Trevor Horn
Instrument : MP11
“The MP11 is fast becoming my go-to weighted keyboard in the recording studio. The piano sounds hold their own against my Bosendorfer Concert Grand, and the Electric Piano sounds have already made their way into a few of my recent productions. As a weighted MIDI controller, the hammer action is flawless, and lends to an extremely natural replication of performance dynamics. Layering of patches, and splitting of sounds across the keyboard is intuitive and effortless; invaluable in fast paced environments.”
It is highly unlikely that your music collection doesn’t include at least one song or album involving Trevor Horn’s skills. Trevor is a producer, songwriter, and performer with a real passion for musical creativity and quality, clearly embodied in ZTT Records, which he co-founded, and the high regard in which SARM Studios is held.
His work is characterised by a high level of musical insight and open-mindedness and in all his roles he has a strong idea of how he wants something to sound before the final concept is put together. Trevor’s personal selection of the Kawai MP11 for stage and studio work shows how brilliantly our digital piano technology can meet the very highest musical and creative expectations.
Trevor formed The Buggles with Geoffrey Downes and his production was key to the first days of legendary electronic art music band The Art of Noise. He also spent a considerable period with the progressive rock band Yes including co-writing and production on their hugely popular 90125 album including the MTV hit ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart’. Trevor has often been referred to as ‘the inventor of the 80s’ and his work has engaged with a plethora of world class artists including the Pet Shop Boys, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Rod Stewart and Malcolm McLaren.
A look at his discography (www.trevorhorn.com/discography/) shows he is very active and relevant today, with recent credits including work with The Overtones, Johnny Borrell, Robbie Williams, John Legend and Olly Murs.
He is currently working on Seal’s forthcoming new album, amongst others, and performing live with the Trevor Horn Band. Their March 2015 gig at the O2 in London received great reviews including one from Classic Rock Prog Magazine, and it involved the use of two Kawai MP11 pianos on stage. The Band also performed at the Cornbury Festival 2015 in Oxford to an audience of over 10,000, and the Melt Festival 2015 in Germany. Given the involvement of artists including Trevor, Geoffrey Downes (Buggles, Asia, Yes), and Lol Creme (10CC, Godley & Creme), they certainly have a vast catalogue of top-class songs to pick their set-list from.
Here at Kawai, we are very proud to have our instruments selected by such a creative and progressive musical figurehead.
