ROSS SIMPSON

Fellow I.S.T.D

Early years
Ross’ formative years were spent training and then working internationally as a professional dancer and singer. He has worked extensively with Kylie Minogue appearing on ‘An Audience With Kylie’, TOTP Awards, MTV Awards, Brit Awards, Smash Hits and the ‘Jay Leno Show’ in Los Angeles. Other appearances include Cliff Richard’s ‘Millennium’ and ‘Route of Kings’ concerts, with Geri Halliwell, ‘Children in Need’, ‘A Star for a Night’ Final and major car launches in Cannes and Monte Carlo. Choreography includes Herbal Essence, the Sista Style Trade show and Panasonic in Dubai.
Passing on his skills training others in street jazz, hip hop, tap and singing at Makin Steps Performing Arts School, Harlow and at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, Ross continued pursuing his passion for all things audio.

Working from his first acoustically treated project studio he constantly appraised its capabilities and for its superior audio flexibility, Ross operated using Protools 5.0 LE using Digidesign’s 002 interface whilst continuing to use Cubase VST for midi sequencing. He established close working relationships that continue today with a wide number of professional session musicians, regularly contracting them for a variety of projects.
Commissioned by CYP (Children’s Audio Publishers), he produced the music for ‘Times Table Challenge’ – a CD and dance mat that is currently on sale on iTunes, Amazon, of which continues to be a best seller in Early Learning Centers worldwide.

Musical Directing
A regular and often sought after Musical Director his early recording projects included the vocals for the acclaimed pantomimes at The Playhouse Harlow’s starting with Robin Hood back in 2001 and continuing for a number of years. Rhodes Pantomimes now regularly uses Ross and Woodbury for their acclaimed productions – WhatsOnStage.com gave last year’s Cinderella 4/5 stars in 2012/13.

Ross went on to produce and arrange a ‘Broadway Showcase of Song & Dance’ for the ‘International Shopping Festival’ in Dubai.

Ross’ musical production for Makin’ Steps (a Performing Arts School that is celebrating its 30th year next year) has led to all their shows being 100% live. Other productions include, ‘Live at Her Majesty’s’ in London’s West End, To the Limit and ‘25’.

Ross was proud to produce in 2012, in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, a live concert spanning the decades in music – 183 songs in total in six medleys covering rock ’n’ roll, funk, soul, disco and pop hits. With a fully orchestrated band and choir of bv’s – a show that MP Robert Halfon described as “creative genius”. The high quality of performance is so that Makin’ Steps and Ross’ vocalists regularly provide bespoke and highly successful events and entertainment packages from ‘turning on the Christmas lights’ to higher profile charity football fundraisers. Coming up in July they are opening and closing a live music event at the Indigo in London’s 02 arena.

Ross’ keen ear for spotting new and potential talent makes him no stranger on the judging circuit, regularly travelling across the region for ‘Teenstar’, ‘Britain Does Variety’ and the up and coming series of ‘Open Mic UK’, Linkfest’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ and ‘Make your Move’ for the Red Cross.

The Studio
Passionate about the end result and forever a perfectionist inside the control room, the construction of Woodbury Recording Studios was executed with precision detail. To get the sound quality and finish that only he would be satisfied with, Ross project managed the two-year build whilst juggling his busy schedule in a temporary studio. Completed in 2011 the studio’s activities have been rapidly expanding with both new and regular clients and projects.

Ross records demos for solo performers (from classical to rap, rock & pop to current West End artists) and bands, for any age and ability and also offers vocal coaching and piano lessons.

Approached by producer Sally Humphries and director Brian Herring, Ross produced in December 2012 the music for a West End Christmas Show at The Ambassadors Theatre starring the popular Cbeebies character ‘Little Charley Bear’.

Being an ex-dancer, Ross’ knowledge was a huge asset when it came to recording the taps and editing the music for the prestigious ‘Stella Mann’ college and their tap/street fusion performance for ‘Move it 2013’, the UK’s biggest dance event held at London’s Olympia this year attended by over 20,000 visitors.

Ross wrote and produced an internet campaign for the buggy brand ‘Quinny’ and to advertise their new Moodd model. Working closely with the marketing team to create “Walk this Way” – a track that could be downloaded and a routine choreographed by real life parents with a chance of winning one of The Quinny Mood range of buggies.

Co-writing with accomplished musician turned singer/songwriter Michelle King, Ross recently produced her much anticipated EP “Love is” aimed at raising funds for Alzheimer’s Society and Macmillan Cancer. The tracks have already been given airplay in the UK and over in the States and Michelle, keen to spread the message, is being snapped up for interviews with them left, right and centre. The EP has been released under the banner of aRTy Records Ltd, the studio’s independent sister label. Other charity work includes a CD for ‘The Homestead Trust’ supporting ongoing work with Children’s Orphanages in Swaziland.

Also signed to aRTy are Logan’s Station, the Americana influenced country/rock band, who have also released their debut EP under aRTy – The Clever One – the culmination of some great studio time at Woodbury – perfecting their blend of tender moments combined with their tongue-in-cheek wit.

From the early stages of production, listening to the artist’s original vision, seeking to nurture each individual’s sound is essential to Ross in a bringing one of Woodbury’s projects to fruition. aRTy Records also has its own publishing arm, WRS Publishing Ltd.

Not looking to redefine aRTy’s artists (liking them just as they are!) it supports and develops their professional careers. aRTy’s aim is purely, to create and release original, first-rate music recorded with imagination and integrity.

Voiceover work is a regular aspect at the studio, from recording for established voiceover artists to business coaching CDs, the studio produces vocals for animatronics and live productions/shows for regular client’s including ‘Willows Farm Village’ and as far afield as Canada,

Most recently, Ross was contacted by Fox Studios in California, leading to the recording of Mila Kunis as Meg for six episodes of ‘Family Guy’ whilst she was in the UK filming her latest feature ‘Jupiter Rising’. Whether it’s a Hollywood A-lister, or an up and coming local act, it’s always been his aim to offer the artists the highest quality result, in a comfortable and relaxed environment.

Ross’ diversity means that he hasn’t been stuck in any particular musical genre and he is able to approach every project with fresh creativity, whether it be producing a fully instrumentalised bespoke track, recording bands and choirs, established or otherwise or creating unique arrangements and harmonies for a solo artist. Whatever your requirements or wishes Ross will work closely with you to bring what you envision to reality. He knows the next 20 years will be as exciting as the last.