The Journey So Far - Nile Rodgers at Abbey Road

The Journey So Far - Nile Rodgers at Abbey Road

7th August 2018
Following his appointment as our first ever Chief Creative Advisor, Nile has made his enigmatic presence known throughout the building, as he makes Abbey Road his UK creative base. His immediate focus has been to complete the first new CHIC album in 26 years, a journey that began with recording sessions in Studio Three with Anderson .Paak and Disclosure in April 2017 and ended with the CHIC band in the same room this July. Entitled Its About Time, the album will be released on 28 September through Virgin EMI. The first single Till The World Falls, released last month, features the talented Mura Masa, Cosha, Anderson .Paak and Vic Mensa and was written and recorded between Abbey Roads Studio Three and The Gatehouse. The grooving song cements Rodgers legacy, continuing to expand the realms of possibility with popular music and has just been made Single of the Week on BBC Radio Two, as well as making Nile the only 65 year old to be played on BBC Radio One! Each week sees Nile bring some of the most acclaimed singers, songwriters and producers from around the globe into Abbey Road, which has made for some extremely exciting collaborations.

The list boasts the likes of Emeli Sande, George Ezra, Flume, Olly Murs, Rebecca Ferguson, Kungs, Franc Moody, Kamille, Jorja Smith and HMLTD. Nile and Emeli captured some great footage from their session that offers a fascinating and often unseen window into Niles creative process in the studio. Not only has Rodgers made his presence known in the studio, but also in the world of music media somehow managing to fit interviews between recording sessions and video shootsin Studio Two!In last weeks edition of Music Week, Nile adorns the front cover and, inside, discusses the new album, working with artists from David Bowie to Daft Punk, and the development of his new role at the studios:They asked me point blank a couple of weeks ago, What do you see for the future of Abbey Road? I said, to be honest with you, it feels like Disneyland. I love the past, but to me its about the future. There is technology that theyre on the leading edge of developing and I want to be heavily involved in that. Abbey Roads Head of Brand Marketing, Mark Robertson, further builds upon the importance of bringing Nile into the fold as part of the new era at the studios: Its genuinely thrilling to see Nile working at Abbey Road, constantly creating and inspiring everyone who comes here. Every day he seems to make a new connection with an artist or composer and spark an idea for a new collaboration.

The accolades for Niles contribution to popular music continue as he adds the role of Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame to his ever increasing portfolio of honours. The legendary CHIC co-founder has been unanimously elected by the Board of Directors to serve as the organisations chairman, succeeding Gamble and Huff who held the position for three years. Says Nile: I am truly honored and beyond humbled to be elected by such an esteemed group as this illustrious board. I will try and serve with all my heart. I hope I can make you half as proud of me as I am to even sit in the room with you whove done so much for the furtherance of composition. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the songwriting community. Nile has also been made a Companion of The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), receiving the prestigious accolade from Sir Paul McCartney last week. In between all theinterviews and recording sessions, Nile has remarkably been playing sold-out festival showswithCHIC throughout the Summer.
 
 

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