MODE12 is a British producer, songwriter and artist. Wait a minute…who?
After 10 years working in a ghost production role for various artists and labels, MODE12 decided to
step away from this world to focus on his own music for a chart assault. Although being paid
handsomely to make tracks for other artists and labels may seem appetising, he reflects on what the
reality of this was.
“I kind of just fell into the ghost production world”, he explained.
“I attended a local studio with a singer to record the vocals for a new Pop track I had produced for
her. At the time, I was producing music on a cheap laptop and only had a hi-fi and some Logitech
speakers to produce and reference my tracks on”.
“After the singer had left the studio, I asked Derek (Studio manager) if I could quickly listen back to
my latest track through his studio monitors, and this was the start of everything for me”.
“He was astonished by the quality of the production in the track and explained that through his days
working at Kerrang he had contacts within EMI amongst other major labels who he believed would
be interested in signing the track”.
“As I had no representation, he acted as my manager to liaise with his contact”.
“About 3 days later I received a call on my mobile from a withheld number, and it was a lady from
EMI. They wanted to sign the track, but not me. I was offered a decent fee for signing over exclusive
rights to the track, however being young and naïve I instantly dismissed the idea. I believed that if a
label were interested in the music I was making then surely I could self-release this track and it
would be a hit. But I was wrong.”
“A month or so later after receiving a harsh lesson in how the music industry worked, I reached back
out to Derek with my tail between my legs, and said that I wanted to accept the labels offer, but it
was too late”.
As the track was already released, the label lost all interest and moved on, however all was not lost
for MODE12.
“Derek invited me down to the studio, and he explained to me about some library bank work he was
doing for the labels. He offered me an annual salary to work for him at his studio. There would be
the odd studio role, for example recording a band, but my main role would be to produce
music on mass which would end up being sent to several different labels who would eventually use
the tracks that were selected for their artists”.
“I had to sign quite a lot of contracts and agreements, relinquishing all rights to the tracks, and
ensuring that I never spoke about any of the music I had produced”.
“This was tough, especially because one of the tracks I worked on actually charted in the UK Top 20”.
The intention for MODE12 has always been to produce his own music and to secure chart success,
and it is hard not to envisage this happening for him.
In 2020, MODE12 stepped away from that world and has spent the last two years creating a
catalogue of future hits. Having listened to teasers of some of these tracks, it is very clear that
MODE12’s commercial sound is very likely to be heard far and wide.
His debut single “Let Me Be Your Fantasy” is a rework of the 90’s Baby D single. MODE12’s version
features vocals from Daniel Pearce (DTale) who has featured on tracks for artists such as Dizzee
Rascal, Sigma, Rudimental, Basement Jaxx, Eric Prydz, which is a switch up from the original version.
The production is a modern take on a former classic.
