A TributeIn October 2022, I created a 3 part pod series, to explore the life, works and story of UK producer Graeme Holdaway who died in 2020. Graeme was my producer for many years and he was introduced to me by Sonja Kristina, Curved Air singer. Over the years, I worked with Graeme on different albums independently and I wanted to create some podcasts about his life and prolific career as a sound producer and sound technician. Graeme worked with artists and bands such as Damon Albarn (Blur), Salad, Bonnie Tyler, Sonja Kristina, Transglobal Underground and Nation Records. In the pods, Alex Holdaway, his wife, Marijke Bergkamp, co-creator of The Beat Factory and Sonja Kristina speak about Graeme's work and his life. If you click on the Buzzsprout link above, you can tune into all 3 of Graeme's podcasts.
"At the Beat Factory, there was such a diverse range of different artists and I think Graeme thrived on that because he is able to focus on the particular artist who is there on the day on that particular project." Marijke Bergcamp, Co-creator of Beat Factory Studio with Graeme, in Euston Road London"
"He was a thoroughly decent man...and his capacity to love and care for people and be loyal was extraordinary" Alex Holdaway, Wife.
“When we were starting the Big Chill in the 90’s, Graeme was very much in that orbit. I knew he was a sound engineer with Curved air and other things, I was looking for a sound engineer to work with me on Eyelid movies which was the first big Chill mix CD. He ended up doing some sound engineering at the Big Chill festivals. It was only really in later years, that I ran into Graeme again when he moved down to the Southwest with his wife Alex to Shepton Mallet and this was when I was living in Frome so we had a really productive year of doing bits and bobs together such as the Sat Ta Na Ma track, “ He was the 2nd to engineer involved in the initial engineering of the track, with some one before and someone after, so it was very much about community engagement and community co-creation, handing over to the second person. I always remember him as very modest, very unassuming but always open, engaged and friendly and pretty much aware of stuff going on around him, a lovely man!” Pete Lawrence. 
In this second podcast of a (three part series), Marijke Bergkamp and Alex Holdaway, (the wife of Graeme and mother of Finlay Holdaway,) further reflect upon the life and work of Graeme Holdaway. For several years, Bergkamp and Holdaway co-owned the Beat Factory studio in London which independently oversaw many creative projects. However, a changing market later led Holdaway to excel as a sound technician for venues such as Wigmore Hall and the Houses of Parliament. In addition to this, Holdaway also toured extensively with Sonja Kristina (as a bass player) and he successfully produced Songs from the Acid Folk (1991). Graeme’s funeral took place in Wells (2020). In this pod, Alex and Marijke reflect upon how they dealt with a sudden loss and how they were empowered by a friendship which has continued to strengthen throughout the years. |
PHOTO REFERENCE:
Graeme's discography: https://www.discogs.com/artist/278405-Graeme-Holdaway Hear the track Atom Bomb Yoga, featuring Singer/Songwriter Eddie Ashcroft, Bass Player Graeme Holdaway and he produced it! Atom Bomb Yoga: https://soundcloud.com/ed-ashcroft-1/hubble/s-CWewaB72JOM Graeme wrote an article about his work with Blur singer Damon Albarn. At the time his previous band were called Seymour. https://damonalbarnunofficial.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/damon-albarn-twos-a-crowd-damon-record-collector-april-1998/ Special thanks - Sky Production Studios Hong Kong (Editing services) |
The Jane Nicola Soundvibe show features original podcasts, as well as live and pre-recorded shows, the podcast show was founded by Jane Nicola Douglas in May 2022, Jane Nicola is currently based in Shanghai and she originally grew up in the UK. She gained a B.A. Hons Degree at Middlesex university and then went on to train as a Music Therapist at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. Jane Nicola also undertook an LTCL in Music Education and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education with Dundee University. Jane Nicola currently lives in Asia and for the past 13 years, she has worked as a performing artist, entertainment host, writer, educator and music therapist, thus she brings a lively collaborative forum to the table!
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