand his range, Thomas has sunk his teeth into such roles as the self-destructive title character in Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story (1983) and the amusingly sanctimonious Rev. Bobby Joe in the satirical Glory! Glory!. In 1980, Thomas made his first Broadway appearance in over two decades as the paralyzed protagonist of Whose Life is It Anyway."

Courtesy of thestar.com

Presonus BlueTube makes a Debut

We were looking for a versatile pre amp with lots of character, so JL Studios decided to take a PreSonus Bluetube DP for a test drive. Our testing revealed that the pre amp has low noise, is responsive, warm, and very musical. We were so impressed that we have added a BlueTube to the studio's equipment roster. This baby packs quite a punch for such a reasonable price.

Melleny Melody Cranks It Out at JL Studios

Singer, songwriter and performance artist Melleny Melody bounced into JL Studios to record vocals for up-n-coming material on her Play Records label.

"Over the years, Melleny Melodys flavorful and always entertaining performances have caught the eye of TV producers, including Nelvana, which picked her as the voice of Cheer Bear and Baby Tugs in the smash hit kids TV series, The Care Bears. In keeping with her cartoon-like characters, she teamed with composer and arranger John Henry Nyenhuis to produce Cartoon Songs to Drive you Crazy, a collision of 90s digital and 30s Big Band sounds that evoke images of Betty Boop, Shirley Temple and Marilyn Monroe. Her video of Im so Happy, nabbed a Silver Award at the Houston World Fest in the mid-90s for Best Music Video/Best New Artist and her recording of Gravity was featured in the award-winning short film, Weight of the World. Melleny Melody has also performed on BMGs Cocktail Shaken and Stirred compilation, singing Superman by the Crash Test Dummies and Courage by The Tragically Hip."

Courtesy of mellenymelody.com

Marcus Hann laying down guitar riffs at JL recording studio

Marcus Hann, guitarist extraordinaire played with rock band, "After The Fall" back in his Newbrunswick hometown. Since his move to T.O., Marcus headed the Attack Records A&R department, presently he is at JL recording studio lending his talents to SHIRTLIFTER'S up-n-coming album, More Songs About Gods.

Xavier "X-Man" Paul Slams It

JL Studios is pleased to announce that Xavier Paul from the studio's Voice Talent roster has landed a "Lebron IV" spot for Footlocker .

"Xavier's voice is cool, hip, upbeat, fun with an essential urban edge. His range allows him to go from being "in your face" raw to smooth jazzy and real. A Will Smith soundalike, he captures a mainstream sound without sounding "overly articulate". Xavier has a fresh clear sound and is capable of a variety of male sport/entertainment celebrities: Mike Tyson, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Cedric "The Entertainer", Martin Lawrence. Xavier was the voice of "Slam", a UK based international basketball sports news program airing on the Eurosport Network. Xavier is also an on-air host based in New York currently working on developing new urban programming for MTV."

Courtesy of voiceovers.co.uk

Ron Schuster back at JL Studios recording Quaker voice tracks

A very talented Ron Schuster, Photographer & Video Producer recently recorded studio voice tracks for a Quaker Oats video. Ron's portfolio offers a visual treat, so... check it out at whatisreel.com. His clients include Nike, Bata, and Cuisinart.

Singer Billy Newton-Davis rocks JL recording studio

International singing superstar Billy Newton-Davis has been busy recording at JL Studios. Currently, Billy and Melleny Melody, singer, songwriter and performance artist have been working on Classic House tracks to be released on Mellee's, Play Records label.

"As one of Canada's premier entertainers for over 25 years, Billy began his professional singing career performing repeatedly on the legendary Mike Douglas Show, showing off a new suit on the Jackie Gleason Show and singing back up for Gloria Gaynor in the 1970's. In the 80's Billy was a two-time Juno Award winner for the albums, "Love Is A Contact Sport" (1986) and "Spellbound" (1989). "

Courtesy of billynewton-davis.com

Washburn D2005SCE Limited Edition Guitar

We are ecstatic about adding a Washburn D2005SCE Limited Edition acoustic/electric guitar to JL Studios arsenal of stringed instruments. The D2005SCE is number 10 of 240, and features beautiful solid wood mahogany from India, gold Grover tuners, inlaid mother of pearl fret board and head stock, lazer etched rosette around sound hole and BBand A3.2 electrics.

The guitar has a natural (unlacquered) finish which we really like. Unlacquered guitars enhance natural sonic characteristics of the wood. What an amazing sound, intonation, and action this instrument has.

Arvinder Singh Punjabi Playback Singer

Arvinder Singh kept JL Studios engineers spellbound with his music as well as his excellent sense of humour.

"A teetotaller who sings of the charms of wine! A practising Sikh who attempts to mix the modern with the traditional. A playback singer who wants to be associated with some timeless songs, Arvinder Singh is all this and much more... .

He is a teetotaller singing about the joys of wine! A practising Sikh who does not get a haircut for religious reasons, yet he maintains a trendy look with a ponytail and all. He thinks that fusion is confusion, still comes up with mixes as they sell in the market. He is Arvinder Singh, the man who is all over satellite channels these days with his debut album "Paani Sharab Main."

Arvinder is not just a singer who has branched out after a brief training stint at a workshop. He started learning classical music since when he was eight. Pandit Devaki Nandan in Himachal Pradesh, Pandit Ram Narayan Sharma of Jaipur gharana, and Ustad Mahender Singh of Punjab gharana were all his gurus.

Recall "Sanjha Chulha" on Doordarshan? Arvinder had composed its music and sung its songs too. This was his first venture. Since then he has been associated with several notable songs, including "Tun Tun Ho Yara" from film "Dada", "Ma Ambe" in Aamir Khan's "Mela", "Chod Ke Na Jana" from "Maa Tujhe Salaam", and "Eid Mubarak" from "Tumko Na Bhool Payenge". This 35-year-old melody maker has more items in his kitty.

An admirer of Ghulam Ali, he has not had "a very good experience" in Bollywood. "I had sung "Shava Shava" song for `Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham' but Amitji - Amitabh Bachchan -- said that he wanted Sudesh Bhonsle to sing for him. Similarly in `Maa Tujhe Salaam' I sang the title song but later I got to know that its makers got Shankar Mahadevan dub it," he laments, feebly adding that being a beginner is all about trying to take it in his stride.

About the album he has interesting things to tell: "I composed the song 12 years ago and performed it at many places and received encouraging response. That emboldened me to make it into an album."

His hairstyle makes him look like a foreigner. "I am a practising Sikh. I do not drink but singing wine songs on stage wearing a white pagdi always made me feel guilty as the pagdi has a sanctity of its own so I gave up my turban. Yet I never wanted a haircut for religious reasons. Once in Norway I found many Norwegians with long hair, performing. Here I got reason to look modern as well as fulfil my religious responsibility, hence this ponytail," and he ruffles his hair lovingly. You ask him about his academic life and he hesitatingly reveals, "I studied at a Himachal school but was more into music through which I would bring fame to the school. Till High School, the school authorities saved my academic years by giving grace marks but they gave up after that."

The father of two children, Arvinder has an aim to fulfil. "To sing something that touches the soul and not always those foot-tapping numbers which are transient in nature." To bring soul into his music, he rehearses for at least two hours a day."

Courtesy of Online edition of India's National Newspaper

Rodney Jay Soward Kicks It

R. Jay recentley kicked off work at JL Studios recording some smokin' beats and vocals on his record due for future release. When not playing for CFL's Toronto Argonauts as a wide receiver, R. Jay spends his spare time writing and producing music. He spends the off-season in Mississauga with his partner Deneesha and their five children. He is a regular member of the Argo charity basketball team, the Courtside Boatmen.