As you'd expect, with Livingston Studios being a fully-functioning recording studio and a hub for a vast number genres of music for over 35 years - it has some interesting history. It was in 1980 that St Johns Hall, 1 Brook Road became a top-end recording space boasting a Neve desk, a 24 track Lyrec and three good-sized live rooms that have remained to the present day.
Under the development of Nic Kinsey (joined soon after by Jerry Boys and Nick Gold of World Circuit Records) this once vacant chapel was now quickly building its reputation as the go-to studio in London for Afro-cuban, Folk and Jazz music. Level 42's 'The Pursuit of Accidents' was the first record to leave the studio in 1982. This was followed shortly after by records from The Clash, REM and Richard Thompson, with Bjork's debut record 'Debut' coming soon after in 1993 (recorded and mixed almost solely in Studio 1).
1997 brought the release of the wildly successful album 'Buena Vista Social Club', putting Livingston even further in demand in the Afro-cuban scene. The following years saw business booming for Jerry and Nick, drawing in more commercial artists such as Muse (Absolution) in 2003 and Friendly Fires. During this period, Kanye West had booked for an orchestral recording session in Studio 1, material from which ended up as the opening horn line to 'All Of The Lights'.
Miloco took over the building in summer of 2012, giving both studios and the building a well-needed refurb and a new lease of life. Although Miloco-owned, producer Mike Crossey had made Studio 1 his own, with Incognito taking Studio 2 on a long-term let. The following two years saw records from The 1975, Dan Croll, Hozier, Ben Howard and Wolf Alice leaving Studio 1, with Incognito ever-writing and recording in Studio 2.
2014 brought Mike Crossey's relocation across the pond, and Incognito's departure soon after. Livingston Studios was now back open to commercial bookings for the first time in recent , with Studio 1 quickly becoming Miloco's flagship London tracking room and a favoured London room by many engineers, producers and musicians.
Since re-opening the doors to commercial bookings, Studio 1 has had almost back-to-back sessions. Its reputation as one of the best tracking studios has been booming, with recent clients such as Sam Smith, David Byrne, Michael Kiwanuka, Disclosure, Everything Everything and James Bay.
The full list of recent clients can be seen in the 'Recent Clients' section.
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