New Release Signals Partnership Between Rolling Stones Producer And Emerging UK Rock/Blues Artist.
A remixed version of Sailing On Pool Of Tears will be released on 27 October 2017 as the first product of a new collaboration between producer Chris Kimsey, whose credits include the Rolling Stones, Peter Perrett and Peter Frampton, and emerging rock blues artist Rebecca Downes, winner of the Best Female Vocalist and Best Emerging Artist in the British Blues Awards 2016.
Wolverhampton-born Rebecca Downes is now based in Birmingham where since 2011 she has been working with her songwriting partner Steve Birkett and performing live with a five-piece band in which Steve is lead guitarist and Rebecca lead vocalist. They have an EP, two studio albums and a live album to their credit, all produced by Wolverhampton-based producer Mark V Stuart.
Rebecca and Steve met Chris Kimsey at the end of 2016 and he was so impressed with their live performance and suite of candidate tracks for a new studio album that he agreed to act as Consulting Producer to help them develop and hone their material. That process has been underway in the course of this year and the band is now in the studio recording the twelve leading tracks for the new album with Kimsey’s advice and guidance. Kimsey is also lined up to mix the new tracks when recording is complete.
One of the leading tracks from their last studio album Believe, and very popular with audiences at live shows, is “Sailing On A Pool Of Tears”. Chris was invited to re-mix the track both to give a glimpse of what is to come and to allow a single release to mark the re-release of Believe as Edition II, which will include a full-length edition of the re-mixed version as a bonus track.
The Downes/Birkett partnership also received a boost in August when they formed an association with Tri-Arts Partners, LLC of Los Angeles who have agreed to manage Rebecca Downes Music interests in North America. The principals of Tri-Arts Partners are Ron Kramer, Ben Bernstein and Brian Panella, whose collective management and talent agency backgrounds previously included representation of Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Tower of Power, The Pointer Sisters, Kenny Loggins, Chaka Khan and the Everly Brothers, to name a few.
Rebecca Downes said: ‘As an independent artist it is wonderful to receive advice and encouragement from Chris, who has an amazing track record as a producer and who continues to work with the biggest names in contemporary music. We are honoured to be working with him, flattered to receive his support and excited by the direction in which he is helping us go.’
Chris Kimsey said: ‘I get a huge kick out of working with talented new artists. I was struck by the quality of Rebecca and Steve’s existing portfolio and the power of their live performances. The new material moves them onto a new level as songwriters and it is hugely rewarding to play a part in their progression. ‘
The new Rebecca Downes album is due to be released in the first half of 2018.
Rebecca Downes
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