Jump to content

Robbie & Guy Chambers

Sydney
in Robbie Williams and Take That

Featured Replies

Hopefully from the foyer Tess ^_^

 

 

16 weeks on Friday & we can make that very purchase :P

  • Replies 127
  • Views 40.8k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Posted Images

16 weeks on Friday & we can make that very purchase :P

 

 

Practically round the corner. ;)

  • 2 weeks later...

Guy Chambers: "If you're working on a song you really believe in, it's never boring"

The platinum-selling songwriter and producer talks studio techniques, collaboration and more

DANNY TURNERAUG 20, 2019

 

URtPl0X.jpg

 

Taught a harsh music industry lesson when his short-lived pop act The Lemon Trees was disbanded after one album, classically trained producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Guy Chambers rerouted to embark on a career in production.

 

After some success with British songwriter Cathy Dennis, the opportunity to co-write with the charismatic pop star Robbie Williams, formerly of UK chart toppers Take That, proved to be an irresistible challenge. His 1997 debut album, Life thru a Lens, was written within a week — 60 songs later, the duo had amassed tens of millions of sales, toured the world and earned prestigious industry awards.

 

The partnership ended acrimoniously in 2002, but with his reputation intact, Chambers went on to work with the likes of pop heavyweights Kylie Minogue, James Blunt, Mark Ronson and John Newman before resuming writing with Williams in 2013. This year saw the release of Chamber’s debut solo album Go Gentle into the Light. Inspired by the death of his mother two years ago, it features instrumental piano versions of Robbie Williams’ tracks co-written by the duo. We talk to the self-effacing Chambers about the album, his early days and one of the most successful songwriting partnerships in British pop history.

 

 

You recorded a song with Marc Almond in 1984. What was it like working with him?

 

Some friends of mine were in his band, Marc and the Mambas. I wrote this song, got a demo of it to Marc, who liked it, and he came into this little 16-track studio at the Guildhall School and sang it. I was only 21 and used to take things like that for granted, but I was a Soft Cell fan. That was my first production, released on a label called Some Bizarre run by a lunatic called Stevo. Never got a penny for that record.

 

Did you learn something from that?

 

I did, to read the contracts, but it’s very easy for musicians to be naïve about things like that and it’s not really a good idea to spend a couple of hours reading contracts without a lawyer who will explain to you what they mean in plain English. Of course, lawyers deliberately make it complicated so they can charge more money.

 

That was your one and only release as The Burmoe Brothers. Why did that project expire so quickly?

 

Rough Trade offered me a record deal so I went to see Geoff Travis. He said if you can sing I’ll offer you a deal, but I had no confidence in my voice whatsoever — still don’t now! I looked around for a singer but couldn’t find anyone, which is why I didn’t sign and The Burmoe Brothers ended. Struggling to find someone I like enough to sing songs and co-write with has been a theme throughout my career.

 

It’s written that you were captivated by Kate Bush playing piano live at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in 1979?

 

I started playing piano when I was five and used to learn her songs. I think I went to the opening night of the tour and that gig made a big impression on me. I was a huge fan of Kate as an artist and had a massive crush on her as well. The show was groundbreaking. I was lucky to grow up in Liverpool and see a lot of great shows: Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Squeeze, Deep Purple, The Pretenders, XTC, and punk bands like The Damned and Generation X. That was a very good education for me, and going to see bands then was cheap — you could go for a pound, or 50p.

 

 

Where are those bands today?

 

I think there are some good bands, like Foals and Everything Everything. Circle Waves are a good Liverpool band and I do think there’s some good artists, but it’s harder for them to get noticed because there’s so much more media. When I was a kid, there were no video games or mobiles and I’d stopped watching TV by the age of 13.

 

Robbie Williams had left UK pop group Take That and you were approached to co-write his debut album. How did that come about?

 

Why would he pick me you mean? It was through my publisher who asked if I fancied meeting him. I tended to say yes to most things I was offered because I was curious to see what people were like. Rob called me up and said “can you write dirty pop?” I said yes. He’s never been big on conversation over the phone. We clicked immediately because I instinctively knew what he wanted, but I didn’t have the stressful part of the job, which is being famous. That was a blessing for me, having the adulation without being pestered all the time.

 

How was that partnership different from all the other artists you’ve worked with?

 

Because I’ve been working with him for so long, I know what buttons to press to get him excited. There are certain genres he likes and we’ve done a lot of sampling over the years, even though he doesn’t like having to split the publishing. He’s obsessed with “The Whole of the Moon” piano part by The Waterboys, so I know a lot about his tastes. He loves the 80s. Our relationship is definitely unique and unlike anything I’ve had with any other musician — we’ve been through a lot together.

 

Some people say they can’t predict the success of a song, but did you know in advance that tracks like “Angels” or “Let Me Entertain You” would be big hits across the UK and Europe?

 

We were pretty confident about them, but we weren’t that confident about Rob and his health. There was the jeopardy of just getting him sober enough to sing, and whether he would get through the year without killing himself. He was in a real mess throughout that first album, so there was a lot of stress, but when you’ve got that adrenalin kicking in, you’re immune to pressure.

 

Do you know you’re onto something special early in a track’s conception or mixing stage?

 

I think it tends to be quite early and then you hope you don’t screw it up as you start producing. You can overwork records, and you know that when you can’t stand to listen to them anymore. That’s my rule of thumb and there’s a lot to be said for removing things rather than adding. Depeche Mode, for example, are very clever at having few elements but the parts and sounds are perfect. That’s a real art.

 

Does that only come with experience?

 

I know that Mode spend a long time finding the right elements, it doesn’t just happen in a couple of hours or weeks. The same applies to Kraftwerk who hone parts down to the bare minimum to great effect. I’m more of a maximalist. I chuck quite a lot at my records, but as I’ve got older I’m leaning more towards minimalism.

 

I hear you have a Kraftwerk story?

 

Robbie’s German promoter is also Kraftwerk’s manager. We’ve got a bet on that I can find a way for Rob to do a duet with Kraftwerk and the manager and label have bet against me saying it’s never going to happen. We’re still working on it. -_-

 

Are there any artists, past or present, that you’d love to have worked with?

 

I’d like to have another go at working with Lana Del Rey, and there’s a French lady called Clara Luciani who also has a fantastic voice — they both have a certain mystery to them. Then there’s David Bowie, but I wouldn’t have been able to put myself forward to work with him — I’m too modest and wouldn’t think he needed me. With co-writing, you put yourself in a room with people you think you can elevate. There’s no point me being in a room with Stevie Wonder — I won’t help him and I know that.

 

With Kylie Minogue, for example, you wrote one track on an album that featured a host of producers. Does that track have to fit into a bigger picture or do you approach it independently?

 

We would listen to what she wanted, but there was no discussion about how to make it fit. She was very much in the studio every day, keeping an eye on what we were doing but also trusted our taste. I did a lot of work with Steve Power at that time and I tend to prefer co-producing. People don’t realize how much work is involved in production, especially as I like to make records very thoroughly and carefully.

 

 

Is there a mechanical aspect to production that’s uninspiring, compared to that initial creative impetus?

 

If you’re working on a song you really believe in, it’s never boring, whereas if you’re working on one you’re not sure about, it can be tedious. It’s all about the foundations being strong. A good test is to play it to friends in a relaxed environment to see what they think. When you’re in the studio you can get a false sense of security about how good something is, and if it doesn’t get much reaction outside of the studio you have to ask why. Is it too long, slow, fast, or in the wrong key? Is the lyric not hitting right or the vocal too quiet? The hardest part of a mix is getting the vocal to hit right. But a career often comes down to one song.

 

Why do you think that is?

 

You can’t endlessly have great tracks out there — no one does that. When you’re young, you’re not so set in your ways or likely to be married with children. You have an enormous amount of freedom and many years behind you to write about. It’s all fresh. As you get older, you have new experiences, but not the same as when you’re 22. Rob and I had massive motivation, and you’re right, that changes. The biggest motivation for us now is how to get a new song into his catalog. It has to be so good that it knocks out one of our hits. There’s no point writing a song that’s ‘okay’ — it’s not going to get in his set.

 

Tell us about the new album, Go Gentle into the Light, which are piano renditions of tracks that you co-wrote with Robbie?

 

The main reason was that my mum, who took me to piano lessons, always said I should do a piano album. When she passed away a couple of years ago, I thought it was a shame I hadn’t done one and should do before my playing gets worse. I had to think about what to play and thought people would be more interested if I did songs that they already knew.

 

Was the selection process quite intuitive?

 

I wrote down all of our most famous tracks and tried to play them — the album is the ones that worked the best. “Let me Entertain You” and “Rock DJ” are very difficult to play on the piano. They’re not difficult to play in a live show, but they’re hard to play on their own and sell without supporting instruments. All the clothes of the production were removed and I tried to have one mood. I don’t have grand plans for it; my motivation was just to make it very relaxing, particularly as we’re living in such stressful political times.

 

Did recording the tracks require a lot of preparation, or did you rely on muscle memory to play them?

 

I didn’t practise or prepare the songs before playing them. I guess I learned that the melodies hold up without all the instrumentation, which was quite reassuring. It was nice being able to play tracks like “Heaven from Here” and “No Regrets,” which he doesn’t perform now. We did it in a day at Abbey Road and my manager, Steve Abbott, produced me. He was the one that really encouraged me to get it out there.

 

 

None of it was recorded in your studio?

 

This is a pretty good room, but it’s a writing space. We do master here, but it’s a different ball game to Studio One in Abbey Road, which is massive and has beautiful, natural acoustic reverberation that’s very flattering. That’s what you want when playing the piano. There’s no unnatural reverb on the record — just the sound of me in that room and I wanted that authenticity. Abbey Road is like a church. You’re focused as soon as you walk through the door, not least because it’s so expensive [laughs]. I had one day to get it right, but one of the problems of modern technology is that you can keep tinkering forever.

 

Your mixing desk looks like the heartbeat of your studio?

 

It’s an EMI REDD, made around 1969. It was in Abbey Road, and at some point they put wheels on it so it became a mobile desk. It’s a classic of its kind, like an old car, but we use it every day. We bring the tracks up on the faders and can record drums really easily, but we don’t have enough channels to record everything so we’ll do that in the box. It has massive headroom and can take a lot of punishment without distortion. Unlike an SSL desk, it doesn’t color the sound, it’s quite neutral and pure, which I like.

 

 

Your room appears very hardware-driven, as opposed to the relative simplicity of software?

 

Yes, but I don’t like complicated keyboards or desks either — I find that gets in the way of the music. This environment to suit my aesthetic tastes, but you need mic pres and compressors for recording drums, guitars and vocals.

 

Does software play a limited role for you?

 

I don’t sit with the mouse, ever, I have engineers who do all that. I like the freedom of not having to think about the technical side of recording things. I had a bedroom studio in my 20s and 30s, but now that I can afford to pay someone to do it I’d rather not have to worry about how things are going to be recorded. I’ll be at the mastering sessions for sure, because things can go wrong.

 

What do you need to keep an eye on?

 

Over-compression is the biggest fault. If you over-compress you get rid of the dynamics and the records lose their life. It’s an addiction. Labels like records that are loud, but look at Adele. Her records aren’t loud; people like them for the vocals and lyrics, not because they’re loud — the whole thing’s a joke. I’ve got lots of compressors, but I’m also wary of them.

 

You have some classic keyboards too. Do they give you that immediacy you’re looking for?

 

I love analog keyboards and the Roland Paraphonic-505 string synthesizer is my latest obsession. I’m also quite obsessed with David Bowie’s Low album, so I love the ARP Solina String Ensemble, which is the sound of disco and cheesy French music. The Juno-60 is a favorite — it’s punchier than the 106, and I love the anarchy of churning things out and seeing what will happen. You can do that with software, but it’s not as fun or rewarding as using a keyboard.

 

BY DANNY TURNER

 

 

https://www.emusician.com/artists/guy-chambers

he is very humble for his success. You seldom see this kind of behavior so often anymore

 

Also I think he has a very simple, pure idea of how his music should sound. He doesn't try to over complicate stuff and gives RW the space for his lyrics.

 

I can see why they work so well together.

Guy is old school & true to his art form , I like the guy , he understands Robbie & obviously has a lot of patience :P
Guy is old school & true to his art form , I like the guy , he understands Robbie & obviously has a lot of patience :P

 

Gosh yes - especially in the early days. :wacko:

Gosh yes - especially in the early days. :wacko:

 

 

I think they have a more 'open arrangement' these days which is better for both of them , definitely widens their horizons & given that Robbie is now older I am sure he has realised that

Boy in the Dress composer Guy Chambers announces solo show at RSC

By Gill Sutherland -6th September 201903

 

Songwriter, musician and producer, Guy Chambers, best known for his work with Robbie Williams, will play a one-off concert at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday, 27th October.

 

Guy and Robbie are one of the most successful and loved songwriting partnerships in British pop history. As Robbie’s writing partner, Guy has produced seven Number One albums, sold millions of records around the world, and is responsible for some of the biggest hit singles of the last 25 years, hits such as Angels, Let Me Entertain You, Strong, No Regrets, Millennium, Rock DJ and Feel.

 

For this concert, Guy will perform tracks from his new album Go Gentle Into The Light, a collection of piano instrumental versions of some of his most well-known songs. Guy’s visit to Stratford-upon-Avon comes ahead of the opening of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s new musical, The Boy in the Dress, for which Robbie and Guy have written the lyrics and music. Adapted by Mark Ravenhill from David Walliams’ debut novel, and directed by RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran, the show runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre between 8th November and 8th March 2020.

 

Guy commented: “I am delighted to be playing at the Swan Theatre in advance of the opening of the musical The Boy in the Dress, the music and lyrics of which I have written with Robbie Williams. At this concert I will be playing songs from my album Go Gentle Into The Light which are piano versions of some of Robbie’s biggest hits. I will also preview a song from the upcoming musical.”

 

stratford-herald.com/101826-boy-dress-composer-guy-chambers-announces-solo-show-rsc.html

Boy in the Dress composer Guy Chambers announces solo show at RSC

By Gill Sutherland -6th September 201903

 

Songwriter, musician and producer, Guy Chambers, best known for his work with Robbie Williams, will play a one-off concert at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon on Sunday, 27th October.

 

I will also preview a song from the upcoming musical.”

 

stratford-herald.com/101826-boy-dress-composer-guy-chambers-announces-solo-show-rsc.html

 

 

Nice! B-)

  • 2 weeks later...

Guy Chambers' top 5 tips for songwriters: "I think if songs are good they will find a home"

 

“Then, on Robbie's last album, The Heavy Entertainment Show, we must have written… I wouldn't want to say a number, but we wrote a lot of songs to get to the few that ended up on the record. I think if songs are good they will find a home, but I think, if you’re a young songwriter, you mustn't be disheartened by the fact that maybe only one in 10 of your songs gets used, or it could be one in 20. It could even be one in 50. It’s quality, not quantity - always, always, always.

 

 

https://www.musicradar.com/news/guy-chamber...ill-find-a-home

 

 

  • 1 month later...

Guy is briefly mentioned re the BBC children in need album :)

 

BBC One and BBC Children in Need reveal track list and release date for all-star album Got It Covered

 

Following an exclusive announcement on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 this morning, BBC One and BBC Children in Need have today confirmed the hotly anticipated Children in Need: Got It Covered album will be released on Friday 1 November in conjunction with Silva Screen Records.

The album, in aid of BBC Children in Need, is an exciting new venture for the charity this year and features a glittering line-up of some of the UK’s most critically-acclaimed actors from stage and screen who have banded together to help make a positive difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK.

 

A special 90-minute programme showcasing the entire recording process will be broadcast on BBC One ahead of the annual BBC Children in Need Appeal show later this year, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes action, special guest appearances and much more.

 

Full album track list is as follows:

 

Helena Bonham Carter CBE has covered Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

Jim Broadbent has covered Blue Moon by Rogers and Hart

Olivia Colman CBE has covered Glory Box by Portishead

Shaun Dooley has covered Never Grow Up by Taylor Swift

Luke Evans has covered Smile by Charlie Chaplin

Suranne Jones has covered Symphony by Clean Bandit

Adrian Lester OBE has covered I Wish by Stevie Wonder

Himesh Patel has covered All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers

David Tennant has covered Sunshine on Leith by The Proclaimers

Jodie Whittaker has covered Yellow by Coldplay

Plus a special group cover of It Must Be Love by Labi Siffre

The album is now available for pre-order on the BBC Children in Need website.

 

Each track was carefully crafted and recorded at the legendary recording studios, Abbey Road and Rak Studios in London, whilst the actors received expert guidance and mentoring from Brit and Mercury award-winning record producers and songwriters, Guy Chambers and Jonathan Quarmby. With over 20 years of industry experience, veteran vocal coach Mark De-Lisser also came on board to help the actors produce their tracks.

 

Children in Need: Got It Covered is a co-production by BBC Studios and 20four7films. It has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content and Kate Phillips, Controller, Entertainment Commissioning. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Rachel Ashdown. The executive producers are Mel Balac, Creative Director at BBC Studios, and Polly Dooley, Executive Producer at 20four7films, and the director is Peter Coventry.

 

BBC Children in Need relies on the generosity and creativity of the thousands of supporters and fundraisers who raise millions of pounds for the charity every year. To date, the UK public has raised over £1 billion for children and young people facing disadvantage across the UK.

 

All profits will go to BBC Children in Need, with a minimum of £1.50 per album (charity number 802052 in England & Wales and SC039557 in Scotland).

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/cin-gic

  • 8 months later...
  • 2 months later...

 

 

Thanks for posting Alex, really interesting interview. . Gosh !! , BITD going to London , how exciting, I hope it makes it there one day . Interesting the whole writing process

 

 

While there is a plan in place for The Boy in the Dress to come to London, these plans have been put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which has of course thrown up a massive bout of uncertainty for theatres who must be eager to reopen their doors. In 2018, Chambers wrote a children’s folk opera based on the Oscar Wilde short story The Selfish Giant, a personal project on which he had much more freedom to express his musical creativity:

Thanks for posting Alex, really interesting interview. . Gosh !! , BITD going to London , how exciting, I hope it makes it there one day . Interesting the whole writing process

While there is a plan in place for The Boy in the Dress to come to London, these plans have been put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which has of course thrown up a massive bout of uncertainty for theatres who must be eager to reopen their doors. In 2018, Chambers wrote a children’s folk opera based on the Oscar Wilde short story The Selfish Giant, a personal project on which he had much more freedom to express his musical creativity:

 

Lovely article from Guy.

 

Love this bit about The Boy in the Dress. Fingers crossed for it in the future. :cheer:

  • 7 months later...
  • 11 months later...

“I did a musical with Robbie Williams, Boy in the Dress,” he continues. The show, adapted from the book by David Walliams, co-creator of the BBC’s Little Britain comedy series, debuted at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2019. “And I’m working on another one now. I’m more interested in the theater and getting my music out that way.”

 

https://www.mixonline.com/recording/facilit...chambers-part-1

https://www.mixonline.com/recording/getting...chambers-part-2

  • 4 months later...

@1582002043883237376

 

https://thecancerplatform.com/journey

 

The Evamore Project: Robbie Williams & Guy Chambers

 

The Cancer Awareness Trust is thrilled to be supported by the multi-award winning, record-breaking English singer-songwriter and entertainer, Robbie Williams, and his song writing partner Guy Chambers.

They will be supporting our unique album, The Evamore Project, featuring on our first album, due to be released in 2023, and raising global awareness of The Cancer Platform from The Cancer Awareness Trust.

The Evamore album is a special project founded by Sir Chris Evans, bringing together the biggest names in music and acting to perform on a special collection of songs. They join a roster of stars including Glenn Close, Black Sabbath, Cillian Murphy, Brian Eno, Ronnie Wood, Delta Goodrem and many, many others. Evamore helps to raise awareness and funds for the work of the charity in developing the global platform and will ensure millions more people around the world living with cancer are aware of the platform which can help transform their cancer journey! The album will launch in 2023 to coincide with the launch of the new platform! Robbie is represented by ie:music who have supported The Evamore Project and The Cancer Awareness Trust from day one of our journey, now recognised as one of our Founding Partners. Everyone at The Cancer Awareness Trust thanks Robbie, Guy and all at ie:music for making this support possible.

Go to topic listing

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.