Engineer/Producer Biography:
As a veteran sound engineer/producer and songwriter, Wayne Routledge is known for his sensitivity to the desires of the artist, whether their goal is to write better songs or to have their recorded mixes sound clearer, louder and punchier. If required, he can embellish a song with instrumentation ranging from a beautiful acoustic guitar accompaniment to a full production as he plays guitar, bass, mandolin, keyboards as well as rhythm track creation. His primary recording suite is Apple’s Logic Pro X.
As a staff songwriter in a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, Wayne experienced songwriting collaborations with musicians including Al Connelly and Michael Hanson (Glass Tiger), Jamie Stuart (The Cult), Myles Goodwin (April Wine), Diane Chase (Country CMMA nominated), Steven Vitali and many others . He was awarded both a platinum album and an international gold record (sales of 250,000). The Snowbirds air show performed to one of his songs for a season. He has had several songs placed in a movie, and has contributed articles to Canadian Musician Magazine and co-hosted a lively songwriting seminar at the Harbor Castle Hilton for the Canadian Music Conference attended by over 150 participants.
Wayne has always been drawn to the emotion behind the music, and this led him to create the contemporary musical “Electric Desiderata”. A year later, he served as Music Director for “Twist- the Rock Musical”. In addition he also wrote the songs (lyrics and music) for this production, and was deeply involved in auditions, rehearsals, revisions and of the cast recording as Producer/Engineer. “Twist” was presented in the 600 seat Bickman center in Toronto.
Before becoming enveloped in the creation of music, he worked in band management (Management West International- acts including Glass Tiger and The Kings (Switching to Glide), in music promotions (The Music Brokers),, and as a booking agent (The Agency). Although this proved to be invaluable experience, he felt more comfortable working with artists in the studio environment.
Wayne then moved north of Toronto and ran a popular recording facility in the Caledon hills on the banks of the Humber River. Here he launched a unique and well-received songwriting/production course called the “Songwriters Development Course”, designed to help music creators learn the craft of songwriting and take their songs to the next level.
His next studio was housed in an 1800s beautiful house converted into a music school in Bolton ON. where he has enjoyed the pleasure of working with acts ranging from rock through to pop, Celtic, Christian Music and Country.
Throughout the past 15 years, Wayne has also perused a career in audiovisual – sound and TV, culminating in the launch of his own company Headwaters Audiovisual in 2012. Other services include videography, video editing and production and tape transfers.
Now, in 2020 he makes his home in Ottawa but also regularly spends time in Caledon/Orangeville to see family and service his many loyal customers there.