Leeds band record at Abbey Road with legendary producer from Harrogate district

Originally from South London, Ken Scott, who was closely involved in some of The Beatles, David Bowie and Elton John’s most famous albums, either as producer or engineer, moved to a small house in Hampsthwaite with his wife five years ago to take up a position at Leeds Beckett University.

The story begins when the Grammy-nominated Scott was working in Leeds last year when a friend showed him some of the new music coming out of the city.

Excited by the exuberant sound and beautifully-crafted songwriting of five-piece band Heir, he invited them down to work with him at Abbey Road Studios in 2019 before the Covid-19 outbreak.

The final result of last year's exciting sessions in London is a dazzling new single and a video by Heir which is released today, Thursday, June 18 with the self-penned Fear of Falling the 'A side' and Victoria Falls (live) the 'B-side.'

Ken Scott said: "Working with Heir was really easy and, most importantly, fun.

"Initially I liked their sense of melody, their songs, and once I got them in the studio at Leeds Beckett University I discovered they were excellent musicians.

"Having already worked with them I knew they could cut it in the big league."

Hailed as a great "80s throwback, groove-pop band," Heir formed at the College of Music in Leeds and are made up of Tom Hammond (vocals and guitar), Sam Perry (keyboards), Harry Vernon (bass), Samuel Newham (drums) and Ste Fisher (electric guitar).

Heir themselves says recording with the legendary producer in Abbey Road was an "once in a life time moment" and an "other-worldly" experience.

The band's Tom Hammond said: "Working with Ken was a wonderful experience, one that at the time we took as if it was a once in a life time moment.

"I was brought up on artists such as Elton John and Supertramp and Ste, our guitarist and songwriter, wouldn't have ventured into music had it not been for The Beatles' records.

"We owe a lot of our influences musically to the records that Ken brought to life, so, as you can imagine, it was other-worldly to be able to work with him in the place where so many of those records were born."

The sessions at Abbey Road studios have resulted in a sound reminiscent to prime 70s Supertramp repurposed for 80s sounds by way of peak pop Duran Duran - with Heir's own uniquely sparkling musical style thrown into what turned out to be a perfect mix of experience and youth.

Scott, has enjoyed more than five decades at the very top of the recording industry in London, LA and Nashville, working as a producer or engineer in the studio with the likes of Jeff Beck, Harry Nilsson, Lou Reed,Mahavishnu Orchestra, Devo, Level 42 and, yes, Supertramp and Duran Duran.

Ken said, although a young band, Heir handled the situation well and took the sessions at Abbey Road in their stride as he was confident they would.

Ken Scott said: "I know that initially they were blown away just walking up those famous front steps but once it was time to record the Abbey Road aura vanished and they performed just as expected.

"They proved they had every right to be there."

The upbeat band themselves say they were privileged to work with Ken Scott and to tred in the musical footsteps of greats like The Beatles and David Bowie.

Their aim was just to play like they would always and come out with great music.

Tom Hammond said: "Once we were in the studio at Abbey Road with Ken, it felt as though he understood us as people and musicians, like a friend of the family who has seen all your influences and grafting along the way would.

"I suppose that's a huge part of what makes a great producer - being able to make the artist comfortable and feel like they can be vulnerable and raw in the studio. Ken is a master of that."

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