“Rock Choir: When I had slightly more time, I was a member of Katy Seath’s High Wycombe Rock Choir. Somehow this girl makes even ‘out of tune no pitch’ people like me hit the notes, and what’s more, enjoy doing it. But we don’t just sing, we have to remember steps. Crikey. She is such a fun girl, and so good and everyone would follow her if she asked us to do it on a tightrope. I have sung with them on the pitch at Wembly, something I thought would never happen to me. But now, heights undreamed of – wish I’d been with ‘em…” Margaret Graham
Rock Choir at Abbey Road Studios – Yeah yeah yeah By Katy Seath.
Rock Choir members from Hampstead, Chiswick, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross and High Wycombe visited Abbey Road Studios on Sunday 1st February to record Viva La Vida, Fall At Your Feet and Time After Time. They were lead by choir leader, Katy Seath
I’ve been a choir leader for Rock Choir for almost 6 years. In that time, I have seen and done some pretty ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ things – conducting on the pitch at Wembley Stadium, performing onstage at the O2, … it has all made for an exciting musical journey. So getting the opportunity to take 240 members from my choirs to the iconic Abbey Road Studios and record 3 songs seemed just another remarkable tick on the list. Yet this particular event stands out from the rest. As well as my own sense of occasion and significance, it was the members’ reactions that showed me just how special this opportunity was.
Arriving early, I was greeted by Kevin – an exceptionally friendly security guard. He gave me a quick tour of the building as he commented, ‘That’s where they recorded Dark Side Of The Moon.’ ‘Right,’ I said. I absorbed my surroundings as Kevin continued to chat before arriving at the sound desk. As a professional singer I have seen many recording studios, ranging from makeshift set ups in bedrooms and garages to fully kitted studios. But this really was the Mecca of them all.
Looking through the window, I saw the space where the choir would sing, as well as the grand piano I would play on the recording of ‘Fall At Your Feet’. Placing my headphones on, I heard the beautiful string quintet who had recorded their part the previous day. I had to get all this done in 10 minutes before the choir members arrived. No pressure then.
I split the choirs into 2 groups across the morning and afternoon, and ran to the same schedule with each. First, we stood on the steps for Abbey Road to take the all important pictures with our photographer, Darren. We grinned through the cold with Rock Choir t shirts on show, while intrigued passers by, and tourists, stood on the other side of the gate taking their own snaps on cameras and smart phones. Feeling like Rock Stars, the excitement started to build. Next, we moved inside to the famous Studio 2 (home to The Beatles recordings) where the choir received the all important briefing from Jim Hawkins.
As the choir began to file their way into the large space, I watched them taking it all in. The team at the studios are well accustomed to Rock Choir visits, so all I had to think about was conducting the singers and striving for the best sound we could make. Extra rehearsals and small lectures from me about ‘ the recording experience’ had all lead to this point. While Darren quietly moved around us to capture the moments, we warmed up, put on our head phones and listened obediently to sound engineer Simon Rhode’s gentle but cheeky voice in our ears, as he sat at the mixing desk. The choir relaxed and the performance seemed to be captured by the third take.
Witnessing the pride, focus and joy of the choir reminded me of my good fortune to work in such a magical world. Singing each week at rehearsals brings a huge amount of satisfaction, so taking our work and immortalizing it in such a way made us feel like as though we were, and are, a tiny part of history.