Winners of Hounslow schools’ 'Battle of the Bands' come to UWL to record a song
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Two students from Gumley House School in Isleworth beat seven other bands to win a two-day session at a University of West London recording studio with Dr Dan Pratt, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Recording Mixing and Production at UWL’s London College of Music (LCM).
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The Hounslow schools Battle of the Bands competition in July was judged by Dan, who has worked as a record producer, performer and educator for over 20 years and is on the staff management team for UWL’s record label, London Noise.
Hannah, in Year 11, and Rosie, in Year 12, have been friends for “their whole lives” but first performed together at the competition. They only rehearsed together twice, in the week before the competition, after Rosie finished her GCSEs.
The girls performed two covers, but it was their delivery that impressed Dan.
Usually when I’m judging something I’m ferociously writing notes. When they performed, the way they communicated their songs made me stop writing,”
he said.
Dan then encouraged them to write a song over the summer for them to come and record at UWL.
The hope for offering young people the chance to record here is they will put new work out into the world, in their own voice.”
The prize is part of an inclusive arts project called Future Noise, run by LCM undergraduate students, which works with schools and further education colleges to develop up-and-coming artists.
Guitarist and vocalist Hannah said:
We have both learnt so much from this experience. When we were writing the song in my bedroom it was just one guitar part and bass. It has become much more developed and fleshed out.”
Rosie, who provided kick drum, percussion and backing vocals for the song, added:
I’ve never done anything like this before. The recording has been great, and the sound has developed really well.”
Accompanying Hannah and Rosie to the recording sessions was Dr Monica Esslin-Peard, Head of Music at Gumley House School and network leader for music teachers in Hounslow. She commented:
UWL holds fantastic music open days and events for school students. Music education is under threat and some secondary schools have no music on the curriculum. We must create new pathways to keep music alive.”
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