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Mike Batt:
"Katie is a fantastic discovery for me to have made. I was auditioning to find a singer who could sing jazz and blues in an interesting way, but I never expected to find someone quite so unique, - quite so obviously on her way to greatness. She is one of the most intelligent singers I've worked with for a very long time, - there are little reminders in her voice, of all sorts of other singers like Eartha Kitt and Edith Piaf, - of whom she has never heard. She exudes a modest confidence, is completely sure of herself and has a maturity far in advance of her age. She's a charismatic stage performer and has beautiful, hypnotic eyes" |
Visit Katie Melua's official website here.
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One of Britain's best-known songwriters and composers, Mike Batt's consistent track record of success also includes production, composition and conducting, on projects as diverse as Watership Down, Phantom of The Opera and The Wombles.
He has conducted many of the world's great orchestras including the London Symphony, The London Philharmonic, The Royal Philharmonic, The Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the State Orchestra of Victoria and The National Symphony Orchestra Of Ireland.
As a singer, his solo albums include "Schizophonia" and "Tarot Suite"(both with the London Symphony Orchestra), and songwriting credits include work for David Essex, Art Garfunkel, The Hollies and of course Katie Melua.
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Visit Mike Batt's official website here.
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Two years after setting to music an anthology of English-language poems from the 19th and 20th centuries, Carla Bruni has once again taken up her pen to write a new album of original songs, the first since her inaugural and highly successful CD, Quelqu’un m’a dit (Someone Told Me), in 2002.
What immediately strikes you when listening to Comme si de rien n’était is its lush instrumental palette. After recording two CDs with an uncluttered, folk-blues style, the singer explores a wide spectrum of genres ranging from pop to bluegrass, with nods to jazz and flamenco. Bruni’s touch, however, is immediately apparent in these compositions that again focus their gaze on emotion. “I’ve been following the same thread since I started writing songs”, she says.
Comme si de rien n’était is released in the UK on July 14th 2008. |
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Visit Carla Bruni's official website here.
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Already being tipped as one of the albums of 2008, Asa’s (pronounced Asha) debut self-titled album is scheduled for release on 18th February 2008 in the UK.
Having grown up in Nigeria listening to an intricately diverse mixture of African music and some of the best known and loved artists from the West, Asa’s sound is as perfectly unique as she is herself. Asa fuses pop, r&b, world, funk, soul and reggae in an album where she sings in both English and Yoruba.
With themes that reflect Asa's ire at the indifference of the modern world ("Fire On The Mountain"), to the track 'Jailer' (a morality tale denouncing slavery in all its forms) - Asa’s music has created a platform for us to hear how she feels about the world and herself in today’s society.
The buzz that is already sweeping France has crossed the Channel.
Self-titled album released 18th February 2008.
‘Fire On The Mountain’ single released 11th February 2008. Buy now from Itunes.
Released in the UK on Dramatico Entertainment
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Visit Asa's official website here.
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Andrea McEwan is a songwriter, singer, musician and actress. She completed a Bachelor of Dramatic Art at N.I.D.A. – Australia’s premier drama institute, and then worked extensively in theatre and television in Australia. In 2006, after moving to the UK, she was signed to Dramatico Entertainment as a songwriter when a demo of her songs found its way into the hands of Mike Batt. Early in 2007, she collaborated with Katie Melua on some songs for her then upcoming album. Out of their successful sessions came two tracks, “What I Miss About You” and “Dirty Dice”, which appear on the album “Pictures”. Andrea is currently working on her own album which will be released by Dramatico later this year.
Batt says: “There is a strong, womanly thread to Andrea’s lyrics, and her tunes and voice lend her work something of a Joni Mitchell quality”.
Visit Andrea McEwan's Myspace page here.
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Dramatico signed Florence Rawlings to a 5 album record deal, 6 years after she first contacted Mike Batt at the age of 13!
"She had a phenomenal voice even way back then," says Batt, "but it did not seem sensible for her to be recording until she had developed and finished her education. In the same week, I had just met Katie Melua, and it was she who I signed on that occasion, but I always remembered Florence, and kept checking her out every couple of years, asking her Mum to bring her in and sing stuff. A few months ago it just seemed that she was ready and so we are planning an album to be recorded soon. The album will be recorded in an unusual way compared to most albums these days. We will perform each track with live rhythm section, horns and backing vocals, to get a really authentic "soul" atmosphere. Florence's voice and musical leanings are well suited to a raw soul-based approach. We may even televise the sessions live as they happen. More on this as our plans develop.
Visit Florence Rawlings' Myspace page here.
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Mike Batt - Robert's producer - has known Robert for over twenty years. In fact it was Robert who sang Mike's song "When Flags Fly Together" which was commissioned as the official anthem for the opening of the Channel tunnel a few years ago. Robert (singing) and Mike (conducting) performed it with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for an audience including the Queen, President Mitterrand and many other senior politicians at Dover, during the opening ceremony.
Recently, Mike suggested they ought to make an album together, and "After A Dream" is the result. It is a collection of mostly classical songs that Robert chose and Mike arranged for strings and voice. It was recorded in Dublin with the strings of the Irish Film Orchestra.
Visit Robert Meadmore's official website here.
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The Planets were formed in early 2001, releasing their debut album 'Classical Graffiti' on EMI Classics in February 2002, entering the Classical chart at number 1.
The eight-piece band was formed and managed by Mike Batt, partly inspired by 80s band Sky and Dutch band Flairk, with an emphasis on strong live ability rather than the 'backing track' approach of previous Classical/Pop fusions.
The Planets took this live extravaganza around the world before moving on to other musical projects. |
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Read more about The Planets here.
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