Born in New York, producer, arranger, mixer and engineer David Baron has released his new single, ‘People of No Concern’ (feat. Lettie & Madeleine) on 10 May via Here & Now Recordings. Baron’s extensive list of credentials includes work alongside The Lumineers, Lenny Kravitz, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Simone Felice, Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor, Melanie De Biasio, Bat For Lashes, Jade Bird, Vance Joy, Matt Maeson, Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers and Michael Jackson. He has been featured by the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Earmilk, Consequence of Sound, Harpers Bazaar, The Line of Best Fit, NBC San Diego and CNN Heroes and received radio airplay from BBC 6 Music’s Nemone and BBC Radio 3’s Nick Luscombe.
Baron has arranged strings and programmed synths on Lenny Kravitz’s last 6 albums and performed ‘Here To Love’ live alongside him on the CNN Heroes show, as well as playing the piano on the recording for the track. He provided synths, programming, production and mixing to Bat For Lashes’ ‘The Bride’ which was was shortlisted for a Mercury Music Prize in 2016 alongside David Bowie and Radiohead. He produced and co-wrote Peter Murphy’s (Bauhaus) single ‘Ninth’ as well as fellow Woodstock artist Simone Felice’s ‘Strangers’ and performed on The Lumineers’ #1 Billboard Album ‘Cleopatra’.
He went on to mix and perform on The Lumineers upcoming 2019 album, as well as mix a new song with them for the Game Of Thrones soundtrack. He worked alongside Glassnote Records with Jade Bird for her performances on Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and BBC Radio 1s Live Lounge, as well as recording and producing her tracks ‘Uh Huh’ and ‘Lottery.’ He mixed and mastered Melanie De Biasio ’s ‘Blackened Cities’ – which was Gilles Peterson ‘s Worldwide Awards Track of The Year 2017, voted in alongside Frank Ocean, Solange and Kaytranada. He arranged and conducted strings for Shawn Mendes on ‘Bad Reputation’ and played piano, organ and saxophone alongside songwriter Kevin Kadish on Meghan Trainor’s ‘All About That Bass’ – one of the biggest selling singles of all time. He’s scoring the soundtrack for Gregory Colbert ’s follow up to Ashes And Snow -which was edited by Oscar winner, Pietro Scalia (Gladiator) an upcoming feature film starring Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus in The Matrix Trilogy). This venture sees him working alongside Patrick Watson, lead vocal on The Cinematic Orchestra ’s ‘To Build A Home’ plus Sophie Hunger, Melanie De Biasio, Gregory Gonzales (Cigarettes After Sex) and Lisa Fischer. His two previous releases ‘ Cycles’ featuring Simi Stone on vocals and ‘Reworks’ were met with favour. Baron is the only artist to have ever recorded at the historic East Village concert hall, Beethoven Hall, New York – a venue that has quite a history including Martin Scorsese ’s filming of Raging Bull.
Hailing from Woodstock, New York, David inherited his musical propensity from his father, Aaron Baron – a pioneer of remote recording. His mobile truck, Location Recorders was hired to record ‘Stage Fright’ for The Band at the Woodstock Playhouse, and he also recorded BB King, The Allman Brothers Band, Blue Oyster Cult, Barbara Streisand, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Chicago, Todd Rundgren and many more in various locations including Fillmore and the Carnegie Hall. David owns an extensive collection of rare analogue synthesizers including an Arp 2500 from 1970, and a Moog Modular from 1967, as well as a 1965 electric harpsichord, the celesta used by Thelonious Monk on Pannonica (Brilliant Corners), and a Blüthner baby grand piano. He studied classical violin and piano, and he went on to study at Oberlin Conservatory as a classical pianist – before switching over to a technological major with more electronic music and composition.
On ‘People Of No Concern’ feat. Lettie & Madeleine, David collaborates with 11-year-old Madeleine, an avid singer, guitar player and gymnast, as well as Lettie, a London based singer-songwriter composer who has, since 2008, released three albums with Baron to much critical acclaim. Lettie has previously collaborated with Anthony Phillips, John Cooper Clarke and toured as a support for Peter Murphy over the years.
Baron cites influences from Max Richter, Zero 7, Ólafur Arnalds, Jóhann Jóhannsson, and The Cinematic Orchestra. ‘People Of No Concern’ feat. Lettie & Madeleine is an ardent track, uncluttered and extremely melodic. Madeleine and Lettie’s sweetly pained vocals offer an emotional warmth, and the pleasant textures are highlighted by passionate songcraft, reminiscent of The Cranberries’ ‘Ode To My Family.’
Speaking of the track David says: “It is a magical musical conversation between two angels. Combining small string ensemble, classical piano, and evolving EMS Synthi analogue tones with the power of human voices both young and older.”
