2021 Rewind with Joe Wyatt, Christian Wright and Freddie Light

2021 Rewind with Joe Wyatt, Christian Wright and Freddie Light

28th December 2021

As 2021 comes to a close, we asked the Abbey Road team to look back and reflect on what has been a particularly poignant year for the studios.

From their favourite projects to work on, most played albums and their tips for which artists will be burgeoning in 2022 — find out more about Abbey Road's Joe Wyatt, Christian Wright and Freddie Light in part of our 2021 Rewind series.

 
Joe Wyatt

Joe Wyatt

senior runner

Christian Wright

Christian Wright

mastering engineer

Freddie Light

Freddie Light

studio runner

 

Favourite project you’ve worked on at Abbey Road this year?

Joe Wyatt:

My favourite project this year would have to be the week I spent with No Rome and his producer George Daniel. No Rome released the awesome It's All Smiles earlier this month - it was amazing to witness the two working on the album in its early stages in the Gatehouse studio. I'd been looking forward to hearing it most of the year!
 

Christian Wright:

There’s a few artists with new albums that I love in 2022. I’ve already mastered them but they haven’t been announced yet! Shhhhh
 

Freddie Light:

The Parcels live session we did. We used one of the old TG desks and recorded through tape which was a lot of fun! They're an amazingly talented band, but also just hilarious to be around, definitely up there with my favourite sessions of 2021. 
 

Your favourite album(s) of 2021?

Joe Wyatt:

Favourite album this year would have to be the super fun Back In Love City by The Vaccines. Just before its release, the band came in to Studio Two to record an orchestrated live version of one of the tracks Paranormal Romance, that was a memorable day!
 

Christian Wright:

Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Fred Again - Actual Life 2 (February 2 – October 15, 2021)
Model Man - Model Man
Squid - Bright Green Field
 

Freddie Light:

Visions Of Light by Ishmael Ensemble. Their 2019 record A State Of Flow I've had on repeat since it was released and this one is just as good, if not better. Love the mixture of electronic sounds with live instruments, it's really got a bit of everything for me. Managed to make it down for the launch of this record and it totally blew my mind seeing them perform it all live.
 

Which new artist / band are you most excited about for 2022?

Joe Wyatt:

Next year I'm really looking forward to hearing all the new stuff Nile Rodgers has been producing. I've spent a lot of time assisting him throughout 2021 and he's collaborated with so many people, up-and-coming artists to legends and it's all very exciting.
 

Christian Wright:

Gabriels – charismatic wondrous voice inside 1950’s cinema.
Pink Panthress – bangers that really get to the point (sub 2mins quite often).
Wet Leg – smiling whilst being hard-hitting.
 

Freddie Light:

Excited to hear more from Joel Culpepper, he recorded a performance with us for a Jools Holland show which you should check out, killer voice.
 

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