Illinois Entertainer October 2015 | Page 36

FALL STUDIO NEWS Slavic Livins at FMG Studios F MG STUDIO's Slavic Livins has been a Chicago-based stalwart producer, engineer and remixer for nearly two decades. Livins early production work included re-mixes for John Legend and Korn. He also mixed and mastered projects for Snoop Dog, Keyshia Cole, Day 26 and Dietrick Haddon. Livins award winning efforts includes RIAA Platinum status for his work with Cisco, RIAA Gold for his work with Joe, and a Grammy nomination for a track he did with Saleena Johnson. A single for singer/rapper Nick De La Hoyde ("By My Side") was mixed and mastered by Livins, reaching number 15 on Billboard’s New Music Weekly Top 40 chart. Livins recently made the decision to return to his first love in studio work – producing, which led to tracking songs for Chicago-based artists Yemi Marie, Carl Thomas, and production on Avant's album The VIII. Livins and Avant worked LAST CALL ( Deluxe Version ) also OUR CITY by the LAKE ( 7-inch Vinyl ) Celebrating 15 Years! Release Date 10/6/15 available at: pledgemusic.com/projects/jip GETJIP.com 36 illinoisentertainer.com october 2015 together on 2000's My Thoughts, which Longtime Chicago musician David generated the Top 40 R&B hit "Separated" Ashdown (Boom Hank, Braam, and reached RIAA Platinum status. Avant Billhouse) along with his band Waiting and Livins are optimistic that by teaming For Henry, recorded with legendary proup again they can reignite the same magic ducer Mitch Easter, who engineered and they had over a decade ago. Livins engi- produced REM's legendary Murmur and neered the album and produced the track Reckoning albums. It's Ashdown's and "I'm Not Telling," which "brings a modern WFH's second record as follow-up to twist self to a classic R&B sound." The VIII 2013's Ghosts & Compromise. The first sesis due out September 25th and is available sions were tracked at THE LAKEHOUSE for pre-order now on iTunes, Amazon and in Asbury Park, NJ this past summer. WFH finish their session at Google play. North Carolina Easter's Livins told IE that "workstudio FIDELITORIUM ing in this industry can be this month. Ashdown told extremely humbling, each IE via email that Easter's new project feels like start"got an amazing ear for ing over in a way." He attribeverything and knows utes his success to his ability how to keep the flow to reinvent himself and congoing, and is really a fun tinue learning. guy. He's kind of like the Great session at GRAVI'Willy Wonka of Jangle' but TY STUDIOS as Korean please don't quote me on Psychedelic Rock Legend that (laughs). Perhaps it's Chang Kim (singer of just his purple velvet jackSanullim) returned to the et (but he does have a studio to track for his second Mitch Easter with Waiting For tremendous sense of record. Henry at The Lakehouse humor), I was nervous and At RAX TRAX they're "super excited to have House Of Whales giddy (working with Easter) but managed back working with Engineer/Producers to regain my composure in a couple days." Andy Shoemaker and Noam Wallenberg. Hey Studiophiler: To get your studio African superstar, Abdallah Ag Alhousseyni of the Grammy winning or band listed in "Studiophile," just email studio/recording info to group Tinariwen teamed up with blues your legend Billy Branch for a performance at [email protected] (note the Old Town School of Folk Music They new email), subject line: Studiophile. also layed down a few traditional acoustic Deadline is 10/15 for the November issue. songs, blending African desert music with Studio owners – we'd love to hear from Chicago blues. Andy Shoemaker also you about your recording sessions. recorded this session.