WHAT IS AN ONLINE ARTIST SESSION?
Open Artist Sessions (now Online Artist Sessions!) are monthly, intimate and informal Q&A's for FAC PRO members with an experienced artist or industry figure. They aim to provide education, advice and help to nurture our artist community.
They are free and exclusively for artists. Spaces are limited, so we recommend signing up quickly to secure a spot.
REGISTER HERE
ABOUT BERNARD BUTLER:
We are thrilled to have Bernard Butler join us as star guest for our first Online Artist Session of 2021! Bernard is a musician, songwriter and record producer and has been noted as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists.
In 1989 he formed the group Suede co-writing and playing guitars on every recording until 1994. The group appeared fully formed with 1992’s classic debut “The Drowners”, followed by hits “Metal Mickey”, the top 10 “Animal Nitrate” and the number 2 epic “Stay Together”. The Mercury Prize winning debut “Suede” became the fastest selling record in years. The defining “Dog Man Star”, a sprawling concept of rare ambition resulted in Butler’s untimely exit. The group continued but Butler's contribution will remain the defining moment in the band’s history.
In 1989 he formed the group Suede co-writing and playing guitars on every recording until 1994. The group appeared fully formed with 1992’s classic debut “The Drowners”, followed by hits “Metal Mickey”, the top 10 “Animal Nitrate” and the number 2 epic “Stay Together”. The Mercury Prize winning debut “Suede” became the fastest selling record in years.
Immediately he collaborated with the singer David McAlmont on the anthemic ”Yes". The hit song was bound together by experimental b-sides taking in folk, soul and art rock directions serving to confuse when bookended as the compilation “The Sound Of…McAlmont & Butler”. The album was preceded by the torch like “You Do” before the split leaving an intriguing footprint across Britpop’s otherwise jingoist, hedonistic landscape. The duo released the sophomore "Bring It Back" in 2003 spawning the hit title track and the euphoric "Falling". In May 2014 McAlmont & Butler played two celebrated London shows in support of the Bobath Centre assisting children with cerebral palsy. In 2015 Butler prepared an extensive reissue set for 1995's "The Sound Of..." through Demon Records followed by a short UK tour culminating in a sell out at London's Roundhouse.
Butler signed to Creation Records in 1997 releasing two solo albums, the acclaimed "People Move On" yielding the hit single "Stay", and "Friends and Lovers” before the collapse of the legendary label. In 2004 Butler formed a new band with Brett Anderson, The Tears, releasing their debut LP, "Here Come The Tears", produced by Butler, in June 2005. Singles include the top 10 "Refugees", and "Lovers" alongside a wealth of acclaimed b-sides.
In 2005 he was introduced to Welsh singer Duffy and contributed to her five million-selling debut album Rockferry, which received the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2008, several Brit Awards and an Ivor Novello nomination. Butler produced and co-wrote the title track, as well as "Syrup & Honey", "Please Stay" for "Telstar - The Movie" and co-wrote "Smoke Without Fire", which was used in the 2009 film An Education. The long-standing partnership was reignited when the pair collaborated on a version of Nina Simone's "I Put A Spell On You" as accompanying score to Burberry's Black campaign. The song was recorded live in one complete take at the legendary Abbey Road Studio 1. The pair continue to collaborate on new material.
He has worked extensively as a producer and or songwriter, making records for The Libertines, Tricky, Black Kids, Kate Nash, Nerina Pallot, Teleman, Findlay Brown, Daley, The Cribs, James Morrison, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Rebecca Ferguson, Jonathan Jeremiah, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Texas, Kate Jackson, Mark Eitzel, QTY, Pace, Mull Historical Society, Roxanne De Bastion, Sam Lee, Oscar Lang and Paloma Faith. Butler won the Producer's Award at the 2009 BRIT Awards,Producer of the Year at the 2008 Music Managers Forum Awards, and was nominated for Best Producer at the 2009 Music Week Awards . He has played guitar on records by Aimee Mann, Bryan Ferry, Roy Orbison, Bert Jansch, The Tyde, The Libertines, Neneh Cherry and Ben Watt with whom he toured extensively during 2013-17 including the UK, USA and Japan. In October 2013, Butler's new group Trans released a series of EPs featuring tracks grown out of improvisational recordings made at Butler's own Studio 355, all sessions improvised, recorded in their entirety and later edited with few overdubs.
Between 2000-10 Butler played many shows with the legendary folk guitarist Bert Jansch, featuring on his albums "Crimson Moon" and "Edge Of A Dream" sometimes joined by Johnny Marr and Beth Orton. After Jansch's untimely death a Royal Festival Hall tribute concert saw Butler accompany Robert Plant amongst the pantheon of folk’s remaining heroes. Butler know acts as proud Patron to the Bert Jansch Foundation.
Since 2017 he has hosted a radio show "BB & The King". Broadcast live from North London via Boogaloo Radio each Friday, Bernard Butler and partner Mark Kingston bring 2 hours of music and conversation around an episodic theme. Each week is archived via a Mixcloud page. Butler is been resident Lecturer at BIMM London acting as Module Leader, developing students weekly through their BA in Songwriting. He recently completed the original score to BBC Horizons documentary "Back From The Dead" and collaborated in songwriting camps and sessions for Warner-Chappell Publishing. He conducts audience-led PreProduction events around the country for the Musicians Union and is a Patron of the Music Venue Trust.
HOW WILL THE ONLINE ARTIST SESSION WORK?
Once you've all signed up, we will send you a link to a Zoom webinar from Eventbrite. Simply click on the link and we'll see you there! Please make sure you mute your microphone and un-mute it only when it's your turn to ask a question. If you have any questions, just email us.