We are basking in extraordinary sunshine this week - temperatures are soaring, the skies exude a positively Mediterranean glow. The refreshing breeze from the coast creates the ideal conditions for lunches in the shade of our hazel trees.

It was beneath these trees that we rendezvoused with the equally radiant singer-songwriter and violinist, Alice Zawadzki, here to record new songs with her fantastic trio: virtuoso bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado, pianist and polymath Fred Thomas, along with their superb producer, Sonny Johns.

While it's fantastic to have the technology that maintains Ayriel Studios at a consistent ambient temperature and humidity, regardless of the season, what's truly fascinating is how weather can tangibly influence the mood of a recording session or even choice of location.

A perfect example occurred this afternoon, as we casually sipped iced tea in the Green Room, where our cherished upright 'practice' piano leans against the west wall. Whether it was the sultry weather, the freedom of bare feet, or a simple desire to sing spontaneously, one cannot say for certain… nevertheless, Alice chose to record one of her songs right then and there, in the Green Room, on this weathered but beloved upright piano. The results were extraordinary, and intrinsic to the essence of the song itself.

That’s the magic of the ‘Ayriel Experience’ - you can find your perfect mix whenever and wherever it feels right.

The Perfect Mix

Getting Here (fast)

Travelling Songs