A CHANCE meeting between two aspiring artists led the pair to master their EP at a famous London recording studio used by The Beatles.

Former Appleton resident Dan Hutchinson, 27, and Sean Hickey, 32, met for the first time at the end of April.

But what has followed for the pair, who live in London, has been a whirlwind three-month journey, with the pinnacle coming when they recorded and mastered their EP, named Release Me, at Abbey Road Studios.

Sean, a rapper, and Dan, whose genre is RnB with indie influences, believe their unique mix can put them firmly on the music map.

Dan said: "Back in April I popped into the pub for some food after the gym and Sean came up to me as he thought he recognised me – but we didn't know each other.

"However, we carried on speaking and started chatting about music then I bought him a beer and we exchanged numbers.

"Two weeks later I went to his house and we started speaking about the music again.

"I showed him my acoustic guitar stuff and he showed me his rap material, he was looking for a singer to allow him to merge his material.

"The next week we came up with a song, which is named Tomorrow and is on the EP, within an hour.

"After that, through Sean, we arranged to meet up with singer-songwriter and producer Dave Tyrell.

"We went to his place where we started making our own music to go with the vocals.

"Before I met Sean in April I had not done anything musically and then decided in April that I would do an open mic night, just before I met him, strangely."

The trio continued to meet up regularly after work each day, with Dave giving extensive feedback to both musicians.

Dan said: "I was writing my choruses out and Sean was writing his raps out.

"Although we have been finishing work then going to do the music, it doesn't feel like work as we have such a passion for it."

After Dave put Dan, a senior business development manager, and Sean, a plumber, in touch with Abbey Road Studios mastering engineer Geoff Pesche, a studio session was arranged for July 20.

Geoff has mastered albums and singles for artists including Gorillaz, Kate Nash, Coldplay, Kylie Minogue and Dizzee Rascal.

And he cut the vinyl lacquers for the best selling 12" record of all time – New Order's Blue Monday.

He's also responsible for cutting the most played radio record of all time – Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out Of My Head.

Dan said: "Working with Geoff was a truly surreal experience.

"It was amazing to get that chance, we learned so much in that day in the studio alone.

"He was also excited to work with us to as he is used to working with seasoned artists."

Abbey Road Studios is synonymous with one of the most influential bands of all time – The Beatles, who recorded much of their studio material at the site.

As a result, the spot is a favourite for tourists and Dan and Sean couldn't help but pose for a picture at the iconic zebra crossing.

Dan said: "We got there early to experience it properly and had breakfast where The Beatles had breakfast.

"When you get there you see queues of people at the crossing and we just looked like tourists queuing up.

"I also saw Paolo Nutini's picture in the hallway at the studios, I try to take things from his singing, so that was nice and inspiring."

The pair have already been offered a spot at Glastonbury 2019 and are doing a gig at Warehouse in Leeds this November.

"It has all happened so quickly in a bizarre order," said Dan.

"We have made our music before we have made our platforms, we need to find time to get it out there so people can listen now.

"We also have gigs lined up in Camden from October onwards, now the plan is to rehearse as much as possible."

The five-track EP will be released in early winter, with the album due to be completed before the turn of the year.

But, in the meantime, the friends have a potentially life-changing decision to make.

Dan added: "We have to make a decision of whether to go to a label, or go it alone.

"The people who we have showed our music to are going mad for it.

"Going to Abbey Road Studios to record the EP gives our name some justification.

"It does motivate me hearing our product.

"I don't care what stage you are at, listening to your own sound is priceless."