Midlifemix-Liberation-Single

So what happens when a sassy successful record company owner decides to step out from behind her business desk and slide behind a mixing desk instead ? "Liberation" that's what, cue MidLifeMix. When I first discovered Folkstock records Helen Meissner was releasing an instrumental dance track , I had to do a double take, had I read right? I was used to receiving emails from Helen as over the years I've had the pleasure of reviewing some of the talented Folk,singer/songwriters she has on her label , so I have to say this was totally unexpected and a bit of a shock to say the least, even more so because at the start of Covid Lockdown she had no production skills...

To be honest, it wasn't boding well on paper, this could go two ways? Turns out I absolutely bloody love it and "Liberation" is an amazing debut., It's so good I'd happily add it to a Spotify playlist and download it in a heartbeat, and as someone known for being a stickler when it comes to giving out reviews that's no mean feat. 

Helen started Folkstock records in 2013, as she says "To specifically shine a light on talented independent artists in Hertfordshire" Already impressed with the indie scene due to ferrying her young daughters band "The Folk" around for gigs, the band were often booked for Folk clubs due to their name and she ended up being introduced to a scene she didn't even know existed .This prompted her to bravely put on a festival with 77 acts spanning four stages and so ,she gained a new career. Just a few of the acts she was impressed with and supported on the Folkstock label were Kelly Oliver who went on to have a number of tracks played on Radio 2 and written praise in the Sunday Times.

Helen's daughter Lauren was dabbling in production and taking AS Music at the time and was drafted in to record the artists, Helen continued to learn on the job, but evidently her plugging and promotion skills were going well and it was while accompanying Kelly to London for Gaby Roslin's radio show in 2016 she met another artist Kate Dimbleby who was singing acapella  it was another unusual project for Lauren to get her hands on and Kate's album Songbirds went on to win accolades from most of the major broadsheets and received radio play aplenty. She also helped to
promote daughter Laurens own music project DiDI.

There have been 50 releases so far from probably the same number of artists and with all that in mind is it any wonder that just before lockdown Helen announced she was taking a break from the label and promotion? "I was just burnt out" she said. The technical side didn't come easy mind, she spent many frustrating hours and days trying to master production, only to be told by her daughter "It sounds like a demo" So she had to go back to the drawing board and weeks later was on the verge of chucking in the towel. "I was told that the tracks couldn’t even be mixed by someone else (it was an option I thought of) as they were so bad and in such a mess, I nearly gave up"

But thankfully Helen had a breakthrough and gradually step by step it all started coming together and after some tough love from Lauren who she says was
"honest but supportive" the track "Liberation" was finally born.

Scheduled to be released on the 14th August the track is already generating excitement and within two days of being put on Soundcloud was played on Amazing Radio. While she has no intention of gigging Helen is feeling recharged and looking forward to
whatever lies ahead. So can we expect more dance music ?

"I am making it for my own enjoyment and have decided not to confine myself to a genre. It’s all about going with the flow for me! If what I am creating hits someone else’s buttons then that’s an added bonus! I put the song on a digital aggregator with the view nothing ventured nothing gained. I hope it gets some streams on release, It will be really cool asking Alexa to play MidLifeMix Liberation!"

Very cool indeed, it's a catchy interesting track that like its creator has many layers, and make's you want to hit play again the moment it's finished, and having been privy to hearing more material from MidLifeMix, I can say it's not just dance music or electronic music, it's instrumental class and i'm very much looking forward to being a spectator of her impending success, one that she thoroughly deserves . Having spent years supporting other artists in their bid for a music career, She couldn't have chosen a more apt title for her own debut single, and the inspiring, talented MidLifeMix will have us all kicking off our shoes crying freedom and dancing...if you're ready, It's time to get Liberated?

Keep on keepin'on. Back before Elvis.