2019 Blog
Key Production Release of the Year + Album of the Year Staff Picks 2019
We reach the end of 2019 soon, a decade of ups and downs in life and the music industry and wonderful new artists who became huge sensations. This year we had great music from artists all over the world. Our Key family picked their personal favourite 2019 album along with our company release of the year.
We want to thank everyone that chose Key Production to manufacture their releases this year and we are happy to have worked with each one of you. We would also like to thank our staff for working so hard and for being an amazing family at Key.
We cannot wait for what 2020 will bring us.
Release of the Year: Little Simz Grey Area, Age 101 Music / Awal.
Grey Area is the latest album from Little Simz, her third after releasing mixtapes and EPs and two other critically acclaimed albums. Simbi Ajikawo (Little Simz) wrote her entire album taking events experiences from her life that truly made this album her best yet. She describes her journey and struggles as a mid-twenties young adult and losses she’s faced. A line many of her fans relate to is “I’m Jay-Z on a bad day, Shakespeare on my worst days,” Little Simz raps on ‘Offence’ – which is the opening track on Grey Area.
Grey Area was nominated for a Hyundai Mercury Prize 2019 along with also being nominated for Q Breakthrough Act presented by Q awards. The young artist has been successfully making a name for herself in the music industry with sold-out headline shows around the world, and international tours with the likes of Gorillaz and Anderson Paak.
We are thrilled to have collaborated with Age 101 Music and Awal on this release by such an amazing artist as Little Simz, we loved Grey Area, thank you for the music <3
Staff Picks
Karen, Founder & MD
Fontaines DC, Dogrel, Partisan
Jack S, Head of Production (Breed Media)
(Sandy) Alex G, House Of Sugar, Domino
Catriona, Account Manager
And So I Watch You From Afar, ASIWYFA Live 10 Year Anniversary, Sargent House
Lorna, Artworker
Anna Meredith, Fibs, Moshi Moshi
Paul Smith, Operations Director
Better Oblivion Community Center, Better Oblivion Community Center, Dead Oceans
Ian, Head Of Production (Modo)
Big Theif, Two Hands, 4AD
Neil, Chief Operating Officer & Lucy, Account Manager
Billie Eilish, When We Fall Asleep, Interscope Records
Carole, Account Manager
Carwyn Eliis & Rio 18, Joia, Banana & Louie/Agati
Giulia, Digital Marketing Manager
Coma_Cose, Hype Aura, Sony/Asian Fake
Chris W, Production Designer
Dirty Art Club, Mystic Drive -Thru, Dirty Art Club
James P, Senior Product Designer
Floating Points, Crush, Ninja Tune
Nathan, Senior Financial Administrator
Foals, Part 1 Everything Not Saved Will Be Saved, Warner
Andrea. Creative Designer
Julia Jacklin, Crushing, Transgressive Records
Graham - Account Manager
Steve C - Production Support Coordinator
Kath - Head of Sales (Key Production)
Karen O & Danger Mouse, Lux Prima, BMG
Alex A, Account Manager
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Infest The Rats’ Nest, Flightless
Jack D, Creative Project Manager
Laplaux, Amnioverse, Brainfeeder
Chris B - Account Manager
Tanzy - Creative Guru
Nick - Head of Sales (Think Tank)
Julia - Marketing and Sales Coordinator
Little Simz, Grey Area, Age 101 Music/ Kobalt
Heather, Sales Executive
Maggie Rogers, Heard It In a Past Life, Debay Sounds/ Capitol Records
Ben W, Account Manager
Mattiel, Satis Factory, Heavenly
Tracey Ivers, Office Manager
Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka, Polydor
Tim, Group Sales & Marketing Director
New Model Army, From Here, EarMusic
Carlo, Photographer/Videographer
Nick Cave, Ghosteen, BMG
Mike, Head of Sales (Modo)
Popol Vuh, The Essential Album Collection Vol 1, BMG
Matt, Financial Director
Ride, This Is Not Safe Place, Wichita
David DLB, Consulting Director
Ryuichi Sakamoto, Proxima OMPS, Milan/ Sony
Peter, Account Manager
Sault, 5, Forever Living Originals
John - Group Head of Production
Vanessa - Account Manager, Jen - Office Administrator
Sharon Van Etten, Remind Me Tomorrow, Jajaguar
James S, Account Manager
Show Me The Body, Dog Whistle, Lorna Vista/Carolin
Alex W, Head of Production (PIAS)
Snarky Puppy, Immigrance, GroundUp Music
David G, Account Manager
Solitude, King Midas Sound, Cosmo Rhythmatic
Aston, Consultant
Spermbirds, Go To Hell Then Turn Left, Rookie
Paul E, Account Manager
The Comet is Coming, The Afterlife, Impulse Records
Khatija, Social Media Coordinator
T-Pain, 1UP, Cinematic Music Group
Lisa, Head of Production (Key Production)
Warmduscher, Tainted Lunch, Leaf Label
