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N-Dubz... New Album... Big Expectation!!

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 9:19PM / Members only

So... I am finally back from a long 5 week stint in London working for NDubz. Missed the fam loads as haven't been away from my daughter and wife for that long!!These are the same band I originally blogged about in January who went Platinum. Well to date that first album has sold just over 500,000 copies... pretty impressive for a debut album.
Anyway, the guys had said after the first album that they wanted to work with me again. So on September 20th I flew back to London to work again with them on their second album. This album is now a major release for Universal/ATTW (UK) and so the pressure was on. The last year N-Dubz had been huge with a No. 1 single and TV, press, and radio coverage. As well as winning two MOBO Awards for Best UK Album and Best UK Act.
I was originally meant to go for 2 weeks to mix the album, but when I got there they still hadn't finished recording and producing some of the songs. So I was also asked to help record some tracks and vocal produce the big ballad track.
Anyway below are some pics and video from the sessions... The album "Against All Odds" is released on November 16th. I mixed 12 tracks on the album in a great studio called The Chairworks in Leeds, UK.
On the first night in Leeds, they had a gig at Leeds University, there were over 2,000 people going crazy at the gig. Thank god I was on the balcony.
One of the UK's biggest gossip magazines (Heat) come up to the studio to do a photoshoot. At the end of the shoot I managed to persuade the photographer to take a couple of photos with me and N-Dubz (L-R Fazer, Me, Tulisa, Dappy)
A cool pic from the photshoot!
Deep in mix talk with Dappy
Discussing one the tracks with Dappy, their assistant manager, and the producer of the track (in the chair)
Here is a quick video from my iPhone (sorry bout the bad quality) of the great studio I was working in. The 2 guys in the video were my studio assistants Tom and James. If you wanna see a proper studio then make sure you watch!!!
So I have high hopes for this album, and so do the band. I definitely think it will go number one in the UK, and hoepfully will go double or even triple platinum (900,000). I will keep you posted, and any of you in Europe or North America.... grab a copy!! I am pretty sure you will enjoy the album.

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We'll Make Your Album

Thursday, Sep 17, 2009 12:04PM / Members only

Hi everyone.
Sorry, it's been a while since I last wrote anything. Been busy both Professionally and personally.
But I am back, and just thought I would update you all on a feature in Time Out this month that I am in. It's called "We'll Make Your Album" that Time Out HK are holding in conunction with Diesel:U:Music and I am one of the judges along side Steve Wong Ka-Keung (Beyond), Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming (People Mountain, People Sea), and Wong Chi-Chung (Commercial Radio).
Bands were asked to submit 3 tracks and we (the judges) were asked to pick our top 3. I was surprised that in HK there were so many independant bands. It was a good sign.
Anyway.. to find out who won and to see more info please buy the lastest Time Out and support HK's independant bands.
Time Out Home Page
And for the feature
Time Out Feature

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Behind the scenes and interview with Van Ness Wu

Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 4:33PM / Members only

So... I am sure there are lots of people on this site waiting for this. Sorry it took so long, I have been so busy. But a good friend of mine put together this small video of the 3 days in the studio in June I did with Van Ness, there are photos, an interview with Van Ness, and a couple "behind the scenes" video clips.
I hope you all enjoy!

For those of you in China that can't watch Youtube, try clicking the link below to watch
Van Ness & Kelvin Avon Studio Video

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Kelvin Avon: Beijing's Soul Sister Tia Ray.... What a voice!

Thursday, Jul 9, 2009 3:02PM / Members only

So... I just got back from 6 days in Beijing. It was my first time to go so I was looking forward to the trip. The main purpose of the trip was to work with an artist called Tia Ray... and wow... what a singer. A very, very talented young lady. It was a real pleasure to work with.
The day I arrived was also the AnD launch with Tom.com in Beijing and Tia was performing so I went down to say hi to all the AnD guys (Pat, Raffi, Steven) and also Terence, Daniel, Andrew, and Conroy. What a great bunch of guys... I gotta say, all the AnD people have made me so welcome in HK and also in Beijing.
Here are a couple of pics from the night
Me and the beautiful Tia Ray.. hey that's my hat!!!
Man.. this girl can SING!!
Aww... is that smile just for me?! lol
Backstage with Tia and MC Jin... OMG!!
Terence, Daniel, Andrew & Conroy talking after the performances
So.... the after party.... On a rootop in Beijing.. nice!
Hey Patrick... MGMT!!! You sang it to me all night..lol
Ah... finally got my hat back!!
Well... that was the first night. I was nursing a little hangover the next day and we had to get up early to go to the Forbidden City. I was looking forward to this as had read a lot about it. Tia come along and also the talented for Nick Wong who came up with me from HK to play keys on the tracks.
Me and Nick outside the FC
Taking a break in the Beijing Sun!
Why do I always look crap in photos?!
I'm so small!!!!
Tia getting ready before the evening studio session!!
FC baby!!

So far it looks like I have been doing no work.. work was still to come. We spent 5 days in Universal Records Studio (Thanks!) but as we were working in the evening there was no A/C (they turn off the A/C in the building after 6pm)... So begin 5 evenings of profuse sweating alongside serious creativity.. I gotta say that ain't a great mix but we made 2 amazing tracks. Hopefully I will post some little snippets of the tracks we did if Tia's management let me...you really won't believe how good she is until you hear them!
Some photos of the sessions
Nick and Tia deep on songwriting!
Running the session!!
Seriously.. this girl can SING!!
Tia getting some help with the Mandarin lyrics
At the end of 5 days.. This is how hard I work with vocalists... Tia will probably kill me for putting this up... but I just had to! lol
Anyway... what a trip. Really enjoyed myself... got to see the sites and made some great music. I look forward to my next trip (except for the bumpy flight!!). And stay tuned for some GREAT new music from Tia... she really is one to watch over the next year!! Ask Raffi (Etchy) as he stopped by to have a listen.
www.alivenotdead.com/tiaray
If only.... (I would be really short if I was in the NBA!)
Soon Tia.. Soon!!
I WANNA SING!!
Yes.. we climbed the Great Wall... and I didn't buy one of those tourist T-Shirts!
Got home to my beautiful daughter and put her in the chinese pyjama's I bought her!! So cute!

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King of Pop.... RIP

Friday, Jun 26, 2009 2:26PM / Members only

One of my biggest musical influences has passed...I have no words....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7MmEMrCRfc

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Johnny Chao
posted on Friday, Nov 13, 2009 5:44AM [Report]

Hey Kelvin, got your email.
I'll give you a buzz when I get there next week.
Talk soon!
Johnny Chao
posted on Saturday, Nov 7, 2009 4:47AM [Report]

Hey Kelvin, I'm going to Hong Kong in a little less than 2 weeks and wondering if you'll be in town.
Would love to get together if you're available.
Angie Ng
posted on Sunday, Nov 1, 2009 2:32PM [Report]

hey great catching u back in hong kong again!! add me here... n message me if there is anything up!! xxxxx
Angie Ng
posted on Saturday, Sep 19, 2009 2:40PM [Report]

hey! nice catching u here!! looked through ur site.. looks awesome! stay wicked.. x
Juia
posted on Wednesday, Sep 16, 2009 10:32PM [Report]

hi Kelvin!!
When will you release a new album with VanNess? I can't wait it !!!
Pls tell us the backstage story more!!
GTOX Design
posted on Thursday, Sep 10, 2009 5:38PM [Report]

Hey Kelvin nice meeting you the other night, see ya around ;)
Tia Ray
posted on Thursday, Jul 23, 2009 2:06AM [Report]

coolllllllllll.... can't wait !!!

how's everything in HK ... miss my soul brother

=)
maki03
posted on Saturday, Jul 18, 2009 10:41PM [Report]

Hi ! Thank you soooo much
for visiting my page！！！　YAHOOO～！！
Say hello to Van I love ♪
Robin Chi
posted on Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 12:43AM [Report]

probably thursday?
cinderblocks
posted on Monday, Jul 13, 2009 12:49PM [Report]

hey kelvin, yeah, that was some hilarious banter last night! it reminded me of junior high, when i used to hang out w/ my older brother and his friends. i think i've secretly always wanted to be a bloke. dunno, just seems like guys have so much more fun than us girls. anyway, look forward to hanging out with you again sometime soon...
enigma306
posted on Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 1:44PM [Report]

You don't sing? Neither do most of the producers that keep singing. There's one in particular that I would pay to shut up cuz he kills a song. Sounds like a Coyote in heat. LOL

How do you write a song? How do you know what inspiration would make a good song or if what you've written isn't just meant to be a poem?
crystal6690
posted on Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 1:42AM [Report]

Thank you so much Mr.Kelvin......^^
and thx you for replying too
Tia Ray
posted on Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 4:14PM [Report]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!
can't wait !!!!!!!!!

cheers
enigma306
posted on Friday, Jul 10, 2009 4:09PM [Report]

Wow a producer who doesn't take credit for everything! You're a rarity. I was having a "remember when" convo (gah! I sound so old) the other day with a friend. I said, "memba when producers didn't write every song, sing, play all the instruments, do interviews.." Well, if the demos get made, you'll have to let us know. I'm a little saddened. :( Thanks for replying.
enigma306
posted on Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 1:19PM [Report]

Hey Kelvin, I know you're busy, but I was wondering if should check iTunes or Afreex.com for any of the songs you have in your player? If iTunes whose name should I search, yours? Help a sista out. Poddy, my ipod, is hungry for new stuff.
crystal6690
posted on Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 5:32AM [Report]

hi mr kelvin....
may i know who's the "you should be with me" singer?i found that song in your mysapce page.
i thing i'll embittered if u don't answer it .lol
>_<
sorry i really wanna know....
Robin Chi
posted on Friday, Jul 3, 2009 4:45AM [Report]

so sleepy... GOOD NIGHT
Go climb The Great Wall and be a REAL MAN!
Kristina Lao
posted on Thursday, Jul 2, 2009 11:29AM [Report]

Hey Vinnie!

Thanks :) Hope you're having fun in the wide world of Honkers these days!
Johnny Chao
posted on Thursday, Jul 2, 2009 5:14AM [Report]

Hey Kelvin, thanks for the reply.

I've got my studio here in L.A. but travel to Asia a couple of times a year so the Duet seems like a good way to go.

Are you mainly in London or do you stay in Asia quite a bit?
Johnny Chao
posted on Wednesday, Jul 1, 2009 4:04PM [Report]

Hey Kelvin, I was gonna get an Apogee Duet to use for traveling with my Macbook Pro but they just announced the One, which supposedly has the same converters as the Duet, but with only 1 channel.
I might pick that one up instead when it comes out at the end of this month.

I noticed you were using the Duet with your laptop, just wondering how you like it?

Hope all is well on your end!
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Kelvin Avon's Music

Kelvin Avon

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Kelvin Avon (aka Afreex) grew up in Hong Kong and started his interest in music from the young age of 6, when he started playing the trumpet...
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Kelvin Avon (aka Afreex) grew up in Hong Kong and started his interest in music from the young age of 6, when he started playing the trumpet. He bought his first synthesizer and drum machine when he was 12 and he hasn't looked back since. Trained at Massachusetts Communications College. Boston, USA as a Sound Engineer, Kelvin began his musical career as a Mastering Engineer in 1999 for Promo Only, a US based music promotions company.

In a short amount of time he has come onto the music scene with his own exciting amalgamation of Urban music. Whether it is Electro Hip Hop, Latin-Spiced rhythms, Hip Hop Rock, or just plain good music, Kelvin has produced and remixed for artists in a variety of genres such as Pop, Rap, RnB, Ragga & Rock; always bringing a unique and exciting sound to his production that has set him apart from their US and UK peers.

Emerging from the UK's underground Urban scene, Kelvin has written and produced with a variety of UK Urban artists such as Swiss, Cassius Henry, Legend aka Kamakazi, Maxwell D, Shola Ama and many more. He has also expanded into the mainstream market, working regularly with artists in Sweden for Warner Chappell and as well as with songwriters such as Curtis Richardson (Jennifer Lopez, Joss Stone), Celetia Martin (Groove Armada), Sandra Nordstrum (Celine Dion/Girls Aloud), Kenisha Pratt (Brandy, Toni Braxton) & Charlie Brown.

Afreex remixes are all about the club; incorporating all elements of music, from Ragga to Rock, Hip Hop to Soul, RnB to Dance. He has remixed for artists such as P.Diddy, Erykah Badu, Nelly, Jamelia, Lumidee, Baby Bash, Omar, Mario, Amp Fiddler and many more. His unique blend of sound, which appeals to both the US and Europe, seems to be catching the attention of industry peeps on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 2005 Kelvin's production company, Chewatribe, put together the UK's biggest collaboration CD, Union Black which won an Urban Music Award 2005 for the Best Compilation Over 25 exclusive tracks featuring collaborations with artists such as Omar, Rhian Benson, Cassius Henry, Swiss (So Solid), Don-E, Sway, Shola Ama, Baby Blue, J2K, Maxwell D, Sway, Kele Le Roc and many more, produced by UK producers.

He has recently mixed the debut album for no.1 Russian Hip Hop outfit Banderos (Universal) and the debut single through Polydor of underground sensation & MOBO winners N-Dubz. He then went on to mix 7 tracks for the album including teh next two singles "Ouch" and 'Defeat You". The album has just gone Gold.

Broadening his scope to also include multi-media, Kelvin was also one of the Musical Directors for hip hop theatre show 'BoxBeat' in 2003 held at Sadlers Wells in London, and produced music for the renowned Swedish Hip Hop Dance Company, Bounce Streetdance Company. Recently he has also placed original music for Sony Playstation games.
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Occupation: Music Producer , Composer , Sound Engineer
Gender: Male
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