Each month, we catch up with Point Blank students and alumni to showcase their successes since studying with us, giving you an insight into how music industry careers are established and nurtured right here at Point Blank. In August 2017, we’re catching up with a diverse set of breaking talent: Musician and Akira Records label head Stevie McMinn (Mt. Wolf), Brazilian DJ/Producer Arthur Carniero (ElPeche) and producer Daniel A Hunter. Want to join them? Check out our London, Los Angeles, Ibiza, Mumbai and online course pages to begin your own journey to the top.
Stevie McMinn (Mt. Wolf/Akira Records – Music Production)
Since studying music production and composition at Point Blank from 2008 – 2010 Stevie formed English dream pop/post-rock outfit Mt. Wolf, and set up London boutique Label Akira Records.
Mt. Wolf’s atmospheric blend of chamber pop, folk, electronic, and R&B has drawn comparisons to artists like Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, James Blake and M83. Formed in 2012, the band’s elegant and brooding pop confections found favour with both critics and the public. May 2017 brought Mt. Wolf’s critically-acclaimed debut album, ‘Aetherlight’ with production from Ken Thomas (Sigur Rós, Daughter, M83).
The trio last year made their US debut, taking L.A. by storm with three shows in a week before playing the prestigious SXSW festival, which saw them named as one of NPR’s ‘Top Acts To Watch’ as well as KCRW’s ‘Top 5 Bands’ to see, and receiving the warmest of welcomes: “Ethereal acoustic guitar with atmospheric electronics; Justin Vernon of Bon Iver meets M83… emotionally intense… awesome…want a band to speak to your soul?” After embarking on a UK tour to celebrate the release of their debut album in 2017, and a summer of festival appearances including Glastonbury, Mt. Wolf are about to head out to play a string of headline shows in Europe (France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany & Holland) and will be paying another visit to America in the Autumn to play festivals and a headline show in Brooklyn, New York City.
Akira Records started as a Label, Production House and Promotions Company intent on exposing the best new talents and the most exciting new music through the records they released and the artists they booked at their club nights in London & Brighton. The Label’s roster of artists include Phoria, Henry Green, Rosie Carney, Henry Jamison & Linying, and Akira put out early records by Shura, Haux, CHINAH, Allman Brown, Still Parade, Majik, Only Girl & Hilang Child. Stevie has also worked with, and promoted many successful artists early in their career, including Ed Sheeran, Years & Years, Wolf Alice, Phaeleh, Roo Panes and Clean Cut Kid.
“Point Blank in many ways is where it all started for me in music. I had been in bands since the age of 15 but I seriously wouldn’t be where I am today without the experiences I had and the people I met at Point Blank. I met my fellow band member Bassi at Point Blank, and I learned so much about production, composition and importantly the industry during my years there. It gave me a great foundation on which to build upon.”
You can keep up Mt. Wolf on their Facebook page.
Arthur Carneiro (ElPeche –Music Production)
Arthur Carneiro (ElPeche) had been DJing for 6 years before enrolling at Point Blank, deciding to up his production skills taking modules in Sound Engineering, Sound Design, Mixing and Mastering at our London school. “It was a great decision,” he says. “Today I can actually put my ideas to work in a much easier, more natural manner.”
Since completing his modules, Arthur has been in Brazil developing and releasing new music while maintaining his DJ career as a part of collective Sonido Tropico. Having released his Rosas Bandidas EP on Tropical Twista Records in April, he is now recording a music video, as well as working on 3 other EPs and performing regularly across South America alongside the likes of Nicola Cruz, Feathered Sun, Chancha Via Circuito, and Thornato. His next EP, Flocore Brasileiro, is coming out on Sonido Tropico in a couple of months and he is currently touring Europe, having recently played London’s Brixton Rooftop. “My Point Blank experience was so mind-opening, a real game changer. It prepared me for great opportunities that are now appearing in my career!”
You can follow ElPeche on his SoundCloud page.
Daniel A Hunter (Music Production)
Since being a teenager, Daniel has been in bands and had an obsession with writing music. With the desire to learn how to produce music from start to finish, Daniel jumped at the opportunity to study at Point Blank, originally just for a few courses, but then took on the ‘Music Production and Sound Engineering’ Diploma.
“The teachers have a huge depth of experience, knowledge, and passion. The college has a hands-on, practical approach to learning which helped me learn to make professional music quickly. It is an exciting place to be. There is always amazing music being made all around you. It is also a music community, where I met a lot of friends with whom I still collaborate with today.”
Using skills picked up at Point Blank, Daniel has taken advantage of opportunities such as working with acclaimed artists The Yarza Twins to provide music for this fashion campaign video (with the help of ex-Point-Blanker Eli Kolbar on vocals!). The video has been chosen for the official selection at seven international fashion film festivals all over the world and twice been nominated for awards.
Daniel has also assisted successful composer KK on his upcoming album, where technical DAW skills and audio editing skills have come in very handy. He also plays bass guitar and synths for ‘Everything by Electricity’ with whom he has supported successful artists (such as Marnie and April Towers). ‘My acquired understanding of signal chains and tone shaping learned in the Art of Mixing Module and Sound Design has helped me to create wicked bass sounds and live sound manipulation of the synthesiser.’ Daniel also has his own material (that you can check out here. Daniel is now focused on developing his own artist project to perform live using Ableton Live. Keep updated via his Facebook page, and website. You can watch the yarza Twins campaign video featuring Daniel’s work below.
If you want to study at Point Blank in London, check out our brand new BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering Degree. It’s our most comprehensive course and with modules focussing on mixing, mastering, composing and even music business, it gives you everything you need to make a career in music. If you want to come down and see our studios for yourself, we host tours every Wednesday at 17:30 and Saturdays at 12:30. Click here to book yourself on one. For those unable to study with us in London, we also provide a wide range of online courses, including our online BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering Degree. Not only that, we are currently offering 20% off online courses plus a free copy of Ableton Suite or Logic Pro X until August 31st. What are you waiting for!
Register to Access Free Courses, Plugins, Projects, Samples & More
When you register with Point Blank, you access an array of free sounds, plugins, online course samples, access to our social network Plugged In and much more! Simply register below and visit our Free Stuff page to get your hands on a range of exclusive music-making tools and tutorials provided by the team. Fill your boots!
