2012
Steve is working on a number of projects. A second album is in the works with Kenni Wenna, with songs being chosen and recorded, whilst new and emerging pop artist Jon James is busy recording his first album and singles with Steve as engineer, producer and co-writer.
Blues singer/songwriter Ged Wilson is currently mixing his second album with Steve which is due for release sometime in 2013.
A Christmas single is about to be released from Diane Jones which Steve engineered, produced and was commissioned to undertake string arranging. Other projects Steve was involved with were metal band Incassum, with their latest album 'Rite of Passage' which Steve part engineered and mixed at Gracieland Studio.
2013
Steve spent most of 2013 working with Ian Devaney & Lisa Stansfield on her new album 'Seven', which was released in January 2014. It made the UK Top 20 (#13) and the number one slot in the UK soul charts.
2014
He is currently working on additional tracks with Ian & Lisa. Other projects include songwriting and production for Reiss, collaboration with singer/songwriters Ian J Briggs & Jess Stretton, and engineering and arranging duties for the new Giant Star album.
Mastering talents were provided for a double album by John Moore, which is about to be released on vinyl!
Seven More Days were in during October, to record drums for their upcoming album, as were Giant Star, who were putting final touches to their mixes.
Mixing has commenced on Lisa Stansfield's Bridgewater Hall concert in Spetember 2014. It will be in 5.1 surround for DVD & BluRay as well as a stereo CD version.
2016
Stephen has been mixing and playing on rock band Demon's new album. Due out later this year. He has also been working on tracks for the new Lisa Stansield allbum.
2018
This year has been busy. Lisa Stansfield's 'Deeper' album was released, with all recording and mixing taking place throughout 2017. It reached No15 in the Official charts, with many other high positions other countries.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deeper-Lisa-Stansfield/dp/B0787G6T1V
2019
Between the Vines are a band formed by Rebecca Whitehead, and they released their first album in June. It's very much a country rock album. The album was realised over a 4 month period. Steve engineered, co-produced and played keys.
https://www.facebook.com/betweenthevinesofficial/
Manchester band The Space Monkeys were, and still are regular visitors to Gracieland studio. They are currently putting the final touches to this long awaiting release.Steve engineered and mixed some of this as yet un-named album.
September saw Dave Foster, virtuoso guitarist and songwriter, add real strings to two of his tracks from an upcoming albumSteve provided string arranging talents for two of tracks for his forthcoming album, with the usual top line section from the BBC Philharmonic led by Andrew Price.
http://www.panicroom.org.uk/dave-foster-band.html
2020
The year of the pandemic saw very little studio activity; with most of it being undertaken at home via various online methods.
Songwriter, singer, and actor Will Rush had been in laying down vocals and mixing various tracks for release, but this was put on hold until further notice.
The regular string section were in early February, overdubbing on a single for producer Lee Monteverde and LMC. A remake of Thelma Houston's hit "I don't know why I love you", it was released in May 2020, with the arrangement by Steve.
Currently being mastered is an album by Daren Lamberton & Stuart Wolfenden. Produced by Steve , it should be ready for release in late autumn as a CD and download. Recording took place before the COVID-19 outbreak and saw the amazing talents of Sue 'Red' Quin & Ian Wilson on additional vocals. The string section made another appearance on one of the songs, with the incredibly talented Andrew Price playing solo violin.
This year saw also the partial return of Between the Vines, who have been busy laying down tracks and overdubs for their new album. This was again postponed following the second wave of the virus.
Steve also embarked on a personal project to write a catalogue of synch music.
2021
There are plans for many projects in the works, but until studio life can begin to function without restrictions, these will sadly be held in the vault.
April saw the arrival of duo Pagnini & Crombie. Originally intended to be an album of about twelve songs, this has now morphed into a general songwriting session.
May & June saw regular visitor John Whittaker arrive. A vocals & string session ensued - performed by regular musicians from the BBC Philharmonic - followed by mixing and mastering. This project is a very interesting, radical, but yet commercial venture. A download and streaming version will be available with a run of coloured vinyl anticipated.
BTV were in mixing with final mastering expected later in the year.
2023
It's now late September and so much has happened in the studio world. Crombie & Pagnini morphed into two entities, with APECS being the more electronic pop focussed side of their work. Daren Reece Lamberton has been recording two separate projects. One with North Blood. The other as a solo artist. The studio also saw track laying and mixing for singer/songwriter & actor Stuart Wolfenden and his band NORTH. There will be another surprise later in the year when Sister Lydia & The Haggard release their first single form an album entitled 'Dada to Munich'. This venture was originally formed in 1979 but subsequently shelved. Its members are myself (songwriter/vocals/instruments/producer) Patrick J Connolly (songwriter/sprechstimme) Hilda Da Silva (art direction). Another few surprises came from songwriter/singer Amaryliss, who is currently making alterations to her second single, and also vocalist Joel Whittaker: a talented young R&B ingenue from Manchester.
Current Projects