Billy Lunn, lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer of the rock band The Subways, has made Neve outboard units the centrepiece of his new studio.
He did so after recognising the positive impact Neve equipment had on the sound of the band’s second album, All or Nothing.
Released in 2008, All or Nothing was produced by Butch Vig and recorded on a Neve® 88R desk at Conway Studios in Los Angeles.
“In my view it is without doubt our best sounding album,” he says. “I’ve never got over just how huge and rich everything sounded running through that console.”
Billy used 500-series Neve® 1073LB and 88RLB modules to record many parts – including his vocals – for The Subways’ fifth album, which is due to be released later this year.
“Those modules were at the centre of every single part of the tracking process, simply because they consistently outshone every other piece of gear I had,” he says.
“Sadly, because of financial problems caused by Covid, I had to sell all our recording equipment in December 2020 to pay our way out of a studio rental contract.
“But I was determined that once I got a new studio, I would build it from the ground up with the very best AMS Neve outboard units I could afford.”
As part of his investment in new studio equipment, Billy has acquired a Neve 1073SPX mic preamp, a Neve 8803 dual/stereo EQ units and an 8801 channel strip.
The Subways are currently playing a series of UK shows which will take them through to the end of 2021, followed by live performances in Europe and the US in 2022.