An Irish woman is hitting the top notes at the world’s most famous recording studio.
Dubliner Isabel Garvey is managing director at Abbey Road, made famous by The Beatles.
The UCD graduate has doubled turnover and tripled profits in just four years.
The businesswoman’s domain includes the largest recording studio in the world – Studio One – where film hits such as Skyfall and The Lord Of The Rings were recorded.
The site is also home to “The Beatles Studio”, where the Fab Four recorded 190 of their 210 songs.
Ms Garvey said the pianos at the studios are decades old and have been used by many famous musicians.
She said: “John Lennon left cigarette burns on the Steinway honky-tonk one that we call Mrs Millis.
“Lady Madonna was played on that and more recently Paul McCartney used it for his album Egypt Station.”
Abbey Road’s sound is so renowned that some music moguls can even identify whether a song was recorded there.
Since she arrived at the studios in 2014 Ms Garvey has been involved in the multi-million euro development of the studios, maintaining standards and improving accessibility.
The 43-year-old began working there after having previously plied her trade at entertainment companies EMI and Warner.
After college Ms Garvey worked for an investment bank for three years where she was “working all the hours God gave” on no sleep.
Although surrounded by the best the music industry has to offer on a daily basis, she said “disgracefully” she is not musical, despite coming from a talented family.
She told the Sunday Business Post: “My grandfather and sister were and are incredible pianists so it didn’t quite make it into my genes.”
Ms Garvey revealed while artists are often in “work mode” when they arrive, “very occasionally” she would have a glass of wine with them after they finished up for the day.
The studio director said media reports on the manufacturing of pop music meant we often underestimate artists.
This article was originally published in the Irish Mirror on April 28, 2019.
