SONIC BOOM RECORDS
Music Composer - Musician - Producer
Mark Wickenden
Mark Wickenden is a British born Composer, Musician & Producer.
Originally from Essex and has worked in the music recording industry for over 25 years.
Mark established Academy Studio back in 2004 in Colchester, Essex.
As an engineer this was just the start of his producing career.
Mark’s passion of the industry would see him work all day and through the night to help clients arrange, produce and perfect their sound.
Sonic Boom Music – A production House for Radio, Library & TV became a reality in 2007 with the help of creative writer Charlie Rees. Mark built a great relationship musically with media companies such as Global, Bauer, BBC, UKRD and many more who took on his experience as a writer and producer for library and sync music.
Mark signed to Universal in 2007 as a writer and 2013 to Northstar Publishing.
In 2016 Mark moved studios to a very rural country setting in Norfolk, this is the hub for his production and mixing studio.
Here saw the birth of Sonic Boom Records and a step into the world of theatre production.
Since May 2022, and the launch of Preston's country music career, Mark has produced two No 2 selling singles and a No 5. He has also had continued success with Sarah Louise, an Essex based country music singer, with her single release reaching No 1.
Meet The Band
Ben Newton
Ben has been playing guitar since the age of 11. He first ventured into the world of live band stage gigs at age 14 and by age 19 he turned Pro. Ben has notched up over 1500 live gigs and performances in that time, with many of those with Exposé, Essex’s Number 1 covers band. The Tarantino's, showcasing a full on homage to the films and music of Quentin Tarantino, touring in countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, UK and also The Barberellas, the former band project for Keavy and Edele Lynch, formally of Irish chart toppers B*Witched and many more function and miscellaneous acts, too.
Ben has also been writing, recording and producing for over 20 years, and for the last 5 years has been providing remote recording sessions, mainly concentrating on Rock, Pop and Modern country. He also provides guitar, lead vocals and BV's for radio jingles, sing-overs and broadcast TV.
He has had the opportunity to sing vocals for clients including Netflix and radio commercials for Global Radio PLC (Heart, Capital, XFM), Bauer Media, UKRD Group, Lincs FM Group and Hot Rockin' Radio.
Ben is currently recording, writing and producing for the UK’s up and coming country artist Preston D Barnes, alongside Mark Wickenden, owner and Producer at Sonic Boom Records. He joins Preston on many UK wide gigs and festivals and enjoys performing acoustic sets together for business platforms such as Live in the Living Room and Rt66 Country Music network.
Chris started playing drums at the age of 12. He was first taught by his father (also a gigging drummer) and 6 months later he was playing his first gig with some friends from school. Since then, he hasn't stopped performing live. Chris gained experience at a young age, regularly playing local Rock/Metal shows.
At the age of 24, Chris started depping for Russell Gilbrook (drummer for Uriah Heep) in Essex's No1 cover band, Exposé. After a few years filling in for Russell, he was eventually given the full time position. Since then Chris and Exposé have shared the stage with the likes of: Jessie J, Tony Hadley, Squeeze, Go West, ABC, Toploader, Boomtown Rats, Midge Ure and many more. To this day, Chris has played more than 600 gigs with Exposé and the band continues to strive.
Recently he was asked to be involved with the Preston D Barnes Band and will be featured as the lead drummer on the next releases for Preston, under Sonic Boom Records. If you'd like to hear Chris playing on one of Preston's tracks, click here
Chris Brown
Justin Halley
Justin started playing music at the youthful age of 7 years old. Some of his first gigs were at the young age of 9 years old with kids rock and pop group ‘Choirwood’. He has also had many prominent TV appearances such as GMTV, Pebble Mill & Blue Peter (yep, he’s still got the badge!) throughout the 90’s.
Justin was part of a semi-pro band, at 15 years old, and they were successful enough to tour around the UK and Europe. He has performed at many elaborate functions, holiday parks and armed forces events where contracts included working with runners up from the worldwide known ITV TV show, X Factor, on their subsequent tour at Chicago Rock Cafes!
Gary has played bass live and in the studio with several acts over the years. He started his musical career in the pop-ska band ‘Hypo Psycho’ who were signed to independent label Snapper. This saw him extensively tour the UK, including playing shows at Glasgow’s SECC and Hampden Park Stadium. He has also made a number of TV appearances on shows such as the Saturday Show and Gamezville. The band released one album ‘Somebody Someday’, and a number of singles.
A stint with Charlotte Hatherley (ex-Ash guitarist) followed, which saw Gary play on her album ‘New Worlds’, along with a number of festival appearances.
Following this Gary joined the band Black Casino and The Ghost. The band released 3 albums and had songs featured on TV programmes including Gotham and the US version of Shameless. The band also toured the UK and Europe supporting Kula Shaker at venues including the Camden Roundhouse and the Paradiso in Amsterdam.
