Image: UK Neo Soul Producer Benjamin Race
Benjamin Race has now released his highly anticipated new single "No to Heartbreak" featuring Ricky Hanley - vocal arranger from the award-winning TV show ‘The Masked Singer’. The track is an electrifying blend of Benjamin's signature soulful production sound and Ricky's powerful vocals, creating a must-listen anthem that will have listeners this summer saying ‘No To Heartbreak” and ‘Yes!’ To the repeat button!
Music fans are buzzing over this dynamic collaboration between two of the industry's rising stars. With its catchy hooks, infectious energy, and relatable lyrics, "No to Heartbreak" is one of the biggest summer, soul releases.
No To Heartbreak ft. Ricky Hanley is featured in the latest Blues & Soul Magazine in Ralph Tee's Modern Soul Sessions column! A great honour to be alongside the likes of Janet Jackson, The Brand New Heavies & Grace Jones
Image: Ricky Hanley - vocal arranger for the Award-winning TV Show The Masked Singer (pictured left) with Benjamin Race have teamed up for this new single.
'No to Heartbreak' ft. Ricky Hanley features on 'The Abbey Road Cuts' Official Spotify Playlist which collates projects mastered at Abbey Road, so it is an honour to be sitting alongside the likes of Paul McCartney, Rita Ora, Texas, FKJ and Brian Eno!
Fans have been eagerly awaiting new music from Benjamin, and the addition of Ricky's vocal talent has elevated the single to new heights. The song was mastered at the world’s most famous recording studio - Abbey Road Studios and will be accompanied by an Official Music Video. This latest single follows on from the latest two smash hits ‘Take You Home’ and ‘Memories’, both were featured on Abbey Road Cuts.
Image: Producer Benjamin Race is set to release a New Single this Summer!
The single was also co-written by Rob Derbyshire who you will know under the artist name ‘Full Flava’. Rob has worked with a host of soulful singers and has worked as a musical director for the likes of Edwin Starr, JLS and Girls Aloud.
Benjamin has worked with a host of soulful luminaries including U.S vocalists Ellison Kendrick (Joss Stone), Dennis Bettis (Grammy-nominated, songwriter to Luther Vandross, Charlie Wilson & Boys II Men) & Teisha Marie. As well as musicians Bryan Corbett (The Brand New Heavies), Jim Macrae (Jordan Rakei), Kerry '2 Smooth' Marshall (Musiq Soul Child, Jill Scott), Rob Harris (Jamiroquai), Pete Ray Biggin (Level 42, Chaka Khan, Amy Winehouse) as well as a remix from Opolopo.
Image: Producer Benjamin Race is set to release a New Single this Summer!
Benjamin has played at such prestigious venues as Camden Jazz Cafe in London to sell-out crowds, plus live performances with members of Incognito, D’Influence, Jamiroquai, Reel People, supported Alexander O'Neil, Shaun Escoffery, Trevor Nelson, Soweto Kinch and Acid Jazz pioneers Push as well as playing with world-renowned bassists Victor Wooten and John Patitucci. He has been featured in Sound On Sound Magazine, Bassist Magazine, Celeb Mix, Music News, No Treble, Vents Magazine and Pure Mix. His music videos have also hit American TV screens on H2o Television in New York to 6.5 Million viewers, LATV, plus cable TV channels in Nashville and Florida.
Image: Bryan Corbett (The Brand New Heavies) features on trumpet (BTS from The Official Music Video)
Image: Producer Benjamin Race is set to release a New Single this Summer!
In 2022 he was one of only 12 worldwide winners of Quincy Jones Production's ‘12 Notes’ competition. In 2023 he has been tutored by Bobby Owsinski - who is widely regarded as one of the best mixing engineers in the business with his books being found in music college classrooms and at the workstations of world-renowned mixing engineers.
Image: Ricky Hanley - vocal arranger for the Award-winning TV Show The Masked Singer
Ricky Hanley - ‘the man behind the mask’
Ricky Hanley is a Multi-Platinum selling writer, singer, motivational speaker, producer and vocal arranger. Ricky started as a bass player and after many years playing live he moved into the session world. First Top of the Pops and Saturday morning TV’s came playing bass with Pauline Henry. Realising that there was much more work as a singer Ricky signed to the top vocal agency ‘Hobsons’. 5 more Top of the Pops appearances came as a singer with Robson and Jerome, Take That and Pet Shop Boys and Ricky was also featured in their video for ‘New York City Boy’.
Alongside the sessions, Ricky had started writing for and developing a young girl from Newcastle Cheryl Tweedy who became Cheryl Cole. Lots of writing, and meetings with Simon Fuller (19), things looked great until Cheryl entered a TV talent show and was selected for Girls Aloud. Although this was disappointing Ricky was offered and signed a major publishing deal off the back of the songs written for Cheryl. Ricky was asked by Simon Fuller to write for S Club Junior and penned 2 top 5 singles New Direction and Fool No More and several releases for other artists like Peter Andre, Liberty X, Bellefire and Human Nature from Australia. After some very big changes at Global Publishing Ricky decided to dedicate more time to vocal arranging and producing working with Mike and the Mechanics, Shane Ward, JLS, Little Mix, Olly Murs and many more.
Ricky has also been successful in the Japanese and Korean music market. An emotional ballad written by Ricky about the loss of his father was taken and recorded by the massive Korean boyband EXO. The song sold 1 million copies in the first week and started a run of invitations to songwriting camps around the World.
More recently, Ricky was the vocal arranger for BBC talent show Little Mix the Search and more recently a featured singer on The Masked Dancer and vocal arranger on The Masked Singer.
Image: BTS from The Official Music Video of ‘No To Heartbreak’ ft. Ricky Hanley
Image: BTS from The Official Music Video of ‘No To Heartbreak’ ft. Ricky Hanley
AND DON’T FORGET THE ‘GUNS FOR HIRE’ AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES
Behind every great song, there are amazing co-writers, session musicians, ‘guns for hire’ or just people behind the scenes that you don’t always know about! A big shout out to Rob Derbyshire (Full Flava), Joon Switon (Reel People, Eric Roberson), Nate Williams (Jamiroquai/ Steve Winwood), Matt Keane, Bryan Corbett (The Brand New Heavies) and Luke Shingler!
Image: BTS from The Official Music Video of ‘No To Heartbreak’ ft. Ricky Hanley