Steve Askew
Encyclopedia
Steve Askew was born on December 9, 1957 in Middlesex
.
Later he moved with his family to Leighton Buzzard in 1962/63 and attended Beaudesert primary school, Pulford junior school and Brooklands School.
After Kaja (ex Kajagoogoo
) split up in 1986, Steve Askew set up a band called the Smalltown Elephants, he created the music concept, image and direction for the band and co-wrote all material.
Steve lives in Leighton Buzzard
, Bedfordshire
, with his wife Anna Conti, a stained glass artist and their sons, Felix, and Courtney Askew-Conti (Drummer for local songwriter James Earl). He has his own recording studio and also teaches the guitar / bass & music tech.
He recently appeared in a KajaGooGoo reunion on VH1's "Bands Reunited" in Oct. 2003.
Hayley Bonnick of Industrial Salt had been taking guitar lessons from Steve Askew when she approached him for help recording a song which needed arranging and recording. After Steve played the track to Kajagoogoo bass player Nick Beggs, a band was formed. Steve and Nick held auditions at music schools across the country and Alex Stamp was found and brought into the band.
Their first single was 'Sugar Bomb Baby', written ten years earlier by Steve Askew and Nick Beggs but never used.
Deftly penning songs that interweave the rootsy genre of folk with the commercial hook of pop music, Lu Cozma has created an infusion that is mainstream, whilst retaining the signature sound that is uniquely her own.
The album 'Red', was recorded with support of her friend and fellow musician and producer, Steve Askew. As the guitarist of global conquerors, Kajagoogoo – one of the few British bands ever to have ‘cracked’ the United States – his vast insight and knowledge of the music industry endures as an invaluable source of inspiration and motivation for Lu.
"We began to write and things quite naturally fitted into place," she says. "We knew as soon as we got the first few songs off the ground that we were creating something new and interesting. Our album RED after a short gestation period was born."
"Making something unique, yet approachable to an audience isn't necessarily the easiest thing to get right, but what we do is organic and it works.”
Red was produced by legendary former producer of The Human League, Martin Rushent.
Rushent says in describing Lu’s vocals “ Sometimes, in the unexpected places a voice blows your head off.”
Following the release of RED, Cozma and Askew extensively toured the United Kingdom and with Askew supported “Breaking Glass” singer Hazel O’ Connor on the UK leg of her “Hidden Heart” tour.
Steve and Lu Cozma played at the Regal Rooms in Hammersmith on November 5th 2010 and are headlining in Asti, Italy on December 9th 2010.
The album 'Red' has been released to iTunes and currently has an average five star rating.
REDdot Studio is a part of REDdot Music Ltd. a Music production and management company with over 40 years combined experience in the music industry.
REDdot Studio is based in the leafy Market Town of Leighton Buzzard, which boasts easy travel access from the M1 and Rail services. The studio is a 10 minutes walk from the Train Station.
The Studio is run by music producer Steve Askew, who has been responsible for launching the music careers of many talented musicians, and is aided by his business partner Glenn Kelly, who has over 15 years experience in the music industry.
www.reddotmusic.co.uk
Gemma Aguilar is an English singer-songwriter from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire who has taken the live circuit by storm over the past 18 months following her performance at the finals of the 2009 Open Mic at Portsmouth Guildhall.
With over 50 gigs in 18 months, Gemma Aguilar now has her sights set on performing festivals and gigs throughout the UK.At an early age, Aguilar learnt to play the guitar and started to write her own material. As with all aspiring teenagers, she posted her work on Myspace, which was soon noticed by Red Dot Music, an independent studio and management team in her home town of Leighton Buzzard who have taken her under their wing, and professionally recorded her music. Aguilar has a very open approach to writing her own material.
It generally just happens without me realising - she says:"When I'm feeling very much in a certain way about something I pour out the emotion onto paper and the music comes with it. Occasionally I will look for a word and some lyrics will magically appear in my head inspired by the word. Other times I will just start singing a tune and realise that it's a new song on its way! I write all the time, can be anywhere, anytime when a song strikes me. The ones that happen naturally are the best ones.
I don't want to be "the next" so and so - I want to be Gemma Aguilar. All my music comes from the heart, when I play my music I feel the emotion and my words have meaning when I sing them."Aguilar’s music is a fine balance of acoustic driven indie pop with an electro pop undertone. She takes her influences from the major female artists of the 21st century including Ellie Goulding, Avril Lavigne and Rhianna, along with artists such as The Kooks and, Plan B to name but a few. With an ever growing loyal fan-base and a recent live performance on BBC Radio, Aguilar has proved that she is one of the most talented writers and performers of her generation.
Her independent attitude, ability and willingness to take risks ensure that she is an artist and performer to keep an eye on…
Watch this space!!!
www.gemmaaguilar.com
Kajagoogoo are currently writing new material following the completion of their "Space Cadet" tour, which kicked off in Liverpool, England on 17 September 2009, and ended in Southampton on 1 October.
On 24 August 2009 Kajagoogoo headlined The Hobble on The Cobbles all day music event in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
On 7 September 2009, the long awaited retrospective 'Best Of' CD/DVD was released by the band's original label EMI Records called 'Too Shy - The Best Of Kajagoogoo & Limahl'. It features two of the newly recorded tracks from the 'Death Defying Headlines E.P.', plus a brand new promotional video, newly commissioned by the label to showcase "Space Cadet", one of the new recordings.
On 14 December 2009, EMI (UK) released the "White Feathers (Manhattan Clique Remixes) E.P.".
On 16 December 2009, Kajagoogoo performed their last remaining UK concert of 2009 with a return to 'The Stables' in Wavendon, Milton Keynes.
On 16 March 2010, 'dPulse Recordings' release the Kajagoogoo track 'First Girl on Mars' as a part of The 'Who Made Your Music?' benefit CD, released to raise funds for, and bring awareness to the rights of marginalized women. The album will be made available on Compact Disc and digital download format.
On Saturday 17 July 2010, Kajagoogoo performed at the Midland Music Festival in Tamworth.
On Saturday 21 August 2010, Kajagoogoo performed at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames to a huge audience of appreciative fans.
Before leaving for university Felix worked with the amateur rap duo Docta Dax & Murfmann to produce the songs "You! Bang! Change Your Surname" as well as "Weed in the Tweed" however Felix hopes to reach fame through his new star studded band 'Funk Off and Die', conducted by Russel Keable.
Felix's first solo album "Clouds" was performed in the infamous PATS Studio 1 on the 8th March 2011 to high acclaim. He hopes to continue to build on this side of his career through a collaboration with James Johnson, who has also recently released his first album "Digging for Bones".
It is also rumoured that Steve is teaming up with the legendary guitarist and singer Ed Flach to make filthy dubstep. The duo will apparently play numerous small clubs nationwide in neon astronaut suits before releasing their debut album in early 2012. Steve has not confirmed this however, and no one is sure if Ed should be believed after his recent lies of "Oxjam" going platinum.
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
.
Later he moved with his family to Leighton Buzzard in 1962/63 and attended Beaudesert primary school, Pulford junior school and Brooklands School.
After Kaja (ex Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo are a British pop band, best known for their hit single, "Too Shy", which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 5 on the U.S...
) split up in 1986, Steve Askew set up a band called the Smalltown Elephants, he created the music concept, image and direction for the band and co-wrote all material.
Steve lives in Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard
-Lower schools:*Beaudesert Lower School - Apennine Way*Clipstone Brook Lower School - Brooklands Drive*Greenleas Lower School - Derwent Road*Dovery Down Lower School - Heath Road*Heathwood Lower School - Heath Road*Leedon Lower School - Highfield Road...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, with his wife Anna Conti, a stained glass artist and their sons, Felix, and Courtney Askew-Conti (Drummer for local songwriter James Earl). He has his own recording studio and also teaches the guitar / bass & music tech.
He recently appeared in a KajaGooGoo reunion on VH1's "Bands Reunited" in Oct. 2003.
Industrial Salt
Steve collaborated with Industrial Salt from 2004.Hayley Bonnick of Industrial Salt had been taking guitar lessons from Steve Askew when she approached him for help recording a song which needed arranging and recording. After Steve played the track to Kajagoogoo bass player Nick Beggs, a band was formed. Steve and Nick held auditions at music schools across the country and Alex Stamp was found and brought into the band.
Their first single was 'Sugar Bomb Baby', written ten years earlier by Steve Askew and Nick Beggs but never used.
Lu Cozma
Steve Askew collaborated with Lu Cozma on the album 'Red'.Deftly penning songs that interweave the rootsy genre of folk with the commercial hook of pop music, Lu Cozma has created an infusion that is mainstream, whilst retaining the signature sound that is uniquely her own.
The album 'Red', was recorded with support of her friend and fellow musician and producer, Steve Askew. As the guitarist of global conquerors, Kajagoogoo – one of the few British bands ever to have ‘cracked’ the United States – his vast insight and knowledge of the music industry endures as an invaluable source of inspiration and motivation for Lu.
"We began to write and things quite naturally fitted into place," she says. "We knew as soon as we got the first few songs off the ground that we were creating something new and interesting. Our album RED after a short gestation period was born."
"Making something unique, yet approachable to an audience isn't necessarily the easiest thing to get right, but what we do is organic and it works.”
Red was produced by legendary former producer of The Human League, Martin Rushent.
Rushent says in describing Lu’s vocals “ Sometimes, in the unexpected places a voice blows your head off.”
Following the release of RED, Cozma and Askew extensively toured the United Kingdom and with Askew supported “Breaking Glass” singer Hazel O’ Connor on the UK leg of her “Hidden Heart” tour.
Steve and Lu Cozma played at the Regal Rooms in Hammersmith on November 5th 2010 and are headlining in Asti, Italy on December 9th 2010.
The album 'Red' has been released to iTunes and currently has an average five star rating.
REDdot Music Ltd
Steve formed a music studio and production company with long term friend and ex Kajagoogoo manager Glenn Kelly in 2010.REDdot Studio is a part of REDdot Music Ltd. a Music production and management company with over 40 years combined experience in the music industry.
REDdot Studio is based in the leafy Market Town of Leighton Buzzard, which boasts easy travel access from the M1 and Rail services. The studio is a 10 minutes walk from the Train Station.
The Studio is run by music producer Steve Askew, who has been responsible for launching the music careers of many talented musicians, and is aided by his business partner Glenn Kelly, who has over 15 years experience in the music industry.
www.reddotmusic.co.uk
Gemma Aguilar
Steve Askew is currently working with Leighton Buzzard's latest musical offering - Gemma Aguilar on her debut EP titled Its My Life, which will be released on the REDdot Music Label. The EP was recorded and produced by Steve Askew at REDdot Music Studio in Leighton Buzzard.Gemma Aguilar is an English singer-songwriter from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire who has taken the live circuit by storm over the past 18 months following her performance at the finals of the 2009 Open Mic at Portsmouth Guildhall.
With over 50 gigs in 18 months, Gemma Aguilar now has her sights set on performing festivals and gigs throughout the UK.At an early age, Aguilar learnt to play the guitar and started to write her own material. As with all aspiring teenagers, she posted her work on Myspace, which was soon noticed by Red Dot Music, an independent studio and management team in her home town of Leighton Buzzard who have taken her under their wing, and professionally recorded her music. Aguilar has a very open approach to writing her own material.
It generally just happens without me realising - she says:"When I'm feeling very much in a certain way about something I pour out the emotion onto paper and the music comes with it. Occasionally I will look for a word and some lyrics will magically appear in my head inspired by the word. Other times I will just start singing a tune and realise that it's a new song on its way! I write all the time, can be anywhere, anytime when a song strikes me. The ones that happen naturally are the best ones.
I don't want to be "the next" so and so - I want to be Gemma Aguilar. All my music comes from the heart, when I play my music I feel the emotion and my words have meaning when I sing them."Aguilar’s music is a fine balance of acoustic driven indie pop with an electro pop undertone. She takes her influences from the major female artists of the 21st century including Ellie Goulding, Avril Lavigne and Rhianna, along with artists such as The Kooks and, Plan B to name but a few. With an ever growing loyal fan-base and a recent live performance on BBC Radio, Aguilar has proved that she is one of the most talented writers and performers of her generation.
Her independent attitude, ability and willingness to take risks ensure that she is an artist and performer to keep an eye on…
Watch this space!!!
www.gemmaaguilar.com
-
- REDdot Music have produced and recorded Gemma's debut EP "Its My Life" which is due for release in July 2011 on both CD and Digital Download.
Current Activities (Kajagoogoo)
Current activitiesKajagoogoo are currently writing new material following the completion of their "Space Cadet" tour, which kicked off in Liverpool, England on 17 September 2009, and ended in Southampton on 1 October.
On 24 August 2009 Kajagoogoo headlined The Hobble on The Cobbles all day music event in Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.
On 7 September 2009, the long awaited retrospective 'Best Of' CD/DVD was released by the band's original label EMI Records called 'Too Shy - The Best Of Kajagoogoo & Limahl'. It features two of the newly recorded tracks from the 'Death Defying Headlines E.P.', plus a brand new promotional video, newly commissioned by the label to showcase "Space Cadet", one of the new recordings.
On 14 December 2009, EMI (UK) released the "White Feathers (Manhattan Clique Remixes) E.P.".
On 16 December 2009, Kajagoogoo performed their last remaining UK concert of 2009 with a return to 'The Stables' in Wavendon, Milton Keynes.
On 16 March 2010, 'dPulse Recordings' release the Kajagoogoo track 'First Girl on Mars' as a part of The 'Who Made Your Music?' benefit CD, released to raise funds for, and bring awareness to the rights of marginalized women. The album will be made available on Compact Disc and digital download format.
On Saturday 17 July 2010, Kajagoogoo performed at the Midland Music Festival in Tamworth.
On Saturday 21 August 2010, Kajagoogoo performed at the Rewind Festival in Henley-on-Thames to a huge audience of appreciative fans.
Felix Askew-Conti
Born late May 1992 Steve's oldest son, "Fi-Fi", was fast to catch onto his fathers passion for musical performance and production and while still at school played and managed the glamrock-folk band 'The Bad Habits', which toured Korea and South-America receiving mixed reviews from their primarily elderly audiences. Felix currently studies at the University of Surrey, along with the prestigious trumpet player Paul Jennings and the up and coming opera star James Johnson.Before leaving for university Felix worked with the amateur rap duo Docta Dax & Murfmann to produce the songs "You! Bang! Change Your Surname" as well as "Weed in the Tweed" however Felix hopes to reach fame through his new star studded band 'Funk Off and Die', conducted by Russel Keable.
Felix's first solo album "Clouds" was performed in the infamous PATS Studio 1 on the 8th March 2011 to high acclaim. He hopes to continue to build on this side of his career through a collaboration with James Johnson, who has also recently released his first album "Digging for Bones".
Rap Producer
Giving up hours of his own time, Steve has played a major part in the production and final mixing of two songs by Leighton Buzzard amateur rap duo Docta Dax & Murfmann, with son Felix acting as DJ/Producer under the pseudonym of Inside Legg. The final version of "You! Bang! Change Your Surname" is now available for free download at http://www.box.net/shared/e865mqmg4a. The track was warmly received, stacking up over 50 downloads on its day of release. Currently the duo is working on a follow up track "Weed In The Tweed" featuring guest performer Lewis Bak who performs under the pseudonym Bakmeister General aka Inside Pokit.It is also rumoured that Steve is teaming up with the legendary guitarist and singer Ed Flach to make filthy dubstep. The duo will apparently play numerous small clubs nationwide in neon astronaut suits before releasing their debut album in early 2012. Steve has not confirmed this however, and no one is sure if Ed should be believed after his recent lies of "Oxjam" going platinum.