Paul Kearns

70 year old teenager who hasn't decided exactly what I want to do when I grow up!
The picture is me in 1975 - apart from crumbling somewhat, I still feel the same inside!
I've played keyboards on stage since the 1970s (when keyboards were still called organs) in a variety of cover and rock bands.
My last "live" incarnation was in a successful Pink Floyd tribute band with my stepson - the best time of my life (so far)
Over the years, I've played with all sorts of musicians -good bad and indifferent (even finding myself on stage with Hawkwind once - but not as a playing member).

I've always had an interest in recording with my earliest stuff actually going back to the late 1970s - recorded on an old reel to reel recorder.
Then, in 1983, I built a "studio" in my garage, based around a Yamaha MT1X 4 track recorder and a huge pair of Keff studio monitors that I bought from my local radio station!!
I recorded loads of people in my garage - mostly folk rock. I still have recordings of people who since rose to fame in that world - and one who wrote a number one hit - the day AFTER he was in my "studio" - how dare he !! 😉
I spent more years that I care to remember playing with gigging bands around the UK - enjoying every minute of it (except possibly the time when we, a rock covers band, were asked to cover for another band who's singer was ill and the audience all arrived with their dancing shoes!! Anyone else ever played the 45 minute version of "Snowbird"? - it's a quickstep they tell me!! - Pink Floyd was off the menu that night).

In "real life", I spent my time in computer maintenance and network installations - which came in very useful when recording became more digital.

In 2005, I built my own 300 sq ft air conditioned recording studio at home and did this alongside playing live for a few years - until injury prevented me from getting into the studio.
I fell off my boat and broke my back - which put me in a wheelchair on a cocktail of pain relief that would fell an elephant!!
I did it in proper "muso" style - having consumed large amounts of foaming liquid and "exotic tobacco".

For a while, I gave up on music (and everything to be honest) but - you can't stay angry forever so -

About 4 years ago, I rebuilt a much smaller studio, bought the latest Cubase (I'm on 12 pro now) and set about trying to learn how to record using vst libraries. So far I've invested in most of the latest sound libraries (Vienna Symphonic, Spitfire, Garritan, Steinberg, East West etc..)
My current "rig" is whatevers the fastest at the time with at least 7 terrabytes of storage.
My "studio" has been built around my disabilities and everything I need within easy reach.

Although I can't work more than about 3 hours a day, I find that I'm starting to enjoy life again. With my "special chair" I can sit up without too much pain.

My music ranges across a number of genres - but I've always been interested in writing for film and TV - but I've tackled just about everything.

Sadly, God blessed me with a voice ideal for silent movies - so all I produce is instrumentals - unless I'm working with others.

Now, having retired from normal work, my recording keeps me from going to seed completely.
I detest the idea of "retirement" - my body might be aging - but my mind is still 25.
Luckily, and against any logic, my hearing seems to be as sharp as it was when I was 30 - but, at my age, I've got to get as much done as I can before my ears catch up with the rest of me!!

If you've got this far ( even I've got bored ) - well done 😉