"Music leads to different processing and helps us connect emotionally with the message, thereby reducing our tendency to counter-argue with what is being said."
Welcome to Pink House Productions
Pinkhouse Productions is a music production company based in Brisbane, and is owned and operated by composer/producer Garry Smith. It was launched in 1999 as an offspring from the very successful Suite 16 Audio Productions.
April 2010
A good month again at Pinkhouse. We've done a couple of final TVC tracks - the Guide Dogs Qld one for BCM and the Motorama 50th birthday one for Radium/Switch Creative. I've recorded some more demo tracks for Jen Mize, and co-written with an artist named Jenna Brooks who's recording in Nashville in a couple of weeks time. I also produced some kids songs for another client, some vocals for Lisa Bell's CD and am working on another TVC for BCM and one for Harris & Harris. I've had the final mix done for Greg Lynch's track, and now it's awaiting some visual treatment.
Jen's songs required some piano this time, so I got to record my white baby grand again - almost forgot how great that thing sounds - awesome. Speaking of piano playing, if you're watching the Spielberg & Hanks productions "The Pacific", keep an eye out for Episode 8. I believe it airs on either Wednesday 19th or 26th May, and yes, that is me playing the piano in the bar scene! I don't know how much of the song we hear but I recorded the Cole Porter song "You're The Top" live on set for the scene - had to do a bit of practice for that gig!
March 2010
The last couple of months have been spent on work for Interaction Communications Group (Andersens Carpets) and demos for a number of other agencies. Along with that I've recorded some music for an interesting guy named Greg Lynch, who is a triathelete coach, but also a poet. I'm not setting his poetry to music, but writing music to support his poetry, much like a film score, and that will have a visual component as well. It's a really interesting concept and is working well. Once again I can't say too much about the content, but will be able to once the first project is complete.
Another interesting project has been to write and produce a music track for Gregory Terrace. The concept has been generated by Harry Scott from Dolphin Creative, and is a very different version of the school song, for the purpose of launching their rugby season. Now, I'm a Toowoomba Grammar old boy, so this has been a challenge for me as I'm sure they used to thrash us back when I was at school, but it's been a great project to work on. We did a similar thing last year, but this year have also involved the school choir, and ex-Ten Tenors vocalist David Kidd to create a whole new section for the song. The Principal has been very supportive, and it's great to see that footy and music can work together!
Another project I'm about to embark on is some production for another singer songwriter named Jen Mize.http://www.myspace.com/jenmizemusic Check out Front Porch Swing, Summer Of Us, Another Man's Treasure, Under The Covers for demo tracks that I produced with Jen on guitar and vocal. Jen has a bunch of new songs we'll be looking at, so keep an ear out for those.
Another act to check out is Ballpark Music http://www.myspace.com/musicfromtheballpark These are a bunch of QUT students (some of whom I've taught and who amaze me with their talent) who are going places as a band. they were the most requested clip on Rage a few weeks ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbRUAAmZ9as
Pinkhouse is undergoing some changes at the moment so while it doesn't seem like much is happening, I can assure you there is plenty going on. Stay tuned for an update in a month or two!
November & December '09
The last two months have been a bit quieter on the advertising front, however this has enabled a few other things to happen, including updating the website. You'll notice a few more mp3's and mpegs on the "Our Work" page now, so feel free to have a look and listen. There has been some assignment marking taking place with some great results from QUT students. Some work has also been done on the CD production for the opera singer and some recording with young Ali Leigh as well. On a side note, Pinkhouse was voted Business Of The Month at the National College of Business last month.
An interesting project was the recording of vocals for a UK radio show ID package, with session vocalist Kim Chandler. Kim is one of the top session singers in London now, but started her session career with Garry in the Suite 16 days. Kim regularly works for jingle companies in the UK, Europe and the USA, and was in Brisbane on holidays when contacted by a UK company to record some vocal tracks. They sent us the beds and the guide vocals and it was all done in an hour or so at Pinkhouse. 5-part harmony, all triple-tracked. A great sound.
October '09
Another great month with a bit of variation in the work. Garry has been working on a re-launch campaign for Harrup Park Country Club in Mackay, for which the client has bought the rights to the Jesus Jones track "Right Here Right Now". The agency is Out of The Blue Marketing in Mackay, the track was re-recorded using real brass, Dan McGahan sang the lead vocal, and to give the track a different flavour to the original, Renae Suttie was added on backing vocals.
Garry has also been working on "Wallace Bishop", a fun version of "Nobody Smokes Here Anymore" as an interactive website track, and some case study music tracks for agency BCM (writer Deb Enright).
Also in October, Garry's QUT lecturing lead to his producing a music showcase, "Crash Boom Bang – a MusiCollision" for the faculty. This event incorporated the best of the 3rd year and some 2nd students, and was a huge success with music ranging in styles from classical piano to singer-songwriters, and from laptop performers to rock bands. Garry was fortunate to work with Sound Engineer Dylan Ransom-Hughes and Production Manager Tom Hudak for the week, both of whom are exceptionally good at their job, with nothing left to chance.
September '09
This was a big month at Pinkhouse which saw Garry working on several ad campaigns. First there were the retail campaigns for Image Blinds and Next Property Group for client Harris & Harris (writer Noel Harris), a busy little agency based at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Then there was a campaign for Origin Energy, "Bring It On", for the new coal seam gas pipeline (agency BCM, writer Greville Patterson).
These tracks were recorded at both Pinkhouse and Farmhouse Studios, and mixed by Geoff McGahan. Vocalists included Steven Jaymes, Dan McGahan, Renae Suttie, Karen Jacobsen (put those two girls together and that’s a great vocal session!), Lisa McDuff and Hailey Calvert. Dave Moon, Brendan Radford and Dan McGahan all played guitars, and Moonie and Brendan did backing vocals on the Origin track - talented! Garry also had the pleasure of working with drummer Geoff Green, ex- Katie Noonan and George, on a couple of these tracks.
Other news
Pinkhouse has recently been using a new employee, Anthony Kinmonth, as a writer. Anthony is an up and coming composer whom Garry met while lecturing at QUT last year. Since then Anthony has written several tracks for Pinkhouse, including three for the Movie World Stunt Driver Show, for which Garry was contracted to produce all the music. This show also saw Garry working with arrangers Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone, who added their orchestral touch to three other tracks.
