It would, of course, be overstating the case to say that all of the great music produced in the North during the last five years has emerged from Start Together Studios.
But only just.

Check out the credits on your favourite Desert Hearts, ASIWYFA, Pat Dam Smyth, Malojian, Wonder Villains, Robyn G. Shiels and Arborist records and you’ll see that they’ve all spent some time incubating on the second floor of Belfast’s Oh Yeah building.
Barrett Lahey, Rocky Robinson and Ben McAuley – the in-house producers – would blush at any mention of a Midas touch (and their accountants may experience an equally strong reaction). However, there’s no disputing that their involvement in a project tends to guarantee a certain level of excellence.
Recently, the studio has taken on another function. Disappointed that so much of the great music they work on disappears into the ether on release, Rocky and Ben have come up with a characteristically smart plan: a Singles Club for which they’ll take a track they’ve been involved with (and some they haven’t) and in an act of indie match-making hook it up with some appreciative souls.
“Part of the reason for the Singles Club is to give a lift to bands that we think are great,” Ben explains. “It’s about finding an audience for great new music, or creating one. The people who have subscribed to the Singles Club have no real idea about what we’re going to release next. They’ve signed up to buy 10 singles in advance in the belief or the hope that they’re going to be good. That’s an incredible thing these days.”
‘Simpler Vibe’ by Not Squares launched the campaign, followed by Malibu Shark Attack’s ‘Monsters Under Your Bed’, and ‘The Power Of Love Parts 1 & 2’ by The Dudley Corporation. It’s a collection of tunes that should convince any wavering customer that they’re in safe curatorial hands.
“When it comes to choosing songs, it’s usually a case of deciding on a band we want to work with and asking them to give us a song. Rather than requesting one in particular, or choosing from a range of options,” reveals Ben. “It’s worked so far. I’m sure at some point we’ll be sitting in our office with ponytails and cigars demanding hits. As it stands, we’re placing our trust in the bands.”
The Singles Club walks like a label and quacks like a label. Still, Ben is adamant that this isn’t the case.
“There are no plans,” he insists. “Not in the traditional sense.”
Part of the project’s fun comes from the fact that subscribers have no idea of what’s coming next. Ben won’t give any spoilers about future releases. However, he’s confident those who come to the party with an open mind won’t leave disappointed.
“We have everything from chiptunes to indie-folk to doom metal on the cards,” he smiles. “We’re also looking ahead to the next ten releases. So if any bands want to send us some songs,
feel free.”

See starttogetherstudio.com/singlesclub