Free podcast mix/episode: Download now (Duration: 55:15 — 62.8MB)

Ming (Hood Famous Records, NYC)

With a musical and business insight that transcends everyday definitions of trend and genre, Aaron Albano, a.k.a Ming, is an inspired, talented, and hard-hitting producer, songwriter, and performer known from London to Los Angeles. Thirteen years of touring and production experience has given Ming uncontested credibility as an enduring source for fresh and distinctive sounds.

In 1996, Ming opened the record label and recording studio Madhattan Studios in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City with former partner FS. Over the course of ten years, the legendary break beat duo Ming+FS played over 1000 shows in the United States and abroad, opening for acts such as Sting, Run DMC and Moby, released four albums and a series of EP’s, and countless 12 inches and remixes. During his tenure with Ming+FS, Ming earned the reputation as an innovative talent, racking up writing, producing, and remixing credits for artists such as P. Diddy, Suzanne Vega, and Toby Lightman.

Ming’s business acumen led him to expand his career to commercial music. He mastered the nuances of licensing and film scoring through years of creating content for television and film, eventually leading to musical credits including syndicated shows such as CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, Sex In The City, Showtime’s Weeds, BBC America’s series Dinner Take All (title score and cues), and the BBC/TLC series Travel Spies (title score and cues). Ming+FS’s music also found an audience with the gaming community when Sony enlisted the group to provide tracks for their PlayStation games Wipeout Pure and Tourist Trophy. EA Sports has also used original tracks from Ming+FS in their game NBA Ballers.

Ming’s work at Madhattan Studios firmly established him as a pioneer and a true professional; a music person of the first order. In 2006, seeking to add to his success in the music industry, Ming left his accomplished group and label to open his production company, Hood Famous Music (HFM).

HFM fills an industry gap: a full service production house that develops emerging artists who match Ming’s intense drive and unique musical vision. Some standout projects include the metal band Bazaar Royale, Hip Hop and R&B maestro Michael Lynche, and NYC’s electro-rock outfit 33hz. Ming has found kindred spirits in 33Hz and recently joined the group as the guitarist and continues to write and produce material for the group’s forthcoming second album and will hit the road with the boys upon its release.

Under HFM, Ming has created a large catalog of varied and distinctive music licensed mostly by popular companies to help define their brand. MTV, a regular client of HFM, recognizes Ming’s distinctive style as part of their own ethos, relying on him for exclusive tracks for shows such as The Real World, Cribs, Becoming, and Beauty at the Beach. Rockstar Games, currently the hottest gaming company, placed Ming’s mix of 33hz’s “I Feel Alive” in the top selling game Midnight Club LA.

With the success of HFM, Ming is extending his brand with Habitat Music, a new venture providing original music for the advertising community as well as film and television. The creation of Habitat is a testament to Ming’s innate work ethic and drive to always challenge himself: “What’s propelled me to stay in music has been the endless creative freedom – learning different musical styles, instruments, and even businesses.” He continues, “If you want to be a successful music producer, you have to challenge yourself to to stay current and keep your ear to the ground.”

Aaron “Ming” Albano has seen serious success in an industry where few even make it out of the starting gate. He declares, “I’ve been an artist and a label owner. I know what it means to make a record. I know what it is to grind something out for 10 years, and I know what it is to stay true your own vision.” He concludes, “Music has been the thread that holds everything together in my life. I’m always trying to push myself to do something innovative. Sharing that creative moment with someone; struggling over a song and then breaking through – these are the eureka moments. When you push hard enough, great things happen.”

www.hoodfamousmusic.com

Booking: Click to reveal email

Stream the mix and support the musicians by purchasing the tracks and hearing them played live! You can also download this full podcast mix above.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

1. Delphic – Doubt (Riton Rerub)
2. Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce – Telephone (Ming vs Chad North Remix)
3. Neelix – Disco Decay (Felguk Mix)
4. Lee Coombs & Uberzone – Right Now
5. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Moon Hits the Mirrorball
6. Jewlez – Spacer Women
7. 30 Seconds to Mars – Kings and Queens (Chad North Mix)
8. Classix – I’m On It
9. Rogue Element – Panic (King Roc Remix)
10. Stuffa – A Million Secrets (Stuffa Club Mix)
11. Stonewash & Fagault – Violet (Lazy Rich Remix)
12. Sawgood – Ctrl Ur Brain (Calvertron’s Jedi Mind Trick Mix)
13. Wolfgang Gartner – Fire Power
14. Trabant – The One (Filthy Dukes Dub)