Press Releases DECEMBER 31 2025

A Fusion Without Borders: New York Singer and Dutch Producer Create together at unique collaboration opportunity in France

Singer/songwriter Emily Keating, a New Yorker, and a Dutch producer/songwriter, Youp Van Der Graaf (Cloud Fortuna), have been gathered to collaborate on a brand new piece of music. Brought together by a Dutch sound engineer and a Scottish creative.

Emily & Youp spent 4 days collaborating at Studio Faire in Nérac, France, situated between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

They were brought together by Wesley Kennis and Colin Usher, the creators of Faire Play… a new YouTube channel and record label. Faire Play is based at Studio Faire, a creative residency that normally welcomes writers, artists and musicians for 2 week and 4 week residencies.

To launch their new Faire Play concept, Wesley & Colin came up with the concept of getting musicians together who don’t know each other for a 4 day residency to collaborate on a new piece of music. They promoted the concept on social media and were flooded with applications from all over the globe.

This second collaboration residency in Nérac took place over 4 days in early December 2025.

The results are exceptional. The duo wrote intensely for 2 days in the studio, relaxed in the surrounding charm and beauty of Nérac, were fed & watered by the hosts at Studio Faire and on the final day, filmed and recorded the results in the workshop studio.

The final piece titled ‘Green Eyes’ will be released on Faire Play Records to all streaming platforms on Dec 31st 2025 and the channel episode created from the collaboration, including interviews with the musicians, will be premiered on YouTube alongside the video for the track.

“We are so very excited and delighted with the results of this, our 2nd colab residency. The bond that formed between these two greatly creative souls was strong and happened swiftly. We have an exceptional track to release which also celebrates the life of Emily’s recently departed grandmother, Lucille, a very fitting tribute.” said Colin Usher

The 5 minute single performed by both Emily and Youp (featuring host Colin on drums) weaves dreamy electronica tones topped with Emily’s lush vocals which results in an emotionally charged slice of ponderous indie-pop. 

“Emily & Youp were on the same wavelength from their very first meeting on the Friday. It felt as if they had been working together for years. Within a few minutes, they had already created the foundation of this amazing song.

They knew they had to build on that, and they succeeded brilliantly!” said Wesley Kennis

The piece titled ‘Green Eyes’ will be on all streaming platforms as well as on the Faire Play YouTube channel and will be released on Dec 31st 2025 on FAIRE PLAY RECORDS

https://www.youtube.com/@StudioFairePlay

More about the musicians:
Emily Keating : https://www.thisisemilykeating.com/
Youp Van Der Graaf : https://www.instagram.com/cloud_fortuna/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nérac, France – 17/10/2025

Collaboration fusion takes place at unique music residency in France

An Italian, an American now living in Edinburgh and a Ukrainian now living in Canada have been gathered to collaborate on a new piece of music. Brought together by a Dutch sound engineer and a Scottish creative.

Californian singer-songwriter Alas de Liona from Edinburgh, pianist Sasha Lattuca from Palermo and violinist Viktoria Grynenko from Canada spent 4 days collaborating at Studio Faire in Nérac, France, situated between Bordeaux and Toulouse.

They were brought together by Wesley Kennis and Colin Usher, the creators of Faire Play… a new YouTube channel and record label. Faire Play is based at Studio Faire, a creative residency that normally welcomes writers, artists and musicians for 2 week and 4 week residencies.

To launch their new Faire Play concept, Wesley & Colin came up with the concept of getting musicians together who don’t know each other for a 4 day residency to collaborate on a new piece of music. They promoted the concept on social media and were flooded with applications from all over the globe.

The results are impressive. The trio wrote intensely for 2 days in the studio, relaxed in the surrounding warmth and beauty of Nérac, were fed & watered by the hosts at Studio Faire and on the final day, filmed and recorded the results in the garden studio.

The final piece will be released on Faire Play Records to all streaming platforms on Nov 7th and the channel episode created from the collaboration, including interviews with the musicians, will be premiered on YouTube alongside the video for the track.

“We are extremely excited to release the results of this first collaboration residency and truly can’t believe the levels of creativity and talent that flourished. The three musicians were united in this celebration of creativity and also became good friends.” said Colin Usher

The 6 minute piece performed by all three of the musicians begins with a moving violin solo played over jazzesque piano and some programmed ambience. The lush vocals and lyrics are then introduced and the tune comes into its own before crescendoing beautifully. 

“The musicians blended together so well in their performance that it was a joy to record and mix the audio.” said Wesley Kennis

The piece titled ‘From The Blue (Home Again)’ will be on all streaming platforms as well as on the Faire Play YouTube channel as part of Faire Play’s first episode from Nov 7th 2025.

More about the musicians:
Alas De Liona : https://alasdeliona.com/
Sasha Lattuca : https://www.sashalattuca.com/
Viktroria Grynenko : https://viktoriagrynenko.com/

About Faire Play & Faire Play Records

Faire Play comes out of Studio Faire Creative Residency in SW France.

Faire Play exists to showcase both new and existing talent, encourage collaborations and release unique material via their record label.

Their goal is to connect vibrant new music to ever-growing audiences.

Wesley & Colin met due to 2 keyboard warriors in a local community Facebook group who had been berating Wesley for not being set up as a proper business in his new location… of course they were misguided as Wesley is a European working in France. These people choose to be bitter and outraged at everyone (it’s a common phenomenon). This didn’t stop Colin from ‘adding’ to the conversation in quite a cheeky but polite manner… then, a friendship was formed. So, thanks to the keyboard warriors of Le Gers for the introduction and the bitchin’. (More detail on request, it’s quite funny)

Studio Faire is owned & run by husband & wife team Colin Usher and Julia Douglas

Media Contact

Name: Colin Usher

Phone: +33 (0)6 34 56 10 70

Email: play@studiofaire.fr

Website: https://studiofaire.fr/play/

https://www.youtube.com/@StudioFairePlay