B-Room Music Publishing and Management comprises three principal partners, Derek Jenkins, Shedrick Guy and Jeff Lorez. Among company’s current claims to fame are the singer/songwriter Autumn Rowe who is signed to a co-publishing deal with Stellar Music Ltd/EMI Music and has recently written three UK top ten singles for Star Roc/Roc Nation/Sony artist Alexis Jordan (the million selling “Happiness”, “Good Girl” and “Hush”). In addition she has written the U.K. No. 1 single, “Swagger Jagger” for Simon Cowell’s X Factor (UK) artist Cher Lloyd (Syco/Sony) and the Grammy nominated single, “Collide” for Leona Lewis (Syco/Sony). Autumn has also recently been in the studio with X Factor US winner, Melanie Amaro and the beautiful songstress Kelis among many others.
B-Room is also proud to manage songwriter producer, Steve Mostyn, who, in conjunction to being Alicia Keys’ bass player has also written the chart topping “Superwoman” for the global superstar among other notable songs, heard the world over.
B-Room Publishing houses a custom built, state of the art recording studio in Weehawken, New Jersey, where its offices are also located. The three partners of B- Room have been acquaintances and friends for over twenty years. Derek Jenkins and Shedrick Guy, former music producers and label executives, have been childhood friends, while London born, Jeff Lorez met his future partners in the late ’80’s when interviewing them in his role as the Deputy Editor for UK music magazine, ‘Blues & Soul’.
Derek Jenkins traces his initial cross-over success in the music business to the late ’80’s when he signed and co-produced the all-girl trio, Jomanda. The group enjoyed a slew of dance cross-over hits through their deal with Atlantic Records including, “Make My Body Rock” and “Gotta Love For You”. Jenkins was also pivotal in securing the R&B duo, Changing Faces their record deal with Atlantic Records. In the ’90’s Jenkins helmed the production company, Backroom Productions which went on to enjoy the dance smash, Ruffneck Featuring Yavahn, “Everybody Be Somebody”, a joint venture with Louis Vega and Kenny “Dope” Gonzales’ MAW label. The single became a #1 Billboard Dance smash and sold over 200,000 in the process. Recent years have seen Jenkins, in between releasing a string of international club hits under the moniker of Backroom Productions, working with his partners on developing new songwriters and producers for B-Room Publishing, the first of which is Autumn Rowe.
Shedrick Guy started out a songwriter/producer in the ’80’s working alongside producer/record executive, Ric Wake on artists such as Taylor Dayne (Arista) and Hunter Hayes (4th & B’way/Island). Further success followed with production partner Guy Vaughan under the Flyguy production moniker on the artists Pam Russo, By All Means (4th & B’Way/Island), Crown Heights Affair (SBK) and Keichia Jenkins (Profile). In the early ’90’s Guy reconnected with old friend Ric Wake and was made a VP of urban music for DV8/A&M Records where he signed the artists Faces and Raw Stylo. Under the auspices of Wake, Guy also worked on remixes for CeCe Peniston and Jennifer Lopez. In 2007 he worked at Water Music, signing and developing songwriters and producers.
Jeff Lorez’s initiation into the music industry was as a music journalist, where he was made the Deputy Editor of the revered UK music publication, “Blues & Soul” in the late ’80’s. It was here that he made the acquaintances of numerous future movers and shakers in the music business as he traveled continuously between London, New York and LA. In 1993, Lorez moved permanently to New York and would go on to write for Billboard Magazine, Vibe, Yahoo.com, Interview, the Daily Telegraph to name but a few. Lorez has interviewed, often many times, anyone who is everyone in the music business from executives such as LA Reid, Peter Edge, Clive Davis and Craig Kallman to artists such as Beyonce, Prince, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, P. Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and Sade. It was Lorez’ advert on Craigslist looking for singers that he could introduce to the many high profile record executives and producers that he knows that led him to discover Autumn Rowe over eight years ago.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
B-ROOM TOP LINER / SINGER-SONGWRITERS
Autumn Rowe
Autumn Rowe is a New York based singer/songwriter who was born and raised in the Bronx. She honed her skills as part of the New York City Housing Authority Choir which also featured future hit songwriters, Claude Kelly and Lil Eddie, with whom Autumn established early friendships.
Her formative years were spent on the New York session circuit, where she sang and wrote songs with a diverse array of artists ranging from jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker (with producer Gary Haase) to hip-hop producer Swizz Beats (Autumn was the featured artist on his production, "One Day", a charity song for The Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation) and long term band leader Music Man Ty.
In addition, Autumn formed her own self-titled band and became a permanent fixture on Manhattan's live music scene. Though a neo-soul orientated album of original music, "Love Child", produced with Scott Jacoby and mixed by Grammy winning engineer Dave Darlington, was recorded in 2006, it was never released, as the band's sound changed to include more dance and pop elements.
By 2009, Autumn's career as a songwriter began to take flight, after signing with B-Room, which led her to a joint deal including Steller Songs/Stargate Productions(Rihanna "Rude Boy", Beyonce "Irreplaceable", Katy Perry, "Firework")/EMI UK. The result of their collaboration was the first single, "Happiness",[1] on Stargate's new artist, Alexis Jordan, in a co-venture with rapper Jay-Z's new label, Star Roc/Roc Nation/Sony. The song was written and produced by Stargate in conjunction with dance music DJ/Producer, Deadmau5. FiFA and Sony Music Entertainment has named the single, "Happiness" the Official Song of the 2011's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.[2] Autumn has also penned Jordan's second and third singles "Good Girl," which charted at #1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart [3] and "Hush Hush" respectively which were again co-written and produced by Stargate with French producer, Sandy Vee.
Autumn has also been busy working in the studio with numerous other producers on a slew of major label projects. Artists she has recently worked with include Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis, Cher Lloyd, Melanie Amaro and Kelis.
Tara Harrison
As a teenager, Tara Harrison became a veteran of the New York Open Mic circuit, which in turn led to the interest of a string of record labels and auditions with LA Reid (Def Jam), Merlin Bobb (Elektra) and Rich Christina (Atlantic). However, rather than be an artist, Tara decided to go to college and complete her degree and focus her attentions instead, to her first love, songwriting. Since graduating, Tara has kept her vocal chops in shape by securing a lead singer spot in one the country's elite special event/wedding bands, Soul Street, recently sharing the stage with Sting, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony watched by a who's who of A-List celebrities at the wedding of the President of Paramount Pictures in LA. In between high profile live events, Tara spends her time writing songs to the tracks of some of the hottest producers in the tri-state area and beyond. She is also a household name in Jamaica (homeland of her parents) where she performs regularly, recently sharing the stage with Celine Dion amongst others.
Tara Harrison recently co-wrote the single, "Loaded" for model/rapper/celebrity Amber Rose.
Lola Bunjette
Lola likes to joke that she was "born on Mars and raised in New Jersey!" One listen to her music, though can attest that this highly talented singer songwriter has an uncanny knack for writing out-of-box melodies with great lyrical concepts. She has worked closely with producers Souldiggaz and Missy Elliot on Elliot's upcoming artist, Sharaya
as well as Grammy winning producer Mario Winans. Says Lola, "Often when I write a song, I can hear the entire thing in my head at once, including the track. All I need is a beat and I'm good. I think I'm probably the most low maintenance songwriter any producer could work with!"
Autumn Rowe is a New York based singer/songwriter who was born and raised in the Bronx. She honed her skills as part of the New York City Housing Authority Choir which also featured future hit songwriters, Claude Kelly and Lil Eddie, with whom Autumn established early friendships.
Her formative years were spent on the New York session circuit, where she sang and wrote songs with a diverse array of artists ranging from jazz trumpeter Randy Brecker (with producer Gary Haase) to hip-hop producer Swizz Beats (Autumn was the featured artist on his production, "One Day", a charity song for The Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation) and long term band leader Music Man Ty.
In addition, Autumn formed her own self-titled band and became a permanent fixture on Manhattan's live music scene. Though a neo-soul orientated album of original music, "Love Child", produced with Scott Jacoby and mixed by Grammy winning engineer Dave Darlington, was recorded in 2006, it was never released, as the band's sound changed to include more dance and pop elements.
By 2009, Autumn's career as a songwriter began to take flight, after signing with B-Room, which led her to a joint deal including Steller Songs/Stargate Productions(Rihanna "Rude Boy", Beyonce "Irreplaceable", Katy Perry, "Firework")/EMI UK. The result of their collaboration was the first single, "Happiness",[1] on Stargate's new artist, Alexis Jordan, in a co-venture with rapper Jay-Z's new label, Star Roc/Roc Nation/Sony. The song was written and produced by Stargate in conjunction with dance music DJ/Producer, Deadmau5. FiFA and Sony Music Entertainment has named the single, "Happiness" the Official Song of the 2011's FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.[2] Autumn has also penned Jordan's second and third singles "Good Girl," which charted at #1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart [3] and "Hush Hush" respectively which were again co-written and produced by Stargate with French producer, Sandy Vee.
Autumn has also been busy working in the studio with numerous other producers on a slew of major label projects. Artists she has recently worked with include Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis, Cher Lloyd, Melanie Amaro and Kelis.
Tara Harrison
As a teenager, Tara Harrison became a veteran of the New York Open Mic circuit, which in turn led to the interest of a string of record labels and auditions with LA Reid (Def Jam), Merlin Bobb (Elektra) and Rich Christina (Atlantic). However, rather than be an artist, Tara decided to go to college and complete her degree and focus her attentions instead, to her first love, songwriting. Since graduating, Tara has kept her vocal chops in shape by securing a lead singer spot in one the country's elite special event/wedding bands, Soul Street, recently sharing the stage with Sting, Jennifer Lopez, Mark Anthony watched by a who's who of A-List celebrities at the wedding of the President of Paramount Pictures in LA. In between high profile live events, Tara spends her time writing songs to the tracks of some of the hottest producers in the tri-state area and beyond. She is also a household name in Jamaica (homeland of her parents) where she performs regularly, recently sharing the stage with Celine Dion amongst others.
Tara Harrison recently co-wrote the single, "Loaded" for model/rapper/celebrity Amber Rose.
Lola Bunjette
Lola likes to joke that she was "born on Mars and raised in New Jersey!" One listen to her music, though can attest that this highly talented singer songwriter has an uncanny knack for writing out-of-box melodies with great lyrical concepts. She has worked closely with producers Souldiggaz and Missy Elliot on Elliot's upcoming artist, Sharaya
as well as Grammy winning producer Mario Winans. Says Lola, "Often when I write a song, I can hear the entire thing in my head at once, including the track. All I need is a beat and I'm good. I think I'm probably the most low maintenance songwriter any producer could work with!"
B-ROOM PRODUCERS
Steve Mostyn
From playing in ska bands in his native Sydney, Australia to living in New York, writing hit songs with Alicia Keys and performing with her as her bass player around the world, Steve Mostyn can proudly attest to being a jack of all trades and master of most them too.
Steve's earliest musical influences came from his father, himself a part time musician, who brought his son a keyboard at the age of two. By nine Steve had graduated to guitar, while his brother , Andrew played the drums. At twelve he was recording his own tracks and playing in his own band at thirteen. Steve's teenage years were filled with a passion for retro music from the '60's and '70's as he enmeshed himself into classic Motown, Stax and Northern Soul. The Beatles and The Who also helped to shape his musical sensibilities.
"In my teens I was a card carrying, scooter riding, soul, ska and power pop loving Mod!" he laughs.
As he matured his tastes grew more eclectic. "I was into everyone from Otis Redding, Graham Central Station and James Brown to the early '80's groups like The Smiths. Cocteau Twins, The Cure, Joy Division, The Jam to ska influenced British groups like The Specials, Madness to '80's and '90's hip-hop that the Bomb Squad produced for Public Enemy, Ice Cube to Tribe Called Quest. I think just having such a broad taste musically definitely helped me when I decided to move to the States. I don't think it was really appreciated in Australia, which back then was more rock orientated."
Soon after he moved, he received a call in 2004 famed musical director, Ray Chew asking if he was interested in being a bass player in Alicia Keys' band. "It was the easiest decision that I ever had to make!" Steve says.
And so began a whirlwind lifestyle that not only saw Steve criss crossing the globe with one of the world's biggest musical superstars but also forming a writing relationship with Alicia that helped spawn some of her most recognized hits.
"There have been so many memorable moments with her, especially live" he recalls. "In fact, my first gig with her was the 2005 Grammies. There was a massive orchestra behind us and Quincy Jones was conducting. In the studio, the creative vibe with her is awesome. We wrote "Superwoman" together which won a grammy. Then when we wrote "Distance And Time" and "This Bed" together from her last album, which was fun to go in a very '80's/Prince direction."
Indeed, it may seem like a far stretch for a ska loving mod to wind up as a mainstay with one of the world's top R&B/pop artists. Steve, who is signed to Sony ATV through Alicia's publishing company explains the connection: "When I first came here to the States I'd been playing in a Pentecostal church in NY and I met a lot of musicians who work for most of the pop and R&B artists through that church. I guess I kind of slid in that way!"
In addition to Alicia, Steve has played and recorded with a who's who of musical icons including Stevie Wonder, Bono, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Gwen Stefani, Destiny's Child, Jay-Z, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliot, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer and Chris Martin.
With a stable recording base on the east coast, both at his management team, B-Room's studio in Weehawken, NJ and another project studio upstate New York, Steve also plans to open up a writing room in LA and possibly one in his hometown of Sydney, Australia.
"I like to keep on the go. As an artist it's inspiring to see and experience different things and I suppose I've been a little bit spoiled from touring so much. But right now my priority is to keep writing great songs and collaborating with great songwriters. I think, for example, I could really bring out something new musically with Lady Gaga. There are also a lot of very new, young talented writers I've been working with at B-Room that I'm sure will go on to be really successful in this business. It's always inspiring and refreshing to be around the next wave of talent. It keeps me on my toes!"
Daniel Plante
Multi instrumentalist Daniel Plante has recently worked with songwriters Autumn Rowe, Jared Cotter (Jay Sean, "Down") as well as long time collaborator Trey Lorenz. As a producer, he excels in tailor making songs for specific artists. Danny, who has has just finished writing and producing B-Room Records' Natascha Bessez debut single, "Heal", prides himself with being able to keep step groove wise with the likes of Deadmau5, David Guetta, Stargate and Sandy V while being able to deliver timeless musical melodies that songwriters crave.
Tony Varnado aka (DJ Tony Vee)
Although you may never have heard of Tony V, chances are you have heard the work of this nimble fingered keyboardist/DJ/producer. Working alongside legendary DJ Tony Humphries, Tony made a name for himself by working on a string of club and pop classics in the '90's on all the major labels by artists including Living Color, The Beloved and Jellybean. Influenced recently by the UK Dub Step scene and the progressive hard edged grooves of Wolfgang Gartner amongst others, Tony V could well be B-Room's secret weapon, combining a DJ's understanding of killer dance floor grooves with a musician/programmer's flair for sound and melody.