Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 - Working on the Album Re:Workz!

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 working with Kelvin Avon (Afreex) & Jun Kung 恭碩良 of MoFo Music on Re:Workz at Hins Cheung King Hin 張敬軒 studio

I am really proud to have been able to work on this project!

Spencer Douglass credit as Project Manager on Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 album Re:Workz
My Credit in Sandy Lam's (林憶蓮) Album Re:Workz
Spencer Douglass and Sandy Lam 林憶蓮

I have to say that of all the incredible music projects I've worked on over the years, this has to be both my favourite and one that I feel really lucky to have been involved in. This is the kind of project you seldom hear about in modern times, where creativity is truly king, where amazingly talented musicians have the freedom to let their magic flow and where the producers have both an incredible master-plan and yet also enough vision to let the music carry them in the moment. 

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 with MoFo Music, Kelvin Avon & Jun Kung 恭碩良 on Re:Workz recorded at Hins Cheung 張敬軒 studio

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 with MoFo Music, Kelvin Avon & Jun Kung 恭碩良 on Re:Workz

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮  with MoFo Music, Kelvin Avon & Jun Kung 恭碩良 on Re:Workz

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮  with MoFo Music, Kelvin Avon & Jun Kung 恭碩良 on Re:Workz

Jun Kung at Hins Cheung studio

Kelvin Avon (Afreex) recording at a large SSL desk

Tightening the drums

Kelvin Avon and Jun Kung doing their Spanish dance routine

The Task

The brief for the project was extremely challenging: take a selection of Sandy Lam's (林憶蓮) most iconic hits from the last 20 years and re-work them for a 2013 release. Obviously creating completely new arrangements and production for some of Hong Kong's most famous and best known songs was a major challenge, which had to be matched with an extremely high level of performance from the musicians and of course Sandy's beautiful vocals. Expectations were incredibly high and the result the producers wanted was to have something that was both relevant to the current music trends, whilst also respecting the incredible source material. I'm very pleased to say that the team was more than up to the task and the album has been recognised by both critics and the public, winning a huge number of awards last year. 

The Team

Kelvin Avon - Producer Extraordinaire

Kelvin Avon (Afreex) recording on a massive SSL desk

Kelvin Avon of MoFo music laughing

Kelvin Avon (Afreex) of MoFo Music laughing

Jun Kung 恭碩良 - The Quintessential Musician / Songwriter / Producer / Drummer

Jun Kung 恭碩良 recording

Legendary drummer Jun Kung 恭碩良 recording for Sandy Lam's album

Jesreal Lucero - The Unbelievably Talented and Blind from Birth Pianist

Blind pianist Jesreal Lucero recording on a 9' Steinway grand

Blind pianist Jesreal Lucero recording on a 9' Steinway grand

Blind pianist Jesreal Lucero recording on a 9' Steinway grand

Derrick Sepnio - Creative Guitar Genius

Derrick Sepnio playing guitar

Derrick Sepnio and Scott Dodd working their magic

Scott Dodd - Master of Electric & Upright Bass

Bass player Scott Dodd deep in thought

Scott Dodd playing the double bass

Scott Dodd playing the upright bass

Yuki Leung - My Partner in Crime

Yuki Leung and Spencer Douglass working on Sandy Lam's 林憶蓮 album

And of course the awesomely talented Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 herself

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 recording

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 recording

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 recording

At the end of this great experience, the best news of all is that the album came out even better than what we had been aiming for. It has a unique intimate feel when you listen to it, as if you are right there in that room with the musicians. And the vibe is undeniable as the musicians frequently take us away on wonderful little side journeys, before rejoining Sandy's beautiful vocals again.

For a taste of what was produced check out the first video from the album:

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Hope you enjoyed it! 

Sandy Lam 林憶蓮 2013