Martin Levan

In 1971 Martin started work as a teaboy at Morgan Studios, London. He soon progressed to recording engineer and was producing by the end of the decade. Martin worked alongside world-class artists on a variety of albums of different genres, from the classics of Andrew Lloyd Webber and rock bands such as Iron Maiden to understated jazz supremos such as Neil Ardley, Gary Boyle and Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia. Martin’s career took a sudden change in direction however when, in 1982, he was invited by Andrew Lloyd Webber to be sound supervisor on the theatrical production of Song & Dance, London. From then onwards Martin designed the sound for numerous critically acclaimed musicals worldwide and became internationally renowned for his work on such notable productions as Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Starlight Express and Sunset Boulevard. He also engineered and produced the cast albums for the majority of theatrical productions he was involved with, winning a Grammy Award for Co-Production on CATS - Broadway Cast Album, among other awards. In 1988 Martin developed and pioneered the ‘A-B System’ for use in theatres where problems with the conventional method and use of multiple radio microphones systems on stage was causing unavoidable interference patterns resulting in colouration and distortion in the sound system.  The use of the 'A-B System' method all but eliminated this phenomenon providing the audience with a much more natural, cleaner and more focussed sound. Martin retired from the showbiz lifestyle of Broadway and the West End in the late 1990s and returned to the world of sound recording, setting up his own Red Kite Studio amid the tranquillity of a picturesque Welsh hillside. From there Martin has enjoyed working on several albums on behalf of independent clients, including co-producing BROKEN RHYTHYMS – Trilok Gurtu (2004) and engineering TEARS OF JOY (2005) and TOUCHWOOD (2004) – Antonio Forcione. Martin expanded his horizons by establishing Red Kite Records in January 2002, based at Red Kite Studio. All albums on the Red Kite label have been exclusively engineered and produced by Martin to date, with the exception of LIVE AT THE TALBOT (2004), which was recorded and co-engineered by Martin’s son, Toby Levan. Red Kite’s distinctive studio facilities, together with Martin’s recording expertise and unique experience in the music industry, provide artists with an exceptional opportunity to produce world-class music in an environment where symbiosis between performers can develop freely without boundaries. Martin’s awards include: 1983 Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album: CATS - Broadway Cast Album (co-producer / Andrew Lloyd Webber) 1991 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Sound Direction: Phantom of the Opera 1994 LA Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Sound Design: Sunset Boulevard 1996 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Nomination for Outstanding Design Team Achievement: Show Boat 1996 Grammy Awards Nomination for Best Musical Show Album: Kiss of the Spiderwoman - Original Cast Album (producer) 1996 Dora Mayor Moore Awards Nomination for Outstanding Sound or Music, Large Theatre Division: Sunset Boulevard 1997 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Nomination for Outstanding Design Team Acheivement: Sunset Boulevard 1997 Theatre LA Ovation Awards Nomination for Best Sound Design – Larger theatre: Show Boat Top