The Sonic Kitchen Studios

I have had the pleasure of working alongside Big Al, who produced my EP 'Better In The Sunshine' mid last year, and is currently producing my first album.
These past few months 'The Sonic Kitchen Studios' in Poole, UK have become my second home.
Al is a source of musical inspiration to me, someone I feel understands my music and where I'm coming from, which is vital in any creative/recording situation...I'd now like to share some history about this talented guitarist/bassist/sound engineer/producer!


Al's Background
Alan (Big Al) Hill formed the Original Sonic Kitchen Studio way back in 1988 with his Brother Dave in Al’s Kitchen. Their first studio was setup in the loft apartment of a Victorian House in Blackheath, South East London. "For about the first year or so, we were writing/producing/mixing some great Acid House and early Techno tracks, then my brother Dave became the mighty "Pure Plastic" label and is to this day regarded as one of the true Godfathers of modern Techno music", says Al.

Big Al was signed up as the now legendary "Mind Over Rhythm", and through producing In-House for Pinnacle & Zomba he secured all of his Mastering with Abbey Road Studios, a strong and fruitful relationship that still continues to this day.
Now based in Poole, Dorset, Big Al is responsible for producing Andrea Soler’s debut EP ‘Better In The Sunshine’, a project he says, ”Is just the tip of the iceberg” for the fresh and inspiring Australian songstress.

The EP was mastered at Abbey Road by Big Al’s good friend Sean Magee, with Al recalling of the time they met, “I first met Sean after a few days working at Abbey Road Studios for Pinnacle/Zomba. Nick Webb was working with me and said, ‘You have to meet Sean from room six Al, he's a bit weird, you'd get along amazingly well.” “I honestly can’t remember even how long ago it was, but from then until now Sean and I have been Soul Brothers. His Mastering/Engineering capabilities are just world class.”

Big Al is a larger than life character with music running deep in his veins, and one would be hard pressed to find a more soulful and passionate musician/producer.

He has a wealth of experience in the Music Industry encompassing Live and Studio Engineering, Production, Writing, Arranging, Session Guitar and Bass Guitar, Keyboards etc. As a Producer/Musician he's worked with such names as Jack DeJohnette (Miles Davis, The Ripple Effect) John and Ben Surman, The Baker Brothers, to name just a few!
Al defines Andrea's music as "Picturesque, atmospheric and thought provoking", and after their first successful collaboration he is extremely excited about getting her debut album underway.