Catalunya Calling

Stuart Hawkes

Metropolis Mastering, London

Stu might well have already made your eyes spin in your head - and we don't mean just by watching his name spin round in the run-out groove. For over two decades, Stuart has been at the forefront of vinyl mastering, coaxing the heaviest sounds out of the waxy format. Reading a list of records that Stuart has mastered is like a who's who of pioneering electronic artists throughout the nineties, cropping up on labels like XL, Mute, Reinforced, Too Pure, Rough Trade, Mo Wax, Alphabet Zoo, FFRR, Talkin' Loud, Hospital, and Metalheadz. Making breaks sound crunchy over massive bass tones is one of Stuart's stock in trades, but he can turn his hand to all types of music. Recently he has made sure such stellar and varied artists as Amy Winehouse, The Prodigy, Roni Size, Snow Patrol, and Super Furry Animals all sound as good on your ipod as they do down carnival or over your transistor radio. Ears like a hawk.