joebelmaati.com

BMI Award

BMI Award

I recently attended an awards ceremony in London where I received a BMI Pop Award for 100,000+ plays of the single "Deal With It" written for - and performed by - Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame. The award was presented to all four writers of the song: Jay Sean, Remee, Cutfather, and I.

Finally, Some New Studio Pics

The Saturdays

The Saturdays - If This Is Love

Working with Polydor girl group

I have just returned from London where I worked with an as yet unnamed girl group signed to Polydor. It was one of my best sessions ever. The girls were wonderful to work with, and we all had a great time. We recorded two songs, "If This Is Love" and "Believe In Me". Here's a snapshot from the session.

Left to right: Una, Frankie, Me, Vanessa, Mollie, and Rochelle

Corbin Bleu

Corbin Bleu is a new solo artist on Hollywood Records. He was one of the stars of the highly successful tv-show and soundtrack "High School Musical". I have co-written two songs on the album including the first single "Deal With It".

Studio Refurbishment Pics

Here are some snapshots. Enjoy.

Chill out.

The Pro Tools System is still there

Wow, real instruments....

Check your email

Keepin' it real...

Keepin' it real part II

...end of story

20 years

20 years

Right about this time - 20 years ago - I began my carreer as a Radio DJ at The Voice in Copenhagen. Man, I can't believe that it's been TWENTY Years! As described in my biography I had a few shows, but focused mainly on my weekly hip hop show with live in studio mixing and commenting.

I collaborated on the show with Copenhagen mix DJs TNT and Chief 1 and we had a great time. Some of the artists we liked were Kool G Rap and Polo, Boogie Down Productions, The Jungle Brothers, and Marley Marl.

In many ways, my years as a radio DJ were a catalyst for my career as a songwriter, producer, and remixer. Station managers Lars Kjær and Dan Rachlin were instrumental in helping secure my first ever studio and record gig - a remix for Danish band Danseorkestret.

Tardy

I haven't updated these pages for a while - sorry about that. Just to catch up, here are a few of the things that have happened since last time.

The studio overhaul is complete for now. The new look is refreshing and highly inspiring - a great place to go every day and create music. I love it there...

I have been working on tracks and songs and I should have something good to show for my efforts sometime soon.

That's just a brief update - hopefully I'll have the time to provide a more comprehensive update sometime soon.

Best,

Joe

Disco

I just cut the demo vocals on a song I wrote with Wayne Hector in Ireland a couple of weeks back. It's a disco track with an insanely catchy hook. The song should be done in a couple of weeks and hopefully it will find a good home eventually.

Song Writing

Back in August I had a great writing session with Jörgen Elofsson. We wrote a song that I am very happy with. I just recently finished the demo and so the future will see where the song finds a home.

Next month I am going to the UK to write with Wayne Hector and I am really looking forward to that. Wayne and I have written songs together numerous times before, but this will be my first opportunity to write with Wayne after having changed my setup.

I am right now coming up with new tracks for writing sessions, and I am excited about the subtle stylistic changes I have conjured up when measured against my C&J tracks.

Studio Refurbishment Nearly, Nearly Complete

Some time ago I wrote that the refurbishing of the studio was nearly done . Well, now I can honestly say that it is almost close to being nearly done. Does that sound vague? Well, I am hoping that I will be able to post some picture here in a couple of weeks.

I am very excited about the new and fresh look.

**UPDATE** November 7th 2006
The final few things will be added to the studio this week. It's looking very nice...

Superstar - once again

Superstar - once again

I have just completed the production on "America's Got Talent" winner Bianca Ryan's single "Superstar". Yes, this is a re-working of the song that was a hit for Jamelia. Bianca Ryan is just 11 years of age, and the lyrics in the song have been altered to suit her age.

Writing sessions

Writing sessions

The fall will bring some top of the range co-writing sessions with it. So far I have sessions booked with such reputable writers (and good friends) as Jörgen Elofsson (Britney, Gareth Gates), Wayne Hector (Westlife, Rascal Flats), and John Reid (Tina Turner, Kelly Clarkson). I have worked with all three before and always had a great time with them. Furthermore, most sessions with these writers have resulted in songs that got recorded by UK or US artists.

Studio Refurbishment Nearly Complete

The studio refurbishment is now nearly complete. Just some new furniture to put into the room and all should be done. I should have some nice pictures to post shortly...
Today I started my first track as an independent producer and writer.

Studio refurbishment underway

Studio refurbishment underway

This week a minor, albeit overdue refurbishment of the studio commenced. The last major overhaul was 6 years ago, so it'll be nice to see some fresh wall paint, a few walls moved around and some new furniture. All in all, this should provide for an even more comfortable environment.

Studio

The studio is situated in Copenhagen in a very nice neighborhood just a few minutes walk from the City Centre, and very close to the river. Just a stonethrow away is the Radisson Scandinavia Hotel which provides business class accomodations for artists, and managers. The studio complex is located in a beautiful old storage building from the beginning of the 20th Century and is a vibrant and lively place with many, many studio rooms going at the same time, and a wonderful, kind atmosphere. Several internationally acclaimed songwriters and producers take residence in the building.

Joe Belmaati's Studio boasts a lush, spacious control room with natural daylight and a great tight sound. The equipment list is long and everything is kept in perfect working condition. A trained engineer, Joe used to calibrate and tune analogue tape machines, but is perhaps better known for his speed and efficiency at recording vocals when time is of the essence. Some key components of the studio include a Pro Tools rig on steroids, lots of Neve outboard equalisers, Tubetch and Urei compressors and SSL dynamics. The room is equally suited for writing, track-laying and mixing, and just hanging out there ain't bad either.

Food and catering comes courtesy of the many neighborhood gourmet café's. Since the area is emerging as the cool part of town a lot of high quality food is but a phone call and 1 minute walk away. All the usual fastfood outlets are also available should a Big Mac or Domino's pizza be preferred. There is a large dining area with a TV and sitting cornor associated with the studio, and artists frequently meet there and talk about the records they are in the process of making.

Artists, managers, and publishers alike are greeted with kindness and a professional attitude, and all projects are taken very seriously as Joe Belmaati's track record bears witness to.

Ivor Novello Award Winners Cutfather & Joe Part Ways

Ivor Novello Award Winners Cutfather & Joe Part Ways

After 13 years of working in partnership, the team of Cutfather & Joe decided to part ways peacefully and without incident. Over the years the team managed to rack up an impressive chart history crowned with an Ivor Novello Award for the song "Superstar", performed by Jamelia. More news to follow....