New York-based full-service music
label releases more than a dozen
full-length albums, singles &
theatrical soundtracks, with much ahead
It was five
years ago that the first-generation iPhone was released. J.K. Rowling’s seventh
and final Potter novel, “Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows,” sold 11
million copies. “Spider-Man 3” was the top-grossing movie. NASA’s Messenger
journeyed to planet Mercury. And… on August 30, 2007, Young Pals Music was
launched.
The New
York-based record label—founded by composer/producer and NYU Tisch School of
the Arts Master’s graduate Ayhan Sahin—now celebrates its fifth anniversary,
with more than a dozen albums, singles and theatrical soundtrack releases (100+
songs in total) under its belt, as well as four full-length original stage
musicals.
Today’s
Young Pals Music—with its accompanying 2C Recording Studios in Manhattan—was
born out of a theatrical troupe in Sahin’s native Turkey, comprising 70+
university students, volunteers and supporters performing his original works,
which were staged in the mid-1990s in Ankara, Turkey, Istanbul, Copenhagen,
Reykjavik, Iceland and other major European cities. In addition, Sahin’s
full-length “Swedish Style” was honored via an alliance of the Swedish-Turkish
Cultural Cooperation during Stockholm ‘98’s Cultural City of Europe campaign.
The ensemble featured a cast of 45 performers/musicians and 25 offstage
contributors.
From there,
Young Pals evolved into a bona fide record label, when Sahin relocated to New
York at the dawn of the millennium. Today, it is a burgeoning force among
full-service independent record labels, offering artist development,
songwriting and collaboration, vocal and instrumental recording, mixing,
graphic design, merchandising and consultancy services.
Sahin
notes, “I think one of the things that makes Young Pals unique is the
‘community’ we’ve forged, in which our stable of artists and musicians
collaborate across many platforms.” For instance, if he works with a talented
cellist or bass player on one project, Sahin then calls upon them to contribute
to other albums. Likewise, many of the singers he has recorded will lend
background vocals to other projects. “Some of the most magical moments in the
studio come about when we blend seemingly disparate talents and create
something totally unexpected.”
Over the
past decade, Sahin has worked with Olivia Newton-John, Melba Moore, Phoebe Snow, Turkish superstars Sezen Aksu and Sertab Erener, Sandra Bernhard, Jill Gioia from “Rockstar Supernova,” and five “American Idol” finalists, including
Vonzell Solomon, Jon Peter Lewis and Anthony Fedorov.
Since the
label was founded in 2007, Young Pals Music has commandeered projects that span
the globe, with releases in multiple genres, languages and production styles.
Among them:
* “American Idol” finalist Norman
Gentle’s YouTube sensation “Bitch Slap”
* Universal artist Karine Hannah’s
two full-length solo releases: “Karine” & “I’ll Be Alright”
* Sony Turkey
singer/songwriter/guitarist Emre Yilmaz’s single “Only Yesterday”
* Chilean-American artist Jose
Promis’ fourth album “Life Is Grand!”
* French entertainer Lybert Ramade’s
full-length “Une Autre Chance”
* Russian singer/songwriter & 2009
Eurovision Song Contest runner-up Tinatin’s EP “Wild” and club remix “Wild Miami Remixed”
* Puerto Rican actor/singer Mitch
Zorba’s album “Censurando Amor”
* MTV “Making the Band” finalist Adam
Shenk’s full-length “Suitcases”
* Dance-pop singer/songwriter Jerri
Bokeno’s single “My Love Is Yours” (she was a prominent vocalist for Phil Spector)
* Italian vocalist & TAM Records’
Gabriella Torres’ single “Nada Mas”
* A remix of
singer/songwriter Matt Zarley’s No. 1 dance single “Here I Am,” whose release also
includes mixes from Love to Infinity, Solar City & Rafael M.
* Vocal production in Turkish,
Russian, Greek, Italian and French for “We Will Lift You Up,” a Haiti
Earthquake relief project initiated by Jim Papoulis’ Foundation For Small
Voices
In addition,
with Dennis DelGaudio, a classically trained guitarist and member of Billy
Joel’s band, Sahin wrote and recorded the 12-track production duo album “DNA,”
featuring vocals from Karine Hannah.
He also has
composed and produced four full-length theatrical musicals: “1453,” “Gods,”
“The Conqueror” and “Swedish Style”; while producing the cast album, the
off-Broadway “Most Likely To: The Senior Superlative Musical,” written &
composed by award-winning Michael Tester.
Looking to
the future, Young Pals will continue to wave its banner as it breaks new ground
over the next five years. The label is expanding emphasis on collaborations
with major artists and established labels; while utilizing its roster of global
acts to increase its geographic imprint across European and South American
territories. The label’s long-term business plan calls for it to become a
full-service home base for critically acclaimed singers, musicians, theatrical
vocalists and multi-media artists.
In the
coming year, “Swedish Style: The Musical” will be revised and refashioned, with
additional musical compositions and a newly recorded concept album, featuring a
New York-based cast of 14 seasoned actors and singers, mastered for use in
licensed productions by commercial theatrical groups and schools. A 14-piece
live band offers a robust palette of keyboards and piano; electric, classical,
flamenco and acoustic guitars; percussion, bass, violin, cello, flute and sax.
The release—which will be Young Pals’ 16th—is due in last quarter
2012.
Upcoming
projects are also in the works for pop/rock group Canvas, singer/songwriter
Michael Gastaldi, a full-length dance album for singer Erica Jacob, and a
development deal for acclaimed vocalist DeAnna Choi.
“Five years
ago, when I launched Young Pals Music, I was amazed by the spirit of
collaboration within the vast creative community that works and plays in New
York City,” Sahin says. “Now I feel I have lent a hand in some small way to
help the talented singers and musicians I’ve met to find a home, and release
their work within a label family that is inclusive and nurturing, and together,
celebrate our successes. I look at the bright lights throughout Times Square,
and continue to believe that one of those rays of light is shining my way.”
ABOUT
AYHAN SAHIN
Turkish-born
songwriter/producer Ayhan Sahin has achieved notoriety in a range of musical
genres, from musical theater to pop, rock, R&B and dance. He has composed
four full-length musicals: “1453”; Turkey’s first rock opera “Gods,” hailed by CNN
International; “The Conqueror”; and “Swedish Style”; and has been featured in
three one-hour documentaries regarding his theatrical prowess on Turkish
national television. He also appeared in an ABBA biopic on VH1, alongside
countless mainstream press profiles.
His music
has been featured on CNN, MTV’s “Made,” a documentary supporting the Fox TV
series “Arrested Development,” “American Idol Rewind,” The Los Angeles Times,
Playbill, Yahoo! Music, Fox Morning News, “The Wendy Williams Show” and Style
Network; and his works have been heralded by USA Today, New York magazine, MTV,
Perez Hilton and The New York Daily News.
Sahin, who
lives in New York, is a BMI-affiliated songwriter with his Young Pals Music
Publishing, and a voting member of NARAS (Grammy Awards).
For
information: 917-693-2688.
YoungPalsMusic.com
