Here we have three of the UKs music legends. Musically worlds apart, I hear you say?
But after a chance meeting in Livingstone Brown’s studio in Brixton UK, this unlikely trio hit it off. All directly influenced by soul & gospel, they have a deep appreciation for music and share a passion for all genres.
These three legendary artists are singer/songwriter Maxi Priest, (Close to you, Wild World” and the album Bonafide) guitarist Robin Trower, (Bridge of Sighs), and producer/mix engineer and musician Livingstone Brown (Tina Turner, Kylie Minogue, Corrine Bailey Rae, The Waterboys, Bill Withers).
Robin & Maxi were born just 2 miles apart, Robin in Catford and Maxi in Lewisham. From these humble beginnings, both went on to enjoy glittering world-wide careers. Maxi Priest has been a pioneer for the UK by achieving several top tens at home and worldwide including the US Billboard charts. He’s had numerous number one hits and has also received multiple Grammy nominations, selling millions across the world. Not a stranger to duets and crossing genres, Maxi and Roberta Flack’s timeless classic ‘Set the Night to Music’ achieved top 10 status on three of Billboard’s charts.
Robin Trower’s album ‘Bridge Of Sighs’ has sold millions of albums worldwide. Trower’s passionate guitar playing has influenced so many young people to pick up a guitar and learn to play. In the 90s Livingstone played in Robin’s band and co-produced Robin’s highly rated 20th Century Blues Album.
So, when Livingston half-jokingly suggested “why don’t we write a song together?” Robin & Maxi looked at each other and said “why not?”. If you’re a multi-million selling award winning artist who’s been there and very much done it, why not try something totally different?
Robin, Livi and Maxi went even further, striking up a very productive joint song writing partnership, that quickly developed into a “United State of Mind” Each song showcased Maxi’s trademark silky soulful vocal tone, and of course Trower’s soulful & passionate playing, along with Livingstone’s “midas touch’.
Listening to ‘United State of Mind’ for the first time, you will hear it’s far more than just an intriguing curio for fans and collectors. Maxi, Livi and Robin have done an exceptional job at extending the hand of collaboration successfully, whilst simultaneously stamping their own unique trademarks throughout, with no compromise whatsoever. Neither reggae nor rock, the results – a commercial sounding, vibey, driving album worthy of a place in any record collection, let alone for fans of their solo efforts.
“Robin Trower’s mastery of the guitar is not so much technical as emotional. His solos are not pyrotechnic displays of speed and precision, rather he uses his guitar to draw out the hidden emotions that lie closest to the heart.”
Website: Trower·Priest·Brown