Val Garay is an American recording engineer and record producer who has worked with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Kim Carnes, The Motels, Neil Diamond and others. Garay also co-founded Los Angeles recording studio Record One.
David Frank Paich is an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist, and secondary vocalist of the rock band Toto since 1977. He wrote or co-wrote much of Toto's original material, including the band's three most popular songs: "Hold the Line", "Rosanna", and "Africa". With Toto, Paich has contributed to 17 albums and sold over 40 million records. He and guitarist and singer Steve Lukather are the only members to appear on every studio album.
Thomas Edward Percy Hull, known professionally as Kid Harpoon, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. In 2023, he won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the Brit Award for Songwriter of the Year for his work on Harry's House by Harry Styles. He co-produced the best-selling global single of 2022, "As It Was" and the best-selling global single of 2023, "Flowers". The latter won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Gerald E. "The Gov" Brown is a recording engineer, mixer and music producer based in Los Angeles, best known for his work with artists including Whitney Houston, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, Madonna, Sting, Prince, Phil Collins, Marcus Miller, Wayne Shorter and Victor Wooten. He is credited on multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certified albums.
Stephen Marcussen is the founder and chief mastering engineer at Marcussen Mastering in Hollywood, California, United States. He has been mastering music since 1979.
Om'Mas Keith, also known simply as Om'Mas, is a Grammy Award-winning record producer, musician, composer, engineer, and songwriter from Queens, New York. He has worked with Frank Ocean, Erykah Badu, John Legend, Jay-Z, Kevin Abstract, and Vic Mensa. He is also known as a member of The Sa-Ra Creative Partners, alongside Taz Arnold and Shafiq Husayn.
Doug Fenske is an American record producer, recording engineer, mix engineer, and remixer from suburban Chicago, Illinois. He has worked in Los Angeles since 2005, and has been involved in several aspects of record production. Fenske has worked on a string of commercially and critically successful albums, including Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, Chris Brown's Exclusive [The FOREVER Edition], Jamie Foxx's Intuition, and Jordin Sparks' Jordin Sparks. His production experience includes collaborations with some of the music industry's most elite artists, writers, producers, and engineers.
Ariel Rechtshaid is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixing engineer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter. His accolades include three Grammy Awards for music production.
Frank Ocean is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. His early works are credited by some music critics for pioneering the alternative R&B genre. Ocean has won two Grammy Awards and a Brit Award for International Male Solo Artist among other accolades, and his two studio albums have been listed on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (2020).
Channel Orange is the debut studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Frank Ocean. It was released on July 10, 2012, by Def Jam Recordings. After releasing his mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra the previous year, Ocean began writing new songs with Malay, a producer and songwriter who then assisted him with recording Channel Orange at EastWest Studios in Hollywood. Rather than rely on samples as he had with his mixtape, Ocean wanted to approach sound and song structure differently on the album. Other producers who worked on the album included Om'Mas Keith and Pharrell Williams. Its recording also featured guest appearances from Odd Future rappers Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator, vocalist/songwriter André 3000, and guitarist John Mayer.
"Sweet Life" is a song by American singer Frank Ocean, released as the third single from his debut studio album Channel Orange (2012). The song was written and produced by Ocean and Pharrell Williams, member of the production duo The Neptunes. The track was released on July 6, 2012, when Ocean posted a download of the song onto his Tumblr account, and it debuted on iTunes on July 12. The song features a vocal loop, warm horn sections and lush, tropical production. The song explores a disillusionment and wealth within Ladera Heights and lyrically explores a narrative of people wasting their life away on the beach and Ocean's desire not to involve himself with such a life. The song draws inspiration from Ocean's own early life.
Robert "Shea" Taylor is a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist based in New York City. He established an early successful songwriting partnership with Def Jam's R&B singer-songwriter phenom Ne-Yo, and has also worked with Rihanna, Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, and Wyclef Jean.
"Super Rich Kids" is a song by American singer and rapper Frank Ocean featuring fellow American rapper Earl Sweatshirt. It was released as the fifth single from Ocean's debut studio album Channel Orange on March 11, 2013. It was first performed live by Ocean in 2011 and then on his Channel Orange Tour in 2012. The song is in the style of R&B and neo soul, and includes references to and samples of the songs "Bennie and the Jets" by Elton John, "Got to Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye, and "Real Love" by Mary J. Blige. It addresses young, wealthy characters' ennui and fears of the financial crisis with dry humor. The song received positive reviews and charted on the Billboard R&B Songs chart and the UK singles and R&B chart. The song also appeared on the TV show Gossip Girl and the film The Bling Ring.
Jeff Ellis is an American recording engineer and mix engineer. His most notable work was featured on both of Frank Ocean's critically acclaimed albums: Channel Orange, and Blonde.
Zain Javadd Malik, known professionally as Zayn Malik or simply Zayn, is a British singer and songwriter. Malik auditioned as a solo contestant for the British music competition television series The X Factor in 2010. After being eliminated, he was brought back to the competition to form the five-piece boy band One Direction, which went on to become one of the best-selling boy bands of all time. He left the group in March 2015 and signed a solo recording contract with RCA Records.
Mind of Mine is the debut solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Zayn. It was released on March 25, 2016 through RCA Records, and was released one year after his departure from One Direction. Primarily an R&B and alternative R&B record, the album blends elements from various genres, including pop, folk, dub, soul, funk, electronic, Qawwali, hip hop, reggae, classical and soft rock. Upon release, it was met with generally positive reviews, with praise for Malik's new musical direction and his vocal performance.
"Befour" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Zayn for his debut solo studio album, Mind of Mine (2016). It was written by Zayn Malik, James Ho, Harold Lilly and Terrence "Scar" Smith, and produced by Malay. It was released as the third promotional single from the album on 17 March 2016 by RCA Records. "Befour" is a smooth R&B and synth-pop song, which incorporates musical elements of disco and soul music. It features four-on-the-floor beats, mellow synths, and a grinding guitar loop in its instrumentation. The song is also noted for Malik's high-reaching falsetto during the song's middle eight section.
"It's You" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Zayn from his debut solo studio album Mind of Mine (2016). It was written by Zayn, James Ho and Harold Lilly, whilst production was handled by Malay. Zayn debuted the track with a live performance during his appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on 18 February 2016. It was later premiered on Beats 1 Radio on 25 February 2016, and ultimately was released as the first promotional single from the album on 25 February 2016 along with the album's pre-order on iTunes.
Jacob Scott Sinclair is an American musician, record producer, singer, audio engineer, and songwriter. His production and songwriting credits include Weezer, Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, 5 Seconds of Summer, Pink, New Politics, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Gin Wigmore, and Train.
Josiah Sherman, known professionally as Buddy Ross, is an American record producer, keyboardist, songwriter, and audio engineer from Washington. He is best known for his work with Frank Ocean, having produced on his albums Blonde (2016) and Endless (2017), as well as his singles "Provider" and "Moon River." Ross has also written or produced material for artists including Bon Iver, Travis Scott, Vampire Weekend, Miley Cyrus, HAIM, Arlo Parks, Fred Again, Wet, Banks, and Troye Sivan, among others.
