Quick Facts
Biography
Charles Andrew, (born 1980) is a Barclaycard Mercury Prize& Brit Awardwinning record producer, mixer, songwriter and drummer in Laurel Collective with whom he runs the festival In The Woods. He has collaborated with a variety of musicians including Alt J, Madness, Matt Corby, Nick Mulvey, Rae Morris, Eugene McGuinness, Clive Langer, We Were Evergreen, Sivu, Marika Hackman and more.
In 2013 he was awarded 'Breakthrough Producer of the Year' by his peers at Music Producers Guild awards, in 2016 he won the 'Producer of the Year award' and in turn was awarded the Brit Award for 'British Producer of the Year'. He was included in the 2017 Debrett's 500.
In 2016 Charlie announced the launch of his new record label and publishing ventures Square Leg Records & Big Tree Music with Swedish band Francobollo the first signing to both companies. Their debut album is due for release in 2017.
Early career
Charlie's career in music began in a bedroom, making noise with future bandmate Bob Tollast, Charlie found a flair for making and recording music and was soon accepted as a student at the University of Surrey for the prestigious Tonmeister degree. Charlie also became an assistant at Abbey Road studios, while at Abbey Road he worked on several high-profile projects including The Wall (Roger Waters Live In Berlin) and several film scores such as Gangs of New York, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets and the Lord of The Rings trilogy.
He then formed the band the Laurel Collective and left Abbey Road pursue his career as a drummer and producer.
Laurel Collective & In The Woods
Charlie formed the Laurel Collective with friends in the mid 2000s and the band signed to Domino Records sister publishing label, Double Six, releasing several singles and a mini album Feel Good Hits of a Nuclear Winter in 2008. The band followed up their mini-album with debut album Heartbeat Underground on Tape Club Records (Believe Recordings).
During this time, he and the fellow Laurel Collective members set up the industry favourite In The Woods Festival, starting with a humble 70 people and showcasing fellow up and coming bands and artists. Nine years and a fixed 1000 capacity later, ITW's has hosted the likes of Lucy Rose, Micachu and the Shapes, The Invisible, Pete & The Pirates, Alt-J, Lianne La Havas, Stealing Sheep, Marika Hackman, AlunaGeorge, Kwes, Drenge, Superfood, Kwabs, Ghostpoet, Years and Years, Slaves, Jack Garratt and Anna Calvi. At its heart the festival’s ethos is to be ahead of the curve and taste making in nature, each years line up becoming the staple diet for peoples ears the following year. With Charlie constantly in the studio with these types of acts, he has a huge impact on the curaton of the stages and continues these principles with what he chooses to work with.
Production success
Following an introduction to Clive Langer, the first album to feature Charlie's production was Eugene McGuiness' 3rd album The Invitation to the Voyage which Charlie and Clive produced together. While producing this album, which was recorded over a couple of years, Charlie began working with Madness and ended up with several production credits on their album Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da, which reached the UK top 10 in the album charts and has been certified gold in the UK.
During this time Charlie had been producing a then unsigned band who would become Alt J. Charlie produced their debut album An Awesome Wave which peaked at 13 in the UK charts, won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, was certified platinum in the UK and gold in Australia and most other territories.
In 2013 Charlie was nominated as Breakthrough producer at the Music Producers Guild awards. He was presented as the winner of the award by Clive Langer on 7 February 2013. Later that year he co-produced the Resolution EP for Matt Corby, the title track would go on to win a ARIA Award for best songand has been certified 3x platinum in Australia.
In 2014 Charlie produced the 2nd Alt-J titled This Is All Yours, which gave Charlie and the band their first number one album.
In 2015 following his work with Alt-J, Marika Hackman and Sivu, it was announced he was nominated alongside Mark Ronson, Mike Crossey and Tom Dalgety as UK Producer of the Year. He was announced as the winner at the MPG Awards on 3 February 2016 at Grovesnor House and was presented with a MPG Award and Brit Award by Alt-J
Charlie has since worked on releases with Darwin Deez, Matt Corby, Nick Mulvey, Rae Morris, We Were Evergreen, Sivu, Marika Hackman, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Money and more.
He was included in the 2017 Debrett's 500.
Charlie is represented by Hannah Management.
Selected Works
- Alt J - ‘’An Awesome Wave’’, ‘’This Is All Yours’’, "Relaxer_(album)"
- Benjamin Francis Leftwich - After the Rain
- Bloc Party - Stunt Queen
- Cathal Smyth - "A Comfortable Man"
- The Clang Group - "Practice"
- Eugene McGuinness - ‘“The Invitation To The Voyage”, “Blue Jeans”
- Darwin Deez - “Songs for Imaginative People", 'THe Clang Group EP"
- Deaf School - “Enrico & Bette xx"
- Famy - “Dogg, Dogg”
- Francobollo - "Wonderful EP"
- Gin Wigmore - 'New Rush"
- Huntar - "Love I Know"
- Laurel Collective - “Feel Good Hits Of A Nuclear Winter", “Heartbeat Underground”
- Lovepark - “How Do I See?/Shudder”
- Madness - "Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da", “Le Grand Pantalon”, "Can't Touch Us Now"
- Marika Hackman - “That Iron Taste EP”, “Sugar Blind EP" "Deaf Heat EP, "We Slept At Last", "I'm Not Your Man"
- Matt Corby - “Resolution EP”
- Money - "Suicide Songs
- Natalie Ross - "The Thrill Of It All"
- Nick Mulvey - “Fever To The Form EP”
- Rae Morris - “From Above EP"
- Sivu - “Bodies EP”, “I Lost Myself EP", 'Something On High'
- Tenterhook - 'What I Like"
- We Were Evergreen - “Chromosomes”, “Towards"