The Lighthouse Keepers
Encyclopedia
The Lighthouse Keepers were an independent band in Sydney in the early 1980s, combining a loosely-rehearsed, casual ethos with C&W humour, Punk DIY attitudes and Pure Pop songcraft.
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and harmonica contributed an authentic country/blues style to arrangements as a foil to multi instrumentalist O'Neil's nifty and melodic bass/drums/guitar and C melody sax playing further complimenting the rich timbre and interpretive abilities of vocalist Ward with Appel's understated but skillfully rendered jangling Maton
brand 12 string guitar. All members rotated to bass playing duties both on stage and also in the studio to facilitate various song arrangements.
. Other diverse influences included Australian country music legend Chad Morgan
, American C&W songs such as A Dear John Letter
and Sun Records
era Rockabilly
artists including early Narvel Felts
, "the two Elvises" and contemporary pop music.
recordings included a live performance (replete with Juliet's dog "Chaos" contributing back up vocals) of a Tim Spencer (singer) composition "Cigareetes and Whusky", originally recorded by The Sons of the Pioneers, the Willie Dixon
Big Three Trio and Red Ingle
.
A "demo" version of the country standard I Fall to Pieces
(immortalised by Patsy Clyne), was recorded in late 1982 on a Sony 4 track and mixed to cassette, featuring vocals by Juliet accompanied by Greg on acoustic guitar who later overdubbed bass and slide guitars.
of the run-out grooves.
The "A" side, a somewhat "licht gothic" styled "Gargoyle" featuring vocals by Juliet, was backed with the slightly rockabilly influenced "Demolition Team", and 12 string, groove driven "Quick Sticks", both sung by Greg. All three original compositions were written by Appel and recorded at the band's request as "first takes", Greg playing guitar and Stephen "Hairy" O'Neil playing on a borrowed drum kit. Bass guitar was then overdubbed by Appel with some deft harmonica and slide contributed by "Blue" along with Doubletracking
of vocals and use of a stomp box effects unit
compressor on the 12 string guitar parts.
Recorded at Dream Studios Mk3 for $50 (plus tape costs) on a 1/2 inch 8-track (multitrack) reel to reel analog tape recorder running at7 1/2 ips and mixed to 1/4 inch 2 track 15 ips using Auratone 5c sound cubes for referencing, the audio engineers in keeping with the prevailing autodidactic DIY "zeitgeist" encouraged the band to purchase their own blank tapes and follow the production process from mastering by Don Bartley at EMI's Sydney Studios then located in Castlereagh St to "test pressing" (a.k.a. white label
) at their Homebush record plant. Production costs were financed independently by the band.
With the addition of drummer/manager Steven Williams (along with Hairy, previously a member of Sydney post punk pop band The Particles), the self produced and distributed 12 inch 45rpm 6 track "Lo-fi" mini-album "the Exploding Lighthouse Keepers" showcased another five of Appel's songs, musical arrangements, and album cover artwork plus a version of the Bo Carter
country blues song "Whisky and Gin", (recorded direct to a Technics 15 ips 2 track in the bathroom of a Redfern terrace).
The recordings highlighted the signature blues and country style harmonica parts of Michael "Blue" Dalton so characteristic of the Lighthouse Keepers' sound, and also saw the introduction of a brass instrument into LHK's instrumental colour which continued as a feature in most of their subsequent recordings. Alex Hamilton (who also played the solo on the classic Particles track "I Luv Trumpet") overdubbed duet Trumpet
parts on "Bad Mood" and also on the "intro" of the country ballad "Again".
Musical arrangements were also embellished with keyboard parts and percussion played by Juliet and with the integration of the driving pop style sensibility of drummer Williams, bass player Stephen "Hairy" O'Neil was able to add a second guitar parts to "The Beat" and the strangely titled "Narvel Felts"
Inside sleeve insert artwork was attrbuted to "Fabian".
With the exception of Whiskey and Gin, all other tracks were recorded conventionally at Dream Studio Mk3,located in an old warehouse in the historic Haymarket area of Sydney and home to the band Non Fiction and a loose collective of struggling musicians, songwriters, vocalists, artists, illustrators, screenprinters and dabbling Super 8 mm film
makers.
, Hot Records released LHK's first full length album "Tales of the Unexpected" which was recorded during August 1984 by David Price, assisted by Tom Colley who were "house engineers" at Paradise Studios located in Woolloomooloo Sydney, a superb recording facility featuring Westlake Audio monitors (cross referenced by Yamaha NS10 near field monitors), twin MCI 24 track tape recorders, Harrison automated mixing console and "state of the art" acoustic design and microphones; . "Tales" was both recorded and mixed at 30ips during ten "discount rate" consecutive midnight to dawn sessions Produced by the Lighthouse Keepers and John Basett. The album was also mixed by David Price LHK and John Basett. Additional musicians played mandolin, banjo, baritone sax, trombone and trumpet. The band rose to the challenges of working at a professional level taking the opportunity to develop their own distinctive sound and musical direction. Album Cover art was by Stephen O'Neil
, 2JJJ and similar community radio networks interstate and garnered glowing reviews in the British music journals NME and Sounds. Further good fortune followed in being invited to support some of their favourite international artists touring Australia at the time. These incuded opening spots with Jonathan Richman
and John Cooper Clarke
(1983), The Violent Femmes and The Go Betweens (1984). Building up a loyal following whilst performing regularly along the East Coast of Australia along with treks across the Nullabor Plain to Perth WA, they released increasingly confident recordings (e.g. Seven Years) culminating in a low key tour of Europe in 1985 which included an outdoor festival in Rotterdam as well as gigs in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria; returning to England to support fellow expats The Triffids in London.
Stephen O'Neil now also a Librarian
went on to develop a low key but prolific international recording and touring career with the Cannanes whilst Appel and Ward formed the short-lived Rainlovers, which evolved into one of Appel's more successful various musical outings The Widdershins
.
Juliet, a scientific researcher who has helped study the Australian Dingo
, plays live casually and participated in a 2007 podcast
interview/performance(see also links). As "Jet" Ward she recorded a cover version of the song 'Rachael Cooper' by Baterz ( a member of the cult band The Bedridden
) on the 3 CD tribute album in his honour titled "Great Big Sqiddy Fun- A Baterz Tribute", also featuring contributions from a number of other Australian alternative music luminaries.
Greg and younger brother Steve played live and recorded together in loose-knit bands with the youngest of the Appel clan David (vocals, trumpet, percussion). A fourth Appel brother, Rob, is the founder of the pioneering Internet music retail website Chaos.com
. Greg has also worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for many years Producing and/or Directing radio and TV projects including work with his friend Paul Clarke (a Senior Producer) on the landmark ABC music documentary series Long Way To The Top
.
Amongst other projects is Van Park - The Musical written by Greg, featuring music by Steve Appel's King Curly, and a supporting cast that included John Paul Young
and Steve Kilbey
."Van Park" premiered at the Seymour Centre during the 2010 Sydney Fringe Festival where it was well received.
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Introduction
Evolving out of Tex Truck and the Semis, a U.T.S. student Talent Quest party band, three members originally migrated from Canberra ACT. These were Juliet Ward, Greg Appel and Stephen "Hairy" O'Neil (the latter two having played together in The Grant Brothers and Guthugga Pipeline). Augmented by Michael "Blue" Dalton, vintage music enthusiast, on national steel slide guitarSlide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
and harmonica contributed an authentic country/blues style to arrangements as a foil to multi instrumentalist O'Neil's nifty and melodic bass/drums/guitar and C melody sax playing further complimenting the rich timbre and interpretive abilities of vocalist Ward with Appel's understated but skillfully rendered jangling Maton
Maton
Maton is an Australian manufacturer of guitars and other fretted musical instruments.Maton was founded in 1946 as the Maton Musical Instruments Company by Bill May and his brother Reg...
brand 12 string guitar. All members rotated to bass playing duties both on stage and also in the studio to facilitate various song arrangements.
Musical influences
As if tumbling out of someone's 78 rpm record collection, The Lighthouse Keepers' repertoire was initially steeped in country, blues, folk, pop and jazz which later infused Appel's melodic and lyrically engaging songs melded with emotionally charged vocals by Juliet. Along with subtle somewhat larrikin and self-deprecating humour in song subjects dealing with suburban teenage angst, and interpersonal relationships, were bitter sweet love songs, a couple of instrumental contributions from O'Neil and Appel, plus a sprinkling of cover versions highlighting their musical influences, for example, St James Infirmary Blues and Big Noise from WinnetkaBig Noise From Winnetka
Big Noise from Winnetka is a jazz composition co-written by composer and bass player Bob Haggart. It was first recorded in 1938 and featured Haggart and drummer Ray Bauduc, both members of a sub-group of the Bob Crosby Orchestra called The Bobcats....
. Other diverse influences included Australian country music legend Chad Morgan
Chad Morgan
Chadwick William "Chad" Morgan is an Australian singer and guitarist known for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth and goofy stage persona. In reference to his first recording he is known as The Sheik of Scrubby Creek.- Biography :Morgan was born in...
, American C&W songs such as A Dear John Letter
A Dear John Letter
"A Dear John Letter", or "Dear John" is the name of a popular country music song. It was popularized by Ferlin Husky and Jean Shepard, and was a crossover country-pop hit in 1953....
and Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
era Rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
artists including early Narvel Felts
Narvel Felts
Narvel Felts is an American country music singer. Known for his soaring tenor and high falsetto, Felts enjoyed his greatest success during the 1970s, most famously 1975's "Reconsider Me."-Career:...
, "the two Elvises" and contemporary pop music.
Early recordings
Early compact cassetteCompact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
recordings included a live performance (replete with Juliet's dog "Chaos" contributing back up vocals) of a Tim Spencer (singer) composition "Cigareetes and Whusky", originally recorded by The Sons of the Pioneers, the Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
Big Three Trio and Red Ingle
Red Ingle
Ernest Jansen "Red" Ingle was an American musician, singer and songwriter, arranger, cartoonist and caricaturist. He is best known for his comedy records with Spike Jones and his own Natural Seven sides for Capitol....
.
A "demo" version of the country standard I Fall to Pieces
I Fall to Pieces
"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by Patsy Cline in 1961, and was featured on her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts...
(immortalised by Patsy Clyne), was recorded in late 1982 on a Sony 4 track and mixed to cassette, featuring vocals by Juliet accompanied by Greg on acoustic guitar who later overdubbed bass and slide guitars.
Gargoyle
LHK's first single was a 3 song 7 inch vinyl 45rpm released independently in 1983 on their own Guthugga Pipeline label. Early pressings sported individually hand drawn disc labels and cover art with the words " - STRIKE A LIGHTHOUSE ! - " etched near the matrix numbersMatrix numbers
Matrix numbers are alphanumeric codes stamped or hand written into the run-out groove area of a gramophone record...
of the run-out grooves.
The "A" side, a somewhat "licht gothic" styled "Gargoyle" featuring vocals by Juliet, was backed with the slightly rockabilly influenced "Demolition Team", and 12 string, groove driven "Quick Sticks", both sung by Greg. All three original compositions were written by Appel and recorded at the band's request as "first takes", Greg playing guitar and Stephen "Hairy" O'Neil playing on a borrowed drum kit. Bass guitar was then overdubbed by Appel with some deft harmonica and slide contributed by "Blue" along with Doubletracking
Doubletracking
Double tracking is an audio recording technique in which a performer sings or plays along with their own prerecorded performance, usually to produce a stronger or "bigger" sound than can be obtained with a single voice or instrument. It is a form of overdubbing; the distinction comes from the...
of vocals and use of a stomp box effects unit
Effects unit
Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Some effects subtly "color" a sound, while others transform it dramatically. Effects are used during live performances or in the studio, typically with electric guitar, keyboard and bass...
compressor on the 12 string guitar parts.
Recorded at Dream Studios Mk3 for $50 (plus tape costs) on a 1/2 inch 8-track (multitrack) reel to reel analog tape recorder running at7 1/2 ips and mixed to 1/4 inch 2 track 15 ips using Auratone 5c sound cubes for referencing, the audio engineers in keeping with the prevailing autodidactic DIY "zeitgeist" encouraged the band to purchase their own blank tapes and follow the production process from mastering by Don Bartley at EMI's Sydney Studios then located in Castlereagh St to "test pressing" (a.k.a. white label
White label
White label records are vinyl records with adhesive plain white labels affixed. Test pressings, usually with Test Pressing written on the label, with catalogue number, artist and recording time or date, are produced in small quantities to evaluate the quality of the disc production...
) at their Homebush record plant. Production costs were financed independently by the band.
The Exploding Lighthouse Keepers EP
LHK,as they were becoming known (see notes),released a second record on their own Guthugga Pipeline label in November 1983.With the addition of drummer/manager Steven Williams (along with Hairy, previously a member of Sydney post punk pop band The Particles), the self produced and distributed 12 inch 45rpm 6 track "Lo-fi" mini-album "the Exploding Lighthouse Keepers" showcased another five of Appel's songs, musical arrangements, and album cover artwork plus a version of the Bo Carter
Bo Carter
Armenter "Bo Carter" Chatmon was an American early blues musician. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks in concerts, and on a few of their recordings...
country blues song "Whisky and Gin", (recorded direct to a Technics 15 ips 2 track in the bathroom of a Redfern terrace).
The recordings highlighted the signature blues and country style harmonica parts of Michael "Blue" Dalton so characteristic of the Lighthouse Keepers' sound, and also saw the introduction of a brass instrument into LHK's instrumental colour which continued as a feature in most of their subsequent recordings. Alex Hamilton (who also played the solo on the classic Particles track "I Luv Trumpet") overdubbed duet Trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
parts on "Bad Mood" and also on the "intro" of the country ballad "Again".
Musical arrangements were also embellished with keyboard parts and percussion played by Juliet and with the integration of the driving pop style sensibility of drummer Williams, bass player Stephen "Hairy" O'Neil was able to add a second guitar parts to "The Beat" and the strangely titled "Narvel Felts"
Inside sleeve insert artwork was attrbuted to "Fabian".
With the exception of Whiskey and Gin, all other tracks were recorded conventionally at Dream Studio Mk3,located in an old warehouse in the historic Haymarket area of Sydney and home to the band Non Fiction and a loose collective of struggling musicians, songwriters, vocalists, artists, illustrators, screenprinters and dabbling Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film
Super 8 mm film is a motion picture film format released in 1965 by Eastman Kodak as an improvement of the older "Double" or "Regular" 8 mm home movie format....
makers.
Tales of the Unexpected LP
Contemporaries of The Particles, Wet Taxis, Laughing Clowns and The TriffidsThe Triffids
The Triffids were a seminal Australian alternative rock and pop band formed in Perth, Western Australia, in May 1978 with charismatic, David McComb as singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboardist. They achieved negligible success in Australia, but greater success in the U.K...
, Hot Records released LHK's first full length album "Tales of the Unexpected" which was recorded during August 1984 by David Price, assisted by Tom Colley who were "house engineers" at Paradise Studios located in Woolloomooloo Sydney, a superb recording facility featuring Westlake Audio monitors (cross referenced by Yamaha NS10 near field monitors), twin MCI 24 track tape recorders, Harrison automated mixing console and "state of the art" acoustic design and microphones; . "Tales" was both recorded and mixed at 30ips during ten "discount rate" consecutive midnight to dawn sessions Produced by the Lighthouse Keepers and John Basett. The album was also mixed by David Price LHK and John Basett. Additional musicians played mandolin, banjo, baritone sax, trombone and trumpet. The band rose to the challenges of working at a professional level taking the opportunity to develop their own distinctive sound and musical direction. Album Cover art was by Stephen O'Neil
Career highlights
With entries in various publications, as well as being favourably reviewed in major newspapers and by a local rock press (On the Street, Ram, and Juke) et al. that were generally supportive of Australian Indie bands, LHK also received airplay through the alternative radio stations 2SER2SER
2SER is a community radio station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, broadcasting on the frequency 107.3 FM and is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. The station operates as a company limited by guarantee and is jointly owned by Macquarie University and the...
, 2JJJ and similar community radio networks interstate and garnered glowing reviews in the British music journals NME and Sounds. Further good fortune followed in being invited to support some of their favourite international artists touring Australia at the time. These incuded opening spots with Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Michael Richman is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic backing...
and John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke
John Cooper Clarke is an English performance poet who first became famous during the punk rock era of the late 1970s when he became known as a "punk poet"...
(1983), The Violent Femmes and The Go Betweens (1984). Building up a loyal following whilst performing regularly along the East Coast of Australia along with treks across the Nullabor Plain to Perth WA, they released increasingly confident recordings (e.g. Seven Years) culminating in a low key tour of Europe in 1985 which included an outdoor festival in Rotterdam as well as gigs in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria; returning to England to support fellow expats The Triffids in London.
Implosion
On return to Australia a travel weary LHK split in 1986 after a 3 year career including over 300 performances holding a farewell show to a record attendance crowd at the Graphics Arts Club.Postscript
Since disbanding, LHK have reunited sporadically to play private parties, launch their "Lipsnipegroin" 2-CD compilation at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney (1992) and help launch the 2-CD "Tales from the Australian Underground" compilation at the Metro in Sydney (2003),. They also played Tribute shows, Benefits, (2009) and opened both nights of the final leg of a Laughing Clowns reformation tour at the Basement in Sydney (2009). Rumours surface on the web occasionally of a solo album by Juliet or of a further release of LHK materialwhich culminated in the successful release of " ode to nothing " a 15 track remastered "best of " CD and a well attended and reviewed live show at the Sandringham Hotel (2011)Stephen O'Neil now also a Librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
went on to develop a low key but prolific international recording and touring career with the Cannanes whilst Appel and Ward formed the short-lived Rainlovers, which evolved into one of Appel's more successful various musical outings The Widdershins
The Widdershins
Widdershins were an Australian indie pop band, active from 1987 to 1989. After The Lighthouse Keepers disbanded in early 1986, Greg Appel and Juliet Ward went on to form the Rainlovers which became Widdershins in 1987 with the addition of James Cruickshank, Peter Timmerman and Barry Turnbull .Three...
.
Juliet, a scientific researcher who has helped study the Australian Dingo
Dingo
The Australian Dingo or Warrigal is a free-roaming wild dog unique to the continent of Australia, mainly found in the outback. Its original ancestors are thought to have arrived with humans from southeast Asia thousands of years ago, when dogs were still relatively undomesticated and closer to...
, plays live casually and participated in a 2007 podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
interview/performance(see also links). As "Jet" Ward she recorded a cover version of the song 'Rachael Cooper' by Baterz ( a member of the cult band The Bedridden
The Bedridden
The Bedridden was an Australian cult band that performed and recorded, somewhat sporadically, between 1989 and 2002. The Bedridden reunited for a series of concerts in 2005 to promote a live album that was recorded in 1998. The band were noted for regular break-ups and constant line-up changes...
) on the 3 CD tribute album in his honour titled "Great Big Sqiddy Fun- A Baterz Tribute", also featuring contributions from a number of other Australian alternative music luminaries.
Greg and younger brother Steve played live and recorded together in loose-knit bands with the youngest of the Appel clan David (vocals, trumpet, percussion). A fourth Appel brother, Rob, is the founder of the pioneering Internet music retail website Chaos.com
Chaos.com
Chaos.com is an online retailer now based in Melbourne, Australia that offers CDs, DVDs, Games, Books, Merchandise and Music Downloads. Similar to Amazon.com it ships to all countries including Australia, USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and Singapore...
. Greg has also worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for many years Producing and/or Directing radio and TV projects including work with his friend Paul Clarke (a Senior Producer) on the landmark ABC music documentary series Long Way To The Top
Long Way To The Top
Long Way To The Top was an Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentary on the history of Australian rock and roll from 1956 to the modern era.-Production:...
.
Amongst other projects is Van Park - The Musical written by Greg, featuring music by Steve Appel's King Curly, and a supporting cast that included John Paul Young
John Paul Young
John Paul Young is an Australian pop singer who had a 1978 worldwide hit with "Love Is in the Air"...
and Steve Kilbey
Steve Kilbey
Steven John Kilbey is the lead singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for The Church, an Australian rock band. He is also a music producer, poet, and painter....
."Van Park" premiered at the Seymour Centre during the 2010 Sydney Fringe Festival where it was well received.
Members
- Greg Appel (12-string guitar, keyboards, vocals, bass).
- Juliet Ward (vocals, bass).
- Steven Williams (drums).
- Stephen O'Neil (bass, guitar, sax, drums).
- Michael "Blue" Dalton (harmonica, slide guitar, bass).
Discography
- "Gargoyle"/"Demolition Team", "Quick Sticks" (Maxi-single, 1983).
- "The Exploding Lighthouse Keepers" (Mini Album, 1983).
- "Gargoyle"/"Demolition Team", "Quick Sticks" (Single, 1983, Hot Records reissue).
- "Tales of the Unexpected" (1984, Hot Records 1011).
- "Ocean Liner"/"A Sad Tale" (single, 1984, Hot Records 720).
- "Ode to Nothing"/"Seven Years", (single, 1985, Hot Records 724).
- "Imploding" Waterfront, compilation album 1986|Vinyl|Waterfront Records|DAMP33.
- "Lipsnipegroin" (2 CD Phantom Records Compilation 1999-PHDCD-19).
- "Various" – Inner City Sound compilation :Laughing Outlaw Records Catalog#:LORICS-001.
- "Various" - Souvenirs From Egg Records" eggrest 015 (CD, Comp) 2006.
- "the best of the Lighthouse Keepers - ode to nothing" (15 track remastered retrospective) CD (2011 FEEL 009)
External links
- The Lighthouse Keepers on Facebook
- The Lighthouse Keepers: History
- LHK Virtual Archive & Recent Activities!
- ABC radio Canberra interview Greg Appel and Juliet Ward from the Lighthouse Keepers on their formative days
- Juliet Ward ~ Interview and performance for Insatiable Banalities Podcast
- Greg Appel at myspace
- Michael "Blue" Dalton at myspace
- Sydney Inner City Music ON MP3 & WAV-LHK page
- Egg Records Glasgow LHK page
- Interview with Dream Studio owner/engineer/producer