About
Simon is one of the UK’s leading mix engineers. Over a career spanning 23 years he’s worked with a wide range of the world’s top selling recording artists. In 2006, he was awarded a Grammy for his work on the U2 album “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb” which won the coveted “Album Of The Year” award.
Simon started out in music as a singer/guitarist with several London based bands. This was followed by a stint as a keyboard player on tour with outrageous 80s electro pop band Dead Or Alive. On the recommendation of an engineer friend, he landed an assisting job at Mayfair Studios where he trained under John Hudson. During four years there he worked with a huge number of artists as an assistant engineer and progressed to engineering and mixing on several hits including “Altogether Now” by The Farm and “Missing You” by Soul II Soul (meeting Nellee Hooper in the process – a meeting that would lead to future collaboration).
In 1992 Simon went freelance and worked regularly with producer Stephen Hague. One of his first jobs was recording the New Order album “Republic” at Real World and RAK. This led to him touring with the band through 1993 as programmer.
In the mid 90s his work continued with Stephen and various other producers, thanks to joining Z Management, including Sly & Robbie (Maxi Priest, Suggs) and Boilerhouse (Texas, Stereophonics). He also worked on a large number of remixes for top US hip-hop acts (Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, Lil’Kim, Rakim & Mase included) with producer Syze-Up under the name Desert Eagle Discs.
At the end of the 90s Simon re-teamed with Nellee Hooper in order to mix projects for Nellee’s label Meanwhile (Headrillaz & Hexdragon). This led to him becoming Nellee’s mix engineer of choice. Their on-going relationship has included work with No Doubt & Gwen Stefani, U2, Massive Attack, Lamb and the forthcoming album by Singtank.
Simon joined Stephen Budd Management in 2005 enabling him to develop new areas of his mixing and production work. There have been collaborations with Steve Lironi (Luan Parle), Rick Nowels (Yusuf Islam) and Ewan Pearson (Tracey Thorn) along with production/additional production work for a variety of artists including King Creosote, Little Boots, Operator Please, Bogdana Chivas and Boxes. He has also worked with various overseas acts including Nayo (Nigeria), Najoua Belyzel (France), Mumiy Troll, Gornostay & Valeriya (Russia) and Ilanois (Holland). Simon also works on selected development projects with new, unsigned acts in a production or co-production capacity. The latest of these to sign a deal is Colchester electro pop/punk band Angry Vs The Bear.
In 2007 Simon opened his own SSL equipped production and mix room, Hub II.
Recent mix projects include the “Barking” album, a Manic Street Preachers remix and the Danny Boyle directed NT production of “Frankenstein” with Underworld, various N-Dubz tracks including “I Need You” and Athlete’s “Somewhere Beneath My Skin”.
Please take a look at the links page……..
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“Working with Simon is nothing short of a pleasure. His attention to detail and ‘nothing is too much trouble to achieve maximum results’ attitude is inspiring”.
— Greg Brimson (Producer) -
Utterly solid inspired mixing, with groove (it’s in his heart). Gifted, calm, with endlessly changing haircuts. We’ve completed four projects together now and I wish we’d met sooner. A man we can trust.
— Rick Smith (Underworld) -
Simon is one of the most creative mixers I’ve worked with. He has great instincts and taste. He finds the energy in a track and pulls it out. I always love going to mix at Hub II. It’s like a deep breath, somewhere you can relax and enjoy making your music sound better!!
— Carey Willetts (Athlete, Boxes) -
Simon gave me confidence and support on how to push my limits. He understood the essence of my work and helped me bring out the best in it.
— Bogdana Chivas (solo artist) -
Simon’s mixes and credits obviously speak for themselves and his skill and ability there is unrivaled, but it is also his ability make a session relaxed and focused at the same time which, as a musician, is always hugely appreciated and respected.
— Darren Barker (Angry Vs The Bear) -
Turn me up! Oh God! TURN ME UP! Hey you! I’m talking to you in the glasses, YOU! Engineer! Engineer! ENGINEER! ENGINEER!! Turn me up! Engineer. TURN ME UP! Come On! YEAH!!
— P.Diddy (producer/artist)