Mercury Award winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective make a grand return to Abbey Road to share in the exclusive launch of Abbey Road Studios Mode, the latest development in music technology to emerge from audio giants Bowers & Wilkins and Abbey Road Studios. The two brands have served as major players in audio innovation and have maintained a 44-year partnership built upon delivering accurate, high-quality sound with unrivalled performance across speakers, headphones and car audio. The Abbey Road Studios Mode sees the duo expanding further into the automotive sector, teaming up with Volvo to work towards elevating the in-car listening experience.
The Abbey Road Studios Mode incorporates carefully measured audio features from foundational equipment, live spaces and control rooms to capture the famed soundscape of the iconic recording studio, which has hosted renowned artists such as The Beatles, Amy Winehouse and Radiohead. The system includes Producer Mode, a unique feature which places power in the hands of the listener, allowing them to freely experiment with characteristics of different spaces in Abbey Road to engineer their own listening experiences. For a more straightforward alternative, four presets are also included to accommodate a range of sound preferences. It will be available as a software update in 2025 for all Volvo EX90s that have been fitted with Bowers & Wilkins.
For one special evening, Abbey Road Studios opened its doors to showcase the new tech – and CLASH was there to document the action.
The evening began with a tour around the space, during which Abbey Road’s skilled engineers demonstrated a little bit of what goes into crafting the studio sound, and how this has translated to function in-car. Attendees were then invited to check out the debut of Abbey Road Studios Mode in the Volvo EX90, getting a first look at the in-car user experience.
As the tours concluded, attendees were directed to the famed Studio Two for a thought-provoking panel hosted by DJ and music broadcaster Jamz Supernova, with contributions from Ezra Collective drummer Femi Koleoso, as well as representatives from Abbey Road, Bowers & Wilkins, and Volvo. Between inspiring anecdotes around Ezra Collective’s time spent in Abbey Road and insightful conversation on the landmark developments offered by the collaborators. A major takeaway from the panel was that all parties sought to come together to offer a flexible, personable approach to sound which allows you to experience songs to their fullest potential, ultimately connecting listeners to the music that matters most to them. Looking to the crucial role that Abbey Road has played in furthering creativity, Koleoso posed a question followed by an answer which defined the magic of the evening: “Why was this built in the first place? It was for people to express themselves.”
Ezra Collective saw the importance of having a dedicated space for expression with their latest record ‘Dance, No One’s Watching’. The album is “…an ode to the sacred, yet joyous act of dancing,” that was recorded in none other than Abbey Road Studios. ‘Dance, No One’s Watching’ is infused with a homegrown radiance which can be attested to the close friends and family of Ezra Collective who surprised the ensemble at the studio, resulting in a pure “…celebration of love, music and dancing”. A joyous highlight of the evening, Ezra Collective took the stage in Studio Two to revive that energy as they shared their recently released tracks, and it was masterfully executed. It’s generally expected that musicians with such considerable talent will deliver what is promised, but Ezra Collective offer something greater. There’s an undeniable community embrace that comes through, and each member of the group makes producing that sound seem as natural and effortless as taking a breath. It’s a groove that keeps on grooving, filling the space with a triumphant energy that Ezra Collective seem to capture consistently regardless of what setting they’re in. This was most prominently done with sun-drenched standout track ‘Palm Wine’. The number encapsulated the tone of the night; experiencing music at its fullest while promoting a carefree togetherness. Food for the soul cooked to perfection.
Abbey Road, Bowers & Wilkins and Volvo have come together to deliver a fantastic evening in support of a grand step in person-centred listening technology, and it’s a celebration that we surely won’t forget.
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Words: Kayla Sandiford
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