Biography of Nicolas Bulostin, creator and founder of Aqualise. 
Of French origin and born in Paris, Nicolas Bulostin is a songwriter, record producer and a recording & mixing sound engineer.
Based in London since 1996, he has been working in the music industry since 1988.
Publishing: Nicolas set up his own publishing catalogue Boogy One Publishing in 1996:
1996 to 2005 - Publishing deal and administration by UNIVERSAL Music Publishing FRANCE and UK for the world.
2005 to 2011 - Publishing deal Administration by BUG Music Publishing UK for the world.
2011 - Nicolas Bulostin has signed a new publishing and administration deal with Peer Music Publishing UK for the world.
Record labels: Head of label and A&R for his record labels for Aqualise Music and for Grape Records. Our distribution is with our partner Believe Digital.
Nicolas Bulostin own artist projects are: Aqualise, Blue Dreams, Fingertapp and few others... ;)
THE AQUALIZERS & THE RED MIST : The Aqualizers stories were developed by Nicolas Bulostin and A. Dee (The Artful Dodger). The Aqualizers name and concept was created by Nicolas Bulostin just after he launched the Aqualise website and brand in June 2008.
Nicolas Bulostin’s work represents sales in excess of 5 million records worldwide.
1988 to 2003: France - Paris - Classically trained - tea-boy - French music biz - Polygram - Move to London - Abbey Road Studios.
Born in Paris into a musical family (his father was a successful singer in the 60’s and 70’s in France and his uncle a leading violinist). Nicolas learned to play the piano from the age of four. By the age of seven he had composed his first piece of music, and at 11, he performed a concert piece by Bach at the Salle Gaveau in Paris. He continued to study classical piano until the age of 16, but then under different tutors developed a preference for jazz, pop and rock.
After becoming a member of the SACEM in his teens, Nicolas went and spent a year at a performing arts school in Atlanta in the United States, a preparatory school for Broadway. Although the only foreigner amongst 1500 pupils, he was chosen to lead the school jazz band of 22 musicians. During this time in Atlanta he set up three bands and did several live performances.
A year later, Nicolas returned to Paris. Recording studios were like a second home to Nicolas, having spent a lot of time with his family in them, and he began work as a tea-boy at one of the largest recording studios in Paris.
“At the age of 20 I joined the team at Marcadet studios in Paris to learn how to become an engineer. The first thing I learnt was that the path to engineering starts by making the tea all day!"
"After a month I was given the opportunity to work on the magical SSL desk and that was an amazing experience!! My first session as an engineer came very quickly after that and was with Sir George Martin producing Kenny Rodgers. It was scary and exciting in equal measure, but it went really well and we finished the session jamming together, with me playing Beatles’ s songs on the piano and everybody singing. I had the pleasure to meet Sir George Martin again 10 years later in London at the Abbey Road recording studios where I was mixing a single in the famous studio 2, where he worked and produced the Beatles in the 60’s. I was honoured that he had remembered me and we shared some memories over a coffee. Great souvenirs.”
By 1988, he had set up his own recording studio and produced various jingles and theme tunes for children’s programmes on French television. He also set up his own production and publishing company and built up a team of excellent musicians and singers. He worked with the DJ Laurent Garnier and mixed his first records and worked with Jean-Marie K for his dance productions amongst others and did various commercials for French television and radio (TF1, Antenne 2, Canal+ etc...).
Between 1990 and 1991 he produced various singles and one album for the majors including few football songs. He also produced a band called "Two for Two, the Waksman brothers" and went with his American lawyer Kendall A Minter to the New Music Seminar in New York to find a deal for them.
Between 1991 and 1996, during this time Gerard Davoust introduced him to Charles Aznavour who visited Nicolas at his studio and asked him to arrange 25 of his songs live at the Palais des Congres and do two productions for his next album, where he conducted 52 strings live. Nicolas worked for three years with Gerard Davoust at Raoul Breton editions.
“My relationship with Charles Aznavour was amazing, I loved the time I spent with him, which was for a period of more than two years. My most outstanding memory was of the day that I conducted and recorded 52 strings of the Orchestre de Paris for two tracks on an album in 1994. It was a session that I will never forget, with Charles singing a guide vocal next to me during the recording. I still have the goosebumps thinking about it. Merci, Charles, for many great moments.”
He also did ten dance/house productions and fifteen remixes that were all released on the French market by the Majors: SONY, WEA, WMD, EMI, BMG and Ram Dam factory. These included a remix for Zizi Jenmaire and for Eric Morena. He worked on few production with DJ Claude Monnet of SSOH Music. He also compiled 6 compilations for the French market. He set up a band called Masterlove in which he also performed and released a single and a video through WEA. He also worked with UK labels such as One Little Indian and Zomba based in London and Sony in New-York and EMI in LA.
Nicolas signed a songwriting agreement with PolyGram France (Philippe Lerichome) in January 1996. In June 1996, he attended a PolyGram Music/Blue Mountain Music songwriter ‘workshop’ in Devon, and he has since co-written with many of the other songwriters who attended. In October 1996 he moved to London to further his career as a songwriter and producer, intending to make his mark on the international music scene.
In February 1997 he signed a licensing deal with TF1 and was asked to write and produce an album for Une Musique, TF1’s music department. The “Rapasamba” single and album were written and recorded in London at Abbey Road Studios and PWL, and released in the summer of 1997, one track in particular has since appeared on more than eight other compilation albums, including the official World Cup compilation. Nicolas’s ‘team’ of musicians included the fantastic Tony Remy and Barry Reynolds (known for his work for Marianne Faithfull) who he invited to co-write two of the tracks.
In September 1997, Nicolas moved his equipment to the Workhouse Studios, a building owned by Manfred Mann, from where he wrote and produced as well as running his three companies. Between October 1997 and June 2001, Nicolas worked as a songwriter, engineer and producer for Disney Records, Sony and BMG France, Sony UK, PolyGram France and EMI Publishing France. However, he wanted to concentrate on his own songs and productions and eventually chose to accept less work from France in order to do this. Nicolas then co-produced Manfred Mann’s forthcoming album.
"Working with Manfred Mann was a positive adventure, I worked for 3 years with him and did 10 versions of each song for his album. The thing I learnt from Manfred is that no matter how good you think something is, there is always a possibility that it could be better! As I heard him say on many occasions..... “Yes, it’s good...very good indeed...but is it good enough...?”
In February 2002, Nicolas moved his studio again this time to downstairs at The Townhouse Studios in Hammersmith. For his latest production project, Nicolas decided to do a mixture of house music and music that inspired him as a child, Motown, soul and disco .The concept “FINGERTAPP“ in an album format includes singles and remixed versions of songs written by Nicolas and other collaborators, with guest singers and musicians .The first single will be released in June 2002 with EAST WEST records for Europe and the French territories and he signed a deal with David Gresham Records, South Africa for the single “Talk About Love” featuring Hazel Fernandes, with the pseudonym “Fingertapp”, and started to work with Marc Brown from Credence / EMI, and Nick Corelli on House productions and re-mixes and also worked with labels such as Positiva, D-Construction, Peppermint Jam Records, PWL, Ministry of Sound and Polygram.
Remixes: Since 2002 Nicolas Bulostin has done a few remixes for partners including Roger Sanchez, Supermen Lovers, Most Records "Everything Nicola Bulostin Funky Mix - John M Steed Feat. Gary Mudbone Cooper" (Stephane Malca), Serial Records, Didier Sinclair, Alabina, Live Saver Orchestra, Mani Hoffman (The thing) and for his own projects Fingertapp, Blue Dreams and Trunk and also for of all the releases on Grape Records since June 2003.
Nicolas Bulostin - The TOWNHOUSE Studios, studio 2, London, 25/02/2008
2003 to 2008: Grape Records - Roger Sanchez - Townhouse Studios - Fingertapp - Blue Dreams - Ministry of Sounds - Pacha.
Nicolas set up English label Grape Records in 2003. His remixes influences span from Mowtown to Quincy Jones through to Roger Sanchez, Armand Van Helden and Daft Punk.
Having the ability to cross genre, classically trained Nicolas records under many pseudonyms including Fingertapp, Trunk and Blue Dreams.
We have been licensing tracks since June 2003 with major partners including: The Ministry of sound, Pacha Group, Defected, Stealth (Roger Sanchez), David Gresham, Sony, Universal East/West, Emi, Miss Moneypenny’s and many others. Our vinyls were distributed by Arnaud Godefroy and Frank at Topplers in Paris.
Before launching Grape Records, Nicolas produced Alone featuring the Singer Nika Boon which was played on Radio 1 by Lottie and selected by Roger Sanchez for his Release Yourself compilation 1. Roger Sanchez also licensed Nicolas's production on his label Stealth in partnership with Defected Records.
After setting up Grape Records in 2003, Nicolas started with his own single Nicolas Bulostin presents Let Me Be Crazy featuring Noel McCalla to great acclaim. The track immediately topped the Buzz chart at No.5, Soulpressure chart at No.3, and the Groove Station Italia House Chart at No.1
Setting the standard for the label, Nicolas went on to produce nuggets such as the popular Blue Dreams featuring Jane Henley - Music Brings Us Together and the Motown-esque song from Fingertapp featuring Hazel Fernandes - You Can't Talk About Love, The Bass Line featuring Tony Remy and Jane Henley and "THere's nothing better than sex" featuring Nicolas Bulostin, himself on vocals.
Nicolas worked also with the fantastic and talented Didier Sinclair on “Groove to me” and other of his great tracks.
"Didier Sinclair said to me one day in my studio at the Townhouse: “Nico, I love working with you, you and me, we are really on the same planet, my album is going to be great because of you and when special alchemy happen like this, we have to put everything into it, because you never know what tomorrow will be...!”. Didier passed away the following year... R.I.P. We miss you. I can say that it is true and that it so important to keep things in perspective, to give everything in life your best shot and to cherish every moment in your life."
His productions have seen support from the likes of Lottie through to Roger Sanchez, Claudio Coccoluto, Tom De Neef, Ted Patterson, DJ Jolene, Jim 'Shaft' Ryan's Miss Moneypennys and many more.
Jane Henley: Firmly established as Nicolas' No.2 in the label, writing tracks, and occasionally guesting as lead vocals, Jane looks after all the Graphic design too. Jane is now collaborating with Nicolas on the Aqualise project.
"There are two people that I particularly want to mention: Jane Henley, an amazingly talented singer, who has had extraordinary patience with me for many years (!), and has been by my side for a long time on many projects. And of course, the incredible Tony Remy, my soul brother, with whom I have worked on so many records and shared the passion and the love of music and production – thank you both very much."
We also worked on productions with Kenny Thomas, Rita Campbell, Tony Remy, Johnny Primed, Guy Pratt, G-Club, Dan Tait, Romy J, Yoad Nevo and Tom Noise.
Grape Records promotion: We have been working with Tom Chubb at Plain and Simple and Sarah from Favouritizm (international radio and press publicity company and record label Favouritizm). Grape Records and its releases have had a great deal of press the during the past 5 years. You can google the label and find them.
During the last 15 years, Nicolas attended the following music conventions: 10 x Midem, 2 x New Music Seminar in New-York, 2 x Miami winter conference and 3 x Popkom in Germany.
2008 to today: Aqualise and Aqualise Music - Spreading awareness through music! For the Oceans!
In June 2008, Nicolas started his latest project, Aqualise, the very first record label in the world dedicated to protecting the oceans by creating awareness and donating to non-profit marine wildlife conservation and environmental organizations.
Nicolas has found inspiration in his love for the sea and in its willingness to help in the preservation of our oceans for our future generations.
There were only a few more steps to the accomplishment of his new project combining his two passions ... music and the sea.
Ever since the beginning of Aqualise, Nicolas is collaborating with a fine array of artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, NGOs, brands and partners from all over the world. Together they have found a common ground in protecting the oceans.
Artists such as: Jane Henley, Kenny Thomas, Tony Remy, Juliet Russell, Noel McCalla, Rita Campbell, Paul Turner, Jean Toussaint, Rhoda Dakar, Jo Garland and Andy Caine. Additional productions on some of the Aqualise tracks by Tony Remy, Jane Henley, Johnny Primed, Wes Maebe and Beyond Tone.
"My music is also a tribute to Jacques-Yves Cousteau who inspired me to learn more about the aquatic environment, to love the ocean and its richness. I want my music be a voyage to cinematic worlds and dreamy atmospheres directly inspired from my imagination and emotions. Let's change the World !! Let's make the world a better place for all of us…and for many generations to come. My goal is to help others and change the world for the better. "
Compilations: Nicolas Bulostin's tracks have been licensed to more than 110 compilations worldwide since June 2009 and are available on iTunes, Beatport, Amazon etc. Record labels from Germany, UK, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, USA, Asia etc... Compilations compiled by: Phil Mison, DJ Jondal, Blanco Y Negro, Al-Faris - Drizzly, Heiko Müller, Jeff Bennet and other great compilers. Partners/Record labels: Ministry of Sound, Blanco Y Negro, Sony Music, Universal Music, Emi, Drizzly Records, Wonnemeyer, d:vision/Energy Production, High Music, Phunctional Loungin, Tyranno Records, I-Label, Bacci Bros Records, Wide Range Electric, Real Groove Records and more..."Pure Ibiza, compiled by Phil Mison, "La Nuit" - Ministry Of Sound, compiled by DJ Jondal, "Wellness Spa & Music" compiled by Blanco Y Negro, "Wonnemeyer" compiled by DJ Jondal and "Beachland" compiled by Blanco Y Negro.
Media: Branding - Marketing - Merchandising - Social networking - Management - Legal.
Nicolas Bulostin worked on branding special projects for French and international majors, marketing strategy for record labels and private clients, merchandising venture for a French premier league football club (ASSE-ST Etienne), merchandising toys business development for international sports clubs and brands and he is working on social network strategy for artists and his own businesses.
Publishing deal with Peer Music Publishing UK for the world: Deal organized and secured by his friend and partner Kevin Reynolds at KRMB Management. Kevin and Nicolas are currently working together on few artists strategy projects for KRMB Management.
Legal team representing Nicolas's businesses: Many thanks to Kendall A Minter (USA), David Gentle at Goldkorn Mathias Gentle (UK), Paul Spraggon at SSB Solicitors (UK) and Maitre Julien Mallet at cabinet Nowak (France/Paris).
Recording studios:
He has spent the last 20 years in recording studios all over the world and has his own studio in London and has a wealth of experience, having worked with many different artists and musicians.
Nicolas is known for his skills in song arrangement and instrumentation and his ability to nurture, direct and achieve exceptional performances from the artists with whom he works, and is able to incorporate his vast range of experience from tracking with classic Neve, API, Trident boards and SSL to utilizing the latest software technology and recording/mixing systems. Nicolas is able to apply the appropriate knowledge, techniques and colours to very diverse records and artists.
Nicolas productions-studio units: 1998-2002 The Workhouse Studios, Manfred Mann’s Studios, London 2002-2006 The Townhouse Studios, London
Nicolas worked at following studios: Abbey Road Studios, Universal Music Publishing studios, The Townhouse Studios, Air Studios, The Workhouse Studios, Blue Montain Music Publishing, Maison Rouge, Sphere, Strong Room, Eden Studios, The Forges, Zomba, Olympic Studios, Sarm Studios etc…… France: Guillaume Tell, Palais des congres, Twin Studios, St Nom La Breteche, Mega studios etc….. Belgium: ICPS USA: Power Station in New York, Columbus in Atlanta.
Today Nicolas works in his own professional studio which is fully equipped with all the latest gear and toys.
Collaborations: List of clients, artists, musicians and music business partners Nicolas Bulostin is working with:
SONY UK, UNIVERSAL UK, EMI UK, DEFECTED UK, TONY REMY ALLTONE RECORDS UK, UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING UK, BUG MUSIC PUBLISHING UK, BLUE MOUNTAIN MUSIC PUBISHING UK, MANFRED MANN, MINISTRY OF SOUND UK AND WORLD, CREDENCE UK, CHRYSALIS UK, SOUL KANDY, LOWERED RECORDINGS UK, MISS MONEYPENNY’S RECORDS UK, BEECHTREE RECORDS UK, PALLAM PUBLISHING UK, PETER KNIGHT JR, SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING UK, TORCHLIGHT UK, MOS RECORDS UK, VIRGIN UK, PWL UK, WARNER CHAPPELL UK, JONATHA MUSIC LTD UK, EAST WEST UK, EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING UK, CHRIS BLACKWELL, NINJA TUNE UK, Tom Chubb at Plain and Simple, Sarah at Favouritizm, PHIL MISON, ETC.....
PACHA RECORDINGS SPAIN, BLANCO Y NEGRO SPAIN, ROGER SANCHEZ, STEALTH RECORDS USA, WARNER MUSIC USA, SONY MUSIC USA, WONDERLAND MUSIC COMPANY INC, DISNEY ENTERPRISES, SONY GERMANY, BMG GERMANY, HIGH MUSIC, DRIZZLY GERMANY, MARTIN JONDAL, UNIVERSAL ITALY, SONY ITALY, DISCOID ITALY, MAGAZINE TREND ITALY/ CLAUDIO COCCOLUTO MIX.
UNIVERSAL HOLLAND, UNIVERSAL BELGIUM, SONY BELGIUM, DAVID GRESHAM SOUTH AFRICA, MORR MUSIC SOUTH AFRICA, SONY FRANCE, UNIVERSAL FRANCE, EMI FRANCE, BMG FRANCE, TOPPLERS DISTRIBUTION, SCORPIO MUSIC, WAGRAM FRANCE, POLYDOR FRANCE, BARCLAY FRANCE, EDITIONS RAOUL BRETON FRANCE, GERARD DAVOUST, CHARLES AZNAVOUR, UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE, SCORPIO MUSIC, ARISTA FRANCE, BMG FRANCE, WARNER MUSIC FRANCE, CBS FRANCE, ATOLL RECORDS, VIRGIN FRANCE, RIVE DROITE PUBLISHING FRANCE, EPIC MUSIC FRANCE, UNE MUSIQUE/ TF1 FRANCE, ASCOT MUSIC, DISNEY RECORDS FRANCE AND UK.
TV CHANNELS: MTV USA, MTV EUROPE, EUROTRASH, TF1 (tv channel France), A2 (tv channel France), CANAL+ (tv channel France), TV5 channel france, M6 (tv channel France), DISCOVERY CHANNEL UK, BBC1 UK, BBC2 UK, CHANNEL 4 UK, ITV CHANNEL UK, CBS USA.
SOME OF THE ARTISTS, PRODUCERS AND MUSICIANS NICOLAS HAS BEEN COLLABORATING WITH:
TONY REMY, JANE HENLEY, KENNY THOMAS, BARRY REYNOLDS, MANFRED MANN, THE EARTH BAND, CHARLES AZNAVOUR, RHODA DAKAR, RITA CAMPBELL, JEAN TOUSSAINT, NOEL MCCALLA, JOHNNY PRIMED, HAZEL FERNANDES, LAURENT GARNIER, JEAN-MARIE K, KARNY, STEPHANE MALCA, GARRY MULDONE, ISHTAR, TIM FREEMAN, JULIET RUSSELL, GUY PRATT, YOAD NEVO, TWO FOR TWO, ROMY J, JULIAN CRAMPTON, PETE LEWINSON, STEVE LEWINSON, PATRICK CLAHAR, FRANK TONTO, PACO SERI, KARL VAN DEN BOSSCHE, PAUL TURNER, JEAN-PHILIPPE RYKIEL, TIM ROE, CORINA ARMEL, KEVIN REYNOLDS, ROGER SANCHEZ, TIM ROE, Arnaud Godefroy, JIM SHAFT RYAN, DIDER SINCLAIR, CLAUDIO COCCOLUTO, WORK FOR BEAUTY, LUCAS KONK WEST, PIERRE YVES LEBERT, GERALD ELMS G CLUB, JENNY MCKAY, EARTH WIND AND FIRE, MANI HOFFMAN, MANU KATCHE, MARIANNA MATISS, Jeffrey Mpondo, VALERIE MISCHLER, U-NAM, SIMON BASS, FRED DE FRED, ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE DE PARIS, WES MAEBE, BEYOND TONE, CH VAUGHAN, ELECTRA STRINGS LONDON.
Special thanks:
Nicolas presents his deepest thanks and gratitude to all his talented and passionate friends and partners involved in his projects.
Amazing talented friends, amazing moments, amazing souvenirs, amazing places, amazing sessions, amazing emotions....Photos!
The Word On The Street! What people say about us: Testimonials
