Justin Lockey Explained

Associated Acts:Editors, Mastersystem, Minor Victories, White Belt Yellow Tag, Yourcodenameis:milo
Birth Place:Doncaster, England

Justin Lockey (born February 1980) is a British musician, composer, record producer, recording engineer and record-label-owner from the north of England. He is best known as lead guitarist in multi-platinum-selling[1] [2] band Editors as well as Minor Victories alongside Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, Rachel Goswell of Slowdive and his brother James Lockey (with whom he also makes films under the Hand-Held Cine Club moniker).

Early life

Lockey grew up in his South Yorkshire home town listening to record collections belonging to his older brothers and credits the American college rock and grunge of Pixies, Nirvana, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, The Breeders, The Smashing Pumpkins alongside British bands such as The Wedding Present, Teenage Fanclub, The La's[3] [4] with being part of his formative influences.

Career

1999–2007 Yourcodenameis:milo

Lockey was guitarist and producer in early post-hardcore band . The band met while he was working for Northumbria University's Students' Union.[5]

The band were prominent in the Newcastle alternative music scene of the early 2000s alongside peers such as Maximo Park and The Futureheads[6] and after playing just a handful of gigs DJ John Peel invited the band down to the BBC's Maida Vale studios in London to record the first of two Peel Sessions they would record.[7] [8]

The band signed a deal with Fiction/Polydor and started work on their first album 'All Roads to Fault with engineer Steve Albini[9] (Nirvana, Pixies, Shellac) at his studio Electrical Audio in Chicago, US. The success of 'All Roads to Fault' led to the band picking up Best British Newcomer at the Kerrang awards 2004.[10] After a cycle of touring the band then headed into the studio with producer Flood (U2, Depeche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins) to record their follow up - 2005’s ‘Ignoto’.

During the process of working with both Albini and Flood, Lockey refined his producing skills which he went on to use in the band's future records, Print is Dead and They Came From The Sun. Lockey remained in the studio for the live performances of ‘They Came from The Sun’ due to a shoulder injury he picked up.[11] It was during this period that Lockey started producing for other bands more frequently as well as starting new projects and Yourcodenameis:milo went on an indefinite hiatus.[12]

2007–2012 The British Expeditionary Force / Erased Tapes Records

Lockey started the band The British Expeditionary Force with Aid Burrows of the northwestern band ‘My Architects' and his brother James.[13]

The first album Chapter 1. A long Way From Home[14] was released by the then fledgling Neo-Classical label, Erased Tapes Records and described by Lockey as "Prog-rock innit".[15] The first album was recorded individually with band members being based at opposite end of the country.[16] The band followed this up 5 years later in 2012, with Chapter 2: Konstellation Nue.

At the same time Lockey was a frequent producer on early releases on Erased Tapes Records, producing Codes In The Clouds debut record Paper Canyons as well production on "Fok" from Olafur Arnald’s first release for the Label Variations of Static.[17]

2009– White Belt Yellow Tag

Initially started as a project with fellow studio engineer Craig Pilbin,[18] White Belt Yellow Tag signed to Distiller records and released one album Methods recorded in South Yorkshire in 2009.[19] Drafting in Tom Bellamy of The Cooper Temple Clause on drums for the live set up the band toured The UK,[20] Europe and US. Though short-lived, the duo released several EPs.[21] over the following year before parting ways

2012 onward– Editors

After the departure of Chris Urbanowicz from the band, Lockey was drafted in,[22] initially to play the lead guitar for a small run of gigs leading up to and including headlining Rock Werchter Festival in Belgium 2012.

Along with Elliott Williams, the band settled into a new period of creativity and after the Rock Werchter show the band in its new line-up wasted no time setting to work on the fourth studio album, 2014's The Weight of Your Love. Recorded by producer Jacquire King at the Blackbird Studios, Nashville, U.S.[23]

Since that release the band have gone on to release two more albums. 2015's In Dream was engineered and co-produced by Lockey[24] with the rest of the band in an isolated makeshift studio space on the west coast of Scotland.[25]

2018's album Violence again saw the band set up a makeshift studio space, this time on the outskirts of Oxford, UK.[26] This time Lockey engineered and producers Blanck Mass and Leo Abrahams were drafted in to finish the record. The remaining tracking being completed at Monnow Valley studios, Monmouth, Wales, UK.

2019 saw the release of Editors' first compilation album, Black Gold, featuring 13 tracks spanning the band's career to date. The band recorded three new songs for the compilation with producer Jacknife Lee (R.E.M, Snow Patrol) at his studio north of Los Angeles, U.S.[27]

The deluxe edition of the release featured eight stripped-down acoustic versions of previously-released material under the title Distance: The Acoustic Recordings, which Lockey engineered, produced and, with cellist Brione Jackson, composed cello arrangements for.[28]

Minor Victories

Minor Victories is a group made up of Justin Lockey, his brother James Lockey, Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai) and Rachel Goswell (Slowdive).[29]

The band formed after Rachel provided vocals on Editors In Dream album and met with Lockey. Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite and Justin's older brother and film-making partner James completed the line up and the group created the self titled album remotely.[30] The album was accompanied by a series of short films created by the Lockey brothers under their handheldcineclub moniker.[31] The album was produced and engineered by Lockey, with additional production by Tony Doogan and mixed by Paul Gregory in Newcastle, UK[32]

Lights On Moscow

Lights on Moscow is a two-person project consisting of Lockey and Hazel Wilde from the band Lanterns On The Lake. The pair collaborated on and off for over a decade without releasing a song[33] until their first e.p ‘Aorta Songs pt.1’[34] was released by Lockey’s label Physical Education Recordings[35] in 2018.

Mastersystem

Formed after a friendship and working relationship between two set of brothers Justin and James Lockey and Scott and Grant Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit,[36] Mastersystem was a college rock/grunge band which ditched the graces and timelines of their respective bands to make an album that they would have liked to have listened to when they were teenagers.[37] The album 'Dance Music' was released on Lockey’s label Physical Education recordings and was the last album by Scott Hutchison.

Physical Education Recordings

Mastersystem's album was the first debut release on the Lockey's own record label, Physical Education Recordings,[38] followed by 'Aorta Songs' from Lights On Moscow. Alongside his own bands, Lockey has also worked with several other bands to release 'Cagework’ By Cagework and the debut album ‘Forever Whatever’ by British alt rock band October Drift. Lockey utilises his recording studio Yorkshire as the heart of the label with most of the releases being produced there.[39]

Other pursuits

Lockey is also a writer and director.[40] and has developed original drama[41] with production companies internationally. Lockey formed the film-making duo handheldcineclub with his brother and Minor Victories band mate James Lockey. Since starting handheldcineclub the brothers have wrote, directed and produced and edited music videos and short films for Mogwai, Frightened Rabbit, The Staves, The Twilight Sad, Maps & Atlases, Editors, Band of Skulls among others.[42] Handheld Cineclub were also behind Tiny Changes, a documentary about the making of the covers album of the same name in memory of Scott Hutchison.[43]

Throughout his musical career, Lockey has also been involved in composing music.

Discography

!Band!Recording!Year!Credit
All Roads to Fault2004Performer
Ignoto2005Performer, writing and arrangement
Yourcodenameis:miloPrint is Dead2006Performer, writing and arrangement and producer
They Came from the Sun2007Performer, writing and arrangement and producer
The British Expeditionary ForceChapter One: A Long Way From Home2007Engineer, Mixing, Performer, Writer, Composer
Codes in the CloudsPaper Canyon2009Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Writer
Cracks in the CloudVarious - NARC. Compilation2010Composer
White Belt Yellow TagMethods2009Performer
Codes in the CloudsPaper Canyon Recycled2010Composer
The British Expeditionary ForceChapter Two: Konstellation Nue2012Producer, Engineer, Group Member
EditorsThe Weight of Your Love2013Composer, Mixing, Producer
EditorsIn Dream2015Engineer, Composer
Minor VictoriesMinor Victories2016Producer, Group Member, Composer
Minor VictoriesMinor Victories- Orchestral Variations2017Composer
MastersystemDance Music2018Producer, Performer
EditorsViolence2018Performer, composer, engineer
Lights On Moscow Aorta Songs2018Performer, writer, producer
EditorsBlack Gold2019Performer
EditorsThe Blanck Mass Sessions2019Engineer, Composer

Filmography (as handheldcineclub)

!Band!Video
Frightened RabbitThe Loneliness and the Scream (2010)The Woodpile (2012)

Here- The Highlands Tour Documentary (2012)[44]

Holy (2013)

State Hospital (2013)

Backyard Skulls (2013)

There- US Tour Documentary (2013)

Tiny Changes Documentary (2019)

We Were Promised JetpacksMedicine (2011)
Band of SkullsDevil Takes Care of His Own (2011)
The Boxer RebellionDiamonds (2013)
The StavesTongue Behind My Teeth (2013)
EditorsNashville Films 1-5 (2013)Live Visuals

The Weight of Your Love Documentary (2013)

Owl JohnLos Angeles Be Kind (2014)
Y.O.UHeavy Crown (2014)
Luke Sital SinghGreatest Lovers (2014)
Broken RecordsToska (2014)
The Twilight SadIt Was Never The Same (2015)
Lanterns on the LakeFaultlines (2015)
Minor VictoriesFilm 1 (2015)Film 2 (2016)

A Hundred Ropes (2016)

Cogs (2016)

Breaking My Light (2016)

Folk Arp (2016)

Scattered Ashes (Song for Richard) (2016)

MogwaiCoolverine (2017)
Nadine ShahOut of the Way (2017)
VesselsRadiart (2017)
MastersystemNotes on a Life Not Quite Lived (2018)The Enlightenment (2018)

Old Team (2018)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Editors Back Room Award Winning Timeline . British Phonographic Industry.
  2. Web site: Editors An End Has a Start award winning timeline . British Phonographic Industry.
  3. Web site: 18 February 2020 . An interview with Editors taken in Warsaw, February 2020 . 23 May 2020 . undrtn . pl-PL.
  4. Web site: An Interview With: Mastersystem Academy Music Group . 23 May 2020 . academymusicgroup.com.
  5. Web site: Justin Lockey, Editors Interview . 24 May 2020 . Music Podcast Anyone Can Play Guitar AGPG . en-US.
  6. Web site: Yourcodenameis:milo on collaborating with Ross Millard of The Futureheads. . .
  7. Web site: BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Yourcodenameis:Milo . 23 May 2020 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. Web site: BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - 20/10/2004 Yourcodenameis:Milo . 23 May 2020 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  9. Web site: 9 November 2004 . Faultlines in *All Roads Lead to Fault*, Debut Album from Your Code Name is: Milo . 24 May 2020 . Spin.
  10. Web site: 27 August 2004 . Kerrang winners . 23 May 2020 . Evening Standard . en.
  11. Web site: 28 February 2007 . Your Code Name Is: Milo showcase new album NME . 24 May 2020 . NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs NME.COM . en-GB.
  12. Web site: 22 August 2007 . Yourcodenameis:milo split up . 23 May 2020 . Werkre . en-GB.
  13. Web site: The British Expeditionary Force - Artists . 24 May 2020 . Erased Tapes . en.
  14. Web site: Album Review: The British Expeditionary Force - Chapter One: A Long Way From Home . 24 May 2020 . DrownedInSound . en.
  15. Web site: The British Expeditionary Force - Artists . 23 May 2020 . Erased Tapes . en.
  16. Web site: 4 January 2008 . The British Expeditionary Force NME . 23 May 2020 . NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs NME.COM . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Justin Lockey . 24 May 2020 . Erased Tapes Music . en.
  18. News: Simpson . Dave . 24 September 2009 . First sight: White Belt Yellow Tag . en-GB . The Guardian . 24 May 2020 . 0261-3077.
  19. Web site: 14 April 2010 . White Belt Yellow Tag Tour Diary . 23 May 2020 . Werkre . en-GB.
  20. Web site: 2 June 2009 . Former Yourcodenameis:milo man's new band announce single NME . 23 May 2020 . NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs NME.COM . en-GB.
  21. Web site: White Belt Yellow Tag . 24 May 2020 . Discogs . en.
  22. Web site: Editors Biography & History . 23 May 2020 . AllMusic . en-us.
  23. Web site: Editors Biography & History . 25 May 2020 . AllMusic . en-us.
  24. Web site: Editors - In Dream . 28 May 2020 . Discogs . en.
  25. Web site: Justin Locket interviewed by Muzo.tv . .
  26. Web site: 9 March 2018 . Editors break down their new album, Violence, Track by Track: Stream . 27 May 2020 . Consequence of Sound . en-US.
  27. Web site: 17 February 2020 . Interview with Editors: Justin Lockey and Elliott Williams in conversation. . 25 May 2020 . Indiespect . de-DE.
  28. Web site: 25 October 2019 . Review: Editors Revive Beloved Songs In 'Distance: The Acoustic Recordings' . 25 May 2020 . Hidden Jams . en-US.
  29. Kreps . Daniel . 23 February 2016 . Slowdive, Mogwai, Editors Members Form Minor Victories . 27 May 2020 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  30. Fischer . Reed . 31 May 2016 . Mogwai, Slowdive Members Talk Long-Distance Supergroup . 27 May 2020 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  31. Web site: HAND HELD CINE CLUB . 30 May 2020.
  32. Web site: Minor Victories, by Minor Victories . 28 May 2020 . Minor Victories.
  33. Web site: 16 October 2018 . Jimi . Arundell . "Making a secret band is quite strange when you think about it": DiS Meets Lights On Moscow . 24 May 2020 . DrownedInSound . en.
  34. Web site: Lights On Moscow - Aorta Songs - Part 1 . 24 May 2020 . Discogs . en.
  35. Web site: Physical Education Recordings . 24 May 2020 . Discogs . en.
  36. Web site: 23 February 2018 . Meet Mastersystem - the "gnarly" new supergroup from Editors, Frightened Rabbit and Minor Victories NME . 27 May 2020 . NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs NME.COM . en-GB.
  37. Web site: An Interview With: Mastersystem Academy Music Group . 27 May 2020 . academymusicgroup.com.
  38. Web site: Physical Education Recordings . 30 May 2020 . Discogs . en.
  39. Web site: Cagework - Vinyl LP . 30 May 2020 . Sound of Vinyl . en.
  40. Web site: Justin Lockey . 30 May 2020 . IMDb.
  41. Web site: The Salvation . 30 May 2020 . The Panics . nl.
  42. Web site: HAND HELD CINE CLUB . 28 May 2020.
  43. Web site: 15 August 2019 . Frightened Rabbit share emotional making of 'Tiny Changes' tribute album documentary NME . 30 May 2020 . NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs NME.COM . en-GB.
  44. Web site: Watch: Frightened Rabbit - 'HERE' . 30 May 2020 . Clash Magazine . en.