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IMRO Songwriting & Production Seminar With RuthAnne Cunningham, Bressie & Ciaran Byrne

June 10, 2013

UPDATE:  THIS SEMINAR IS NOW FULLY BOOKED

Seminar Date: Thursday 20th June
Venue: IMRO, Copyright House, Pembroke Row, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.
Time: 7pm – 9pm

Hosted by: Paddy McKenna RTÉ 2FM

BOOK NOW!

Those looking to reserve a place at this seminar should send an email to keith.johnson@nullimro.ie
(No Admission Charge – Guest List Only)

Ciarán Byrne

Ciarán Byrne is a Grammy Award winning sound engineer and music producer who’s credits over 25 years include: 3 Irish Film and Television Award winning scores (Score Mixer/Recording), recordings with U2, Steve Martin, Dario Marianelli, Elvis Costello, The Chieftains, Metallica, The Blue Nile and an extensive list of Irish recording artists.ciaran

Byrne has been busy recently with a lot of film score work including the Glenn Close movie Albert Nobbs with Brian Byrne and the forthcoming recordings for the movie Amos Wake starring Shiloh Fernandez. Also this year, the BBC produced Loving Miss Hatto earned another IFTA for clients of Byrne.

As co-owner with guitarist Bill Shanley of Cauldron Studios in Dublin he continues to produce, record and mix, up and coming bands including the release this year of the critically acclaimed “The Hard Ground” album “Broken Conversations”, Louise Kileen’s “Brilliant Tease” and the forthcoming Niall Mc Cabe Band album “Part of The Light”. As if that wasn’t enough he is currently working as the Sound Designer of the new show “Heartbeat of Home” from the same producers that brought us Riverdance.

www.cauldronstudios.com

RuthAnne Cunningham

Based between London and LA, Irish born artist RuthAnne (aka ROOTY!) draws on the distinctive energy of those cities to create a dynamic, soulful blend of pop with a rich vocal like no other. Coming from a humble but musical family and drawing on a deep love of funk, soul, blues, hip hop, R&B and electro to pop, she has eclectic taste from an unwavering love of classic auteurs like Aretha Franklin and Jeff Buckley, to 90s R&B trailblazers Lauryn Hill, Destinys Child, Janet Jackson, to Radiohead, Daft Punk and Drake.

The unstoppable singer/songwriter has an impressive list of songwriting credits behind her, including Jojo’s hit single “Too Little Too Late” which she co-wrote with Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander. In 2007 the song skyrocketed to number 3 on the US Billboard hot 100 chart in just one week breaking previous chart records and selling over a million units. This was shortly followed by another radio smash that she co-wrote with the same team, “Over It” performed by American Idol star Katherine McPhee. And that’s just the jumping off point…Ruth_Anne

In 2007 RuthAnne had songs on three platinum albums in the US and Europe, and officially became Ireland’s youngest songwriter ever to achieve these honors (that year winning the prestigious ASCAP Best Pop song Award). More stellar cuts and singles written by RuthAnne followed, including album title track “Turn it up”, “My Love”, and single “Broken Arrow” for British platinum-selling popstar Pixie Lott. She then collaborated with Grammy winning producer John Shanks to co-write with Westlife for their recent ‘Greatest Hits’ album including the single “Beautiful Life”.

After honing her skills over the past five years writing for, and collaborating with many of the UK’s hottest stars and producers, (Professor Green, Leona Lewis, Sugarbabes, Labyrinth, Ben Hudson, Ed Drewett among them), and having worked extensively with many top shelf internationally renowned US based producers (Jeff Bhasker, Red One, Toby Gad, JR Rotem, Boi 1Da, John Shanks, Julian Bunetta to name a few), RuthAnne is now in Los Angeles putting all of that experience and creativity into crafting and writing her own selection of infectiously catchy, soulful pop. Influenced by the classic pop/R&B divas of the 90s, RuthAnne is about the voice, the feel and the pocket… This lil lady has serious swagger. Think early Mariah, Whitney, Janet, Lauryn, Destiny’s, to Donna, Diana, Chaka.

Her first artist feature was with Brit rap star Professor Green in 2012, performing the hook she penned for his recent single, ‘Remedy’ and most recently has been in the studio with Benny Benassi

With her story unfolding reminiscent to current world-wide stars such as Ne-Yo, Bruno Mars, and Katy Perry who have built careers from strong songwriting and performance pedigree, RuthAnne is a multi-talented self contained artist who writes her own music, is savvy with production and arrangement, a stunning vocalist and an undeniable star performer.

https://twitter.com/ruthannemusic
http://www.facebook.com/ruthannemusic
https://www.youtube.com/ruthanne353
www.iamruthanne.com

Bressie

With childhood friends, Bressie formed The Blizzards in 2004. The critically acclaimed band released two albums which achieved commercial success, “A Public Display of Affection” in 2006 and “Domino Effect” in 2008. The band broke up in 2009. Following the band’s split, Bressie joined Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment as a songwriter and producer in 2010.

In 2011, Bressie released his solo album, “Colourblind Stereo”. Four singles were released from the album.
A year and a half after his debut album earned him an iTunes number one and two number ones at Irish radio, he returns with a new album – and a new sound.Bressie

Gone are the shiny synths and big pop choruses that defined the first LP, instead “Rage & Romance” has a subtlety that confidently underplays Bressie’s natural gift for melody – one that’s teased out by co-writer James Walsh (he of Starsailor fame) and producer Eliot James (responsible for the debut albums of Two Door Cinema Club and Bloc Party).

It’s quite the difference, borne from the benefit of hindsight. While Colourblind Stereo gave Bressie critical and commercial acclaim, and a place on The Voice of Ireland coaching panel, it suffered from the weight of expectation. Explains Bressie: “I released the first single ‘Can’t Stay Young Forever’ before I’d written the album, so when that got to number one on the airplay charts – which is rare enough for an Irish act – I naturally felt compelled to go in that direction.”

This time around, he made sure he had no preconceptions when it came to a new direction.  “Luckily I had a record company who didn’t have a gun to my head saying ‘do that again’,” he says. “The only forethought was working with James – who makes brilliant melodies – and Eliot, who’s known for making strong alternative albums, without diluting my own pop sensibilities. I’ve never gone into the studio with a blank slate before but I wanted to see what we could create together.”

Two months later, the trio emerged from Eastcote Studios in London with the album written and recorded. But it wasn’t an easy task – there was plenty of graft and skill involved in this musical exploration. Lead track Show Me Love is the perfect example, its glam-rock riffs are presented atop a pulsating undercurrent that’s unmistakably 2013. Elsewhere, the uber-cool alternative feel of the title track Rage & Romance might come as a surprise to casual fans – it’s an alluring monster of an alt track, its pop sensibilities well disguised by Eliot’s laissez-faire production.

Meanwhile, the heartfelt I Preferred The Original proves the album’s breadth by starting off with a lush string section arrangement, before the understated melancholy takes over.

The song derived from an idea that Bressie had for his The Voice of Ireland charge, Conor Quinn. And indeed, his place on the panel is intrinsically linked with his musical projects.

He earned his seat, not only thanks to his solo career, but also due to his role at Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment in developing new artists on their roster. And his ability to unlock talent continues – he’s the reigning coach on The Voice of Ireland, having mentored the inaugural winner Pat Byrne, and the two continue to share a close songwriting relationship. The show has proved fruitful artistically, being one of four high-profile coaches, Bressie has had to adjust to a new level of fame, which has been a learning curve for him.

Bressie plays Slane Castle on Saturday 15th June.

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