Hannah Robinson
by Bradley Stern
filed under: Aston, Barbra Streisand, Blossom Dearie, Britney Spears, Cherrelle, Hannah Robinson, Interview, Jamie Hartman, Karen Poole, Kylie Minogue, Lisa Greene, Loleatta Holloway, Mark Taylor, Miss Polly Rae, Robert Hanlon, Rufus Wainwright, Shirley Bassey, Sister Sledge, Steve Anderson, William Baker

20091219 1081557 Glitter and Diamonds: Interview with...Steve Anderson! (Part One)

When she is in the moment, literally it’s like magic flying about all over the place and on stage. It simply doesn’t get any better.

Steve Anderson is a pop nerd’s goldmine.

Known today as a songwriter, a producer, and a musical director (amongst other job titles), Anderson’s career actually took off in the late ’80′s as a remixer, acting as one-half of the popular remix outfit, Brothers in Rhythm along with Dave Seaman.

Working out mixes for some of the most popular artists of the time including Cherrelle, Sister Sledge, and Loleatta Holloway, Steve Anderson quickly began carving himself a comfy niche in the pop industry. Yet one of the most important milestones in Anderson’s career came with eventual introduction in the early ’90′s with a certain Kylie Minogue.

Beginning with Minogue’s self-titled 1994 record and continuing all the way to Aphrodite, Steve Anderson has worked intimately co-writing and recording the internationally cherished diva for nearly twenty years. He’s been responsible for the arrangement and production of many of her hits (“Confide In Me,” “Did It Again”), as well as continuing to serve as the musical director of every tour she’s done since 1997′s Intimate and Live.

As time went on, Anderson soon began taking a hand at penning tracks for a variety of MuuMuse’s most celebrated acts: From Atomic Kitten to Holly Valance, to the legendary Miss Britney Spears.

Since then, the talented producer has only continued to busy himself with work. Anderson is currently in the midst of planning Minogue’s massive Aphrodite Tour as well as executive producing Christophe Willem‘s upcoming studio album. At the same time, he’s been eagerly involved in the launch of two up-and-coming acts: Elouise, a classic crooner who brings to mind yesterday’s greatest voices (Judy Garland, Dusty Springfield), and The Ultra Girls, a new girl group rooted in Spice Girls-esque pop for the sake of pop.

Needless to say, Steve Anderson is a busy man.

As a result, I was delighted when I found out that Mr. Anderson was willing to answer a heap of questions I’d prepared for him, along with several questions submitted by Muusers. A dream!

So without further ado, please read on to see the first part of the interview.

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by Bradley Stern
filed under: Biff, Calvin Harris, Cathy Dennis, Freemasons, Hannah Robinson, Metronomy, Richard X, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

69zm Sophie Ellis Bextor Reveals New Single and Album Details
Fun fact in advance: This post was inspired by the fact that
I absolutely had to post this new photo. Vavavoom!

From Sophie’s new-and-improved website:

The first single is released early April. It’s called `Bittersweet’ and with it I have once again collaborated with the lovely and very talented Freemasons. It’s a good introduction to the fourth album because, as with the majority of the record, it’s a song you can dance to. The new tracks feature collaborations with Calvin Harris, Metronomy, Cathy Dennis, Richard X and Ed Harcourt. It’s been a lovely experience to make this album and I am so looking forward to sharing it with you all.

As we’ve come to find out, Bextor recorded the track while undergoing a rare condition known as BPO, or Brilliant Producer Overload. The song was written by the Freemasons (“The One,” “Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)”), Richard Biff Stannard (“Love At First Sight,” “New York City Lights”) and Hannah Robinson (“Chewing Gum,” “Me and My Imagination”), according to her newest post.

I am beyond excited by the very possible chance that “Bittersweet” will consist of Sophie monotoning the word “Biii-tahhh-sweeet” over a thumping, sparkly Freemasons synthesized beat.

Furthermore, I am beyond ready to hear something that can be described as nothing less than ‘amazeballs.’