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Hello Lucy,

My daughter came in for a singing lesson with Dan on Thursday, yes she came in in a mood (don't you just love them!) and came out a different person, Dan taped the whole hour and by god did she have attitude and Dan was brilliant he totally told her and by the end she came out with a lovely recording of her song. What I'm trying to say is thank you for your persistence you did a lot more good than you realise and kept your cool, the bad news is I'm sending her back for more with you as she did enjoy it, to me she sounded great and I really think it great for confidence and gives her another talent

Thank you

Ruth Willrich

I would just like to thank Olli for a really great session last Friday, I really enjoyed it and got what I wanted from it, nothing was too much trouble for Olli, we got on great. Olli really took the time to understand what I wanted to achieve and then used his knowledge and experience to advise me on how to get the best results. I think as a fellow guitarist, he was well in tune with what I was trying to achieve. Please pass on my thanks to Olli and tell him I will see him again pretty soon for another session as we have some unfinished work !!!

Trevor Hoath

"It was wonderful having an ear in on your session, your expertise and talent was impressive. Hope to work with you again."

Rich Costey - Producer/Mixer for Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against The Machine, Fiona Apple, Foo Fighters & Birdy.

I have worked with Gareth since I won the Open-Mic competition when I was twelve. He recorded my first ever professional demos and helped me to get the very best, not only out of the recording process but also from my voice. He is also coaching me on how to protect my voice, which is a crucial part of any professional singers development.

River Studios is unique, but not because it has some of the very best facilities, which it most certainly has, but because you will struggle to find a better engineer/producer and voice coach. The atmosphere there inspires people to do their best and Gareth knows exactly what is needed to make your recordings sound wonderful. He recognises people's skills and gets the best from them. If you are thinking of working with music and love voice then you should come and try this wonderful new studio.

I recorded many of the demos for my album with Gareth including my song, 'Without A Word', which was then used in the final produced track. It's a song that is very special to me as it is the first of my own work to be featured on the album.

Gareth is someone who makes you feel completely at home in the studio. He is probably one of the best Logic engineers in the country, meaning that he will always find a way to make the best of your ideas. I'm sure that you will love working with him and all the people at River Studios as much as I do!

Birdy

Mark Hill is the winner of four Ivor Novello awards, producer of albums that have sold in excess of 12 million copies and has a caffeine habit that can only be topped by Gareth Henderson.

As half of the original Artful Dodger and songwriting partner and producer of Craig David, Mark knows a thing or two about music and studios

Here is what Mark had to say about our studios:

"It was seeing and hearing what could be done at Gareth's studio that convinced me to have Gareth update my studio set up to match, and to move over to Logic Pro software. I've brought in successful singers and writers that have worked in top studios and they always comment on how great the set up is there."

Mark Hill - Award Winning Producer

"I CONFESS I WAS AS NERVOUS AS ANYONE singing again! BUT...when I heard that Gareth was a maestro at teaching singing I should have felt more relaxed! In fact I felt nervous as anyone at going into the recording process again after such a long break. I had no need to be though...Gareth isn't interested so much in your sound as he is in you...this is such a huge psychological lift for any singer...it says "I am not attempting to turn you into any other singer other than who you are...I want to help you learn to express yourself and not any other person". GOOD RULE! With G, nothing is impossible...in a relatively short time he had made me relaxed and encouraged me to want to sing my heart out!

I found myself achieving vocal ideas and styles that I never had the conﬁdence to try previously....I was able to bring performance, depth and emotion into my work like never before. Never say "I just can't do it"- to Gareth, its red rag to a bull....we had some hilarious moments together as he taught me how to reach top notes and low bass notes for harmony parts sometimes just by the shaping of my face! Learning speech through songs developed my phrasing and timing and breathing techniques allowed me to really bring deeper mood control to the lyrics.

At 'The Southern School of Popular Singing' the techniques used for the voice are tried and tested by professionals and they work because the teachers work with you, for you. Not everyone is a Yazz or a Gareth, a Coldplay or Joss Stone...and thats the point, we are each given a gift of being individuals and the techniques Gareth's school uses develops just that. I begged him to come out to Spain but thats another story!....watch this space.......!"

Yazz, International Dance Music legend and singer of world wide hit "The Only Way Is Up"

I've seen the results that these guys achieve with pupils, both live on stage and in the studio. The results are wicked but I particularly love the fact that these guys take their work seriously, not themselves. They make hard work a lot of fun."

Dan Mar-Molinero, Songwriter with Lemar, Liberty X, Gareth Gates, Mel C

I generally avoid exercise classes but I decided to give zumba a try and by the end of my first class with Laura I was hooked! The classes are fast-paced and hard work but Laura makes them great fun and the atmosphere is more like a party than an exercise class. The classes are great for all age groups and fitness levels – you can take it at your own pace and there's no pressure to get all the moves right, just laugh it off and carry on having fun!

Amy Reader - Zumba

Being part of En Masse is like being part of a big, if slightly dysfunctional, musical family. Gareth and Lou have brought together a group of really talented musicians and a great mix of characters, making for a really fun group dynamic. Having a live band perform with us at concerts adds something really special to the mix. I've made lots of brilliant new friends and I always look forward to Wednesday night rehearsals; they provide a welcome escape from the average working week. I am really proud to be a part of En Masse.

Amy Reader - En Masse Member

Overall River Studios is an awesome place to be and learn. Chris is a really relaxed and friendly guy, his enthusiasm is infectious, and he's really helped me to find and develop my own style. My listening skills have improved dramatically as a result, an important skill for any musician. I've achieved Rockschool grade 8 under Chris's tuition.

The facilities at River are second to none, a great bunch of guys to be with.

Adam Welch - Bass Guitar

Chris opened not only my ears to the notes within the music but also to the texture, timbre and rhythm. As a fifty-plus year old bassist, this came as something of a shock but also a great a joy to discover what I had been missing in the music for so long. Thanks Chris.

Twig - Bass Guitar

I have been learning bass for over a year & every lesson has been great. Chris not only teaches you how to play, but more importantly, how to enjoy playing. I was made to feel welcome by everybody at the studios the moment I stepped through the door & I would recommend them to everyone

Mark Loader - Bass Guitar

"We saw the improvement in her singing immediately as she gained confidence almost overnight, knowing she was being trained to use her voice in the correct way. Since having her lessons she has been able to achieve leads at the E Minor Pop Academy and performed her solo parts on stage at venues like The Point in Eastleigh. Charlie's recent school report described her as "a star" and every teacher made a comment on her growing confidence within her peer groups. All down to the fact that she has been able to build on her ability to do what she loves, sing. The fact that she spent her 12th birthday in the recording studio with Gareth producing her own CD of 5 songs speaks for itself. As her parents, we are thrilled with the high standard of teaching, the commitment and especially the continuous enthusiasm shown to Charlie and all that she has achieved because of this."

Allie & Colin Burdle - Parents of Student

"I've been fortunate enough to work with some incredible singers over the years like Craig David, Corrine Bailey Rae and Lemar, so opening my mouth to sing ideas for melody lines in front of people like that can be pretty intimidating! I'd known about Gareth for some time because he had taught some of the session vocalists I'd used in my studio and I'd always been impressed by their standard, so he seemed the logical choice to contact. The lessons I had with him were really useful but also a lot of fun. The incredible enthusiasm he has for the art of teaching singing and for getting the best from any individual's voice is infectious. I'm looking forward to going back for more soon :-)"

Mark Hill, Multi platinum selling producer and winner of 4 Ivor Novello awards

4Tune – Highly regarded 4 piece vocal act and X Factor finalists

"Hey G Man, Thank you very much for all the time and effort you've put in to try and help us achieve our goals. You have been a big part of 4Tune and hopefully we'll be able to celebrate our success together"

4Tune - X Factor Finalists

"I started lessons with SSPS when I was 15 years old. In the 8 years I studied vocal techniques with the school, I shaped the voice that has taken me from school boy, through gigging singer, studio vocalist, touring performer and now to roles in the West End. What I learnt was invaluable and is still helping me today. The best part is when they need to be, they can work on a highly sophisticated level, but in my case they were able to make it all seem so simple, which turned me from an average club singer to a West End leading man. For that I am forever grateful".

Peter Saul, "Val Jean", lead role in the smash musical "Les Miserables" Peter Saul

"The Unusual Suspects is one of the busiest function bands on the south coast. When seeking a rehearsal venue for our band, we naturally shopped around - but River Studios was the best solution. For starters, the rooms are spacious, well-lit and comfortable - unlike the dark, dingy spaces we see elsewhere. Then there's the kit: drums, amps and PA are all fully professional and impeccably maintained. Last but not least, River is run bymusicians, for musicians - this means a friendly welcome every time, and flexibility on bookings when we need it. The whole package is superb, but River are also competitive on price and offer exceptional value. I can't speak highly enough of the facility as a whole, and the people in particular.

James Suart

The Unusual Suspects

I've been having lessons with Gareth for about 5 years, I remember when I went to my first lesson how scared I was and didn't know what to expect, but Gareth made me feel so calm and so welcome. I didn't have to worry about being embarrassed if I sang a wrong note or anything, we would laugh about it and then just correct it! I love and look forward to every singing lesson I have with Gareth, he has helped me so much with my voice over the years, that thanks to his help I am currently at Academy of Contemporary Music and have done many gigs and won competitions.

I thank him for everything and wouldn't go anywhere else for my lessons!!!

Kara Craddock

"From the first email enquiry I sent to River studios to the very finished recording of my song I couldn't be happier and more excited to go through it all again! River studios has really exceeded my expectations in every way and ever since recording I have been on a high because I have come away with something better than I ever imagined it to be.

As somebody who has never recorded in a proper studio before I was a pretty nervous about even enquiring for a recording session but I was so impressed by the way Lucy helped me with each step of my enquiry and also found me a singer who couldn't have been any more perfect for my song. I couldn't believe that a singer of such a high standard and with such a special talent was singing in my track! Olli, who was the engineer in my recording session made me feel so welcome and comfortable in the studio and he had fantastic skills. He was so encouraging and always worked productively and efficiently to make the song as perfect as possible, yet he was very approachable and always asking me how I felt about the music at each stage so that it was exactly how I wanted it to be. I could see that Olli was passionate about music and this was a hobby as much as it is a job for him. I think everybody before recording imagines how they want their finished track to sound and Olli and my singer Kerrie, transformed it into something far better than I could have ever hoped for. Everything was to the highest standard and so professional, yet I was amazed by how relaxed and at home I was made to feel. I would definitely reccommend River studios to anybody wanting to create music and looking for a top quality recording. I literally couldn't fault the experience in any way and I really look forward to going back and making more songs. "

Anna Haig

Hi Gareth

Just wanted to say a big big thank you to you for giving Fenn such a wonderful afternoon on Saturday. We can't stop playing the CD and I gather from Emily that they can't stop talking about it.

It was such a perfect experience and it's come at just the right time for her future development. Can't wait for her to start coming over to you guys for her future lessons.

We really appreciate the time you spent with us and look forward to seeing you again before too long.

Kind regards

Alison

We've been using rehearsal rooms at River Studios since it opened, and we think it's quite simply the best music facility since sliced bread. The team are so knowledgeable and helpful, the facilities and equipment are fantastic, and the whole place is just inspiring; it's great to be around fellow musicians, and being part of an amazing music vibe. We are so lucky to have such a great quality resource on our doorstep, unusual to find outside the major cities. Keep up the great work, guys. Thank you for having us.

All the best, Dodger.

"Our first ever rehearsal at River Studios was like a breath of fresh air. The rooms are incredibly well equipped with good quality drums, amps, PA and mixing desk (plus mics and stands) and the acoustic treatment in each room is just the icing on the cake. Also, the staff are fantastic, always very helpful and friendly.

We improved as a band simply by making the most of the fresh, clean and comfortable environment and wholeheartedly recommend River Studios to anyone/band looking for good quality rehearsal space at an incredibly good price."

Rich Setford

The Crush

BBC radio play for my last two singles - cheers Gareth!

Ben Dalby

Singer songwriter

It's been a while since Yazz topped charts in this country and around the world for six weeks with "The Only Way Is Up" but it's hard to find anyone over 12 who doesn't remember it.

"Running Back To You" is her first album in many years and we are proud she choose to record this soulful, diverse collection of classy tunes here at HL Studios, even though it meant commuting here from her home in Spain for a period of many weeks.

Below is what Yazz had to say about working at HL Studios:

I met owner and engineer Gareth Henderson and he was just so relaxed and unpretentious and I liked that straight off! He really listened to my concept and seemed passionate to listen to the demos. My situation was a little complicated as I don't live in the UK and wasn't able to record every week. Gareth was great and suggested technical ways around me being in Spain and being connected to the studio. He uses the Apple Mac computer and Logic Pro recording software which he knows inside out!..his technical understanding is second to none!. The studio is spacious and contains the best coffee and hot chocolate machine ever! Its local to stores and so has easy access for the "gotta go out and walk" part of the recording process!

My project was quite eclectic in its sounds from Jazz to Soft Soul and even an African track and G helped me get an excellent contemporary feel on each track brilliantly. G is constantly updating his studio (whilst I was there he bought 2 Genelec 1038A speakers which he hung upside down - yeah he did!) and man do they rock! They make for a fantastic bass and mid and all round sound. In fact his experience in recording and arranging was so high that I have credited him as Co-producer of my new album because of his generous input to my recording experience.

I loved this sanctuary...I loved its vibe...maybe its because Gareth is so passionate for his work and the artist...he gives way over 100% and its so cool because passion and giving leads to a great work and a contentedness irrespective of your budget"

Yazz - Dance Music Legend

Ken Russell – Legendary Film and TV Director (Tommy, Gothic, Women In Love, Billion Dollar Brain)

"You were beyond amazing and we were (are) more than happy with your work. You made it so easy and fun. You are gifted! We will tell people, and we'll definitely be signing up with you again.

Thanks for everything."

Ken Russell - Legendary Film Director

Thank you so much for a really enjoyable day on Saturday. I really enjoyed the whole experience.

I'm hoping to see you again around Christmas - if you can put up with me again!"

Naomi – first time studio singer

Hi,

Just a quick email to thank Olli for a wonderful recording session yesterday.

Olli really knows his stuff and not only gets the very best out of the equipment but also provided a wonderfully relaxing environment which made the whole session flow effortlessly.

Also his musical knowledge and experience really helped in ensuring the very best result by offering creative suggestions which really added to the final result.

I would recommend Olli to anyone that wants to achieve a professional recording that shows off their talent to the very best of their ability,

Steve

Buble Magic - Stephen Humphrey

Hello Lucy,

I just wanted to write and let you know how pleased we are with the way my daughter Sarah's singing lessons are progressing. She has been having weekly lessons at River Studios since June last year and her confidence and self-esteem is really beginning to grow.

Her voice coach Dan, is absolutely brilliant with her and been so supportive. He has endless patience, enthusiasm and commitment in what he does and is always so cheerful.

Dan may have mentioned to you that recent assessments on Sarah revealed that she is autistic and has anxieties and learning difficulties too. Life can be quite tough for her alot of the time but singing is the one thing she really enjoys and its wonderful to see her talent being nurtured. She looks forward to her lessons each week and learning new songs. Her achievements have been noticed by her music teacher, Russ Dyer at Oak Lodge School and she recently had the confidence to sing in front of her class and the headteacher! That would have been unthinkable this time last year.

I spoke to Russ Dyer yesterday and he was telling me he would be getting in touch to thank you for all the support you gave when he came to River Studios recently. He came with some Year 11 students working on their Gold Arts Award and said that they thoroughly enjoyed their time at the studios and gained valuable experience.

Thanks again for all your help - look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Best wishes,

Karon Townsend