Steve Askew
Steve Askew is a British guitarist best known as the original, and current lead guitarist for Kajagoogoo. He was born on 9 December 1957 in Middlesex, London. Later he moved with his family to Leighton Buzzard in 1962/63 and attended Beaudesert Primary School, Pulford Junior School and Brooklands School.
After Kaja (ex Kajagoogoo) split up in 1986, Steve Askew set up a band called the Smalltown Elephants, he created the music concept, image and direction for the band and co-wrote all material.
Steve lives in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, with his wife Anna Conti, a stained glass artist and their sons, Felix, and Courtney Askew-Conti. He has his own recording studio writing and recording & producing .
In October 2003, he appeared in a Kajagoogoo reunion on VH1's Bands Reunited.
Lu Cozma
Steve Askew collaborated with Lu Cozma on the album 'Red' Following the release of RED, Cozma and Askew extensively toured the United Kingdom and with Askew supported “Breaking Glass” singer Hazel O’ Connor on the UK leg of her “Hidden Heart” tour.
In 2013, the duo released an EP of new recordings titled Lockdown. A CD version can be purchased from Lu's own website at www.lucozma.com as well as on digital download from iTunes and most other digital outlets.
In May 2013, Lu Cozma and Steve Askew toured the UK as support for Fish, former Marillion frontman "Fish"
Looking for the ordinary? Better look elsewhere
She’s one of Britain’s best kept secrets but not for much longer. English female singer, songwriter, Lu Cozma has created a musical merging of mainstream excellence yet effortlessly retaining her signature sound that is at once recognizable as her own.
Martin Rushent, (producer of the Human League, The Stranglers, The Buzzcocks, as well as Lu’s debut album RED) described Lu’s vocals simply; “Sometimes, in the unexpected places, a voice blows your head off.” It’s not surprising how this lady with ‘Galadriel looks, a captivating stage presence and a voice that can break your heart or have it beating like a battle drum’, made an impression both in the UK and overseas. Lu fronts a musical partnership with her collaborator and fellow musician, producer Steve Askew, (guitarist with global conquers Kajagoogoo, one of the few British bands who ‘cracked the American charts). Cozma & Askew’s musical union brings dark tones; electronic beats, radio penetrating melodic structures, interweaving acoustic and electric guitars and taking on a sonic and lyrical journey with every beat. The duo first came to prominence with the powerful and dramatic album RED, penned by Cozma and Askew and produced by the legendary Martin Rushent. The album was performed in the UK and in several European countries. The culmination of which was a ground breaking headline concert in Asti, Italy in 2010.
In March 2013 Lu Cozma and Steve Askew released a brand new 4 track EP 'Lockdown' which is a prelude to the release of the as yet untitled dynamic new album, featuring 10 brand new tracks.
2013 sees the duo supporting The John Young Band and a major tour of the UK supporting former Marillion frontman 'Fish'. All this alongside multi artist gigs and festivals throughout the UK and Europe.
‘The good stuff, where music is made from, has not been instantaneous with the new album. Life for me really does move in wave after mega wave.’ Explains Lu. ‘There comes a time when I take a glance behind and see where I’ve been and come from. Then I look at myself for who I am in the here and now. I breathe it all in; all the joy, tumult, laughter, calamity and adventure and then simply spit it out or sigh it out depending on the mood. That’s as simple as it gets really. The music speaks for itself. It has no secret agenda. The only thing it’s born from is a desire to be true to itself. Steve Askew and I meet at that same point of purpose. Pedestrian isn’t something of interest to us’.
There it’s all laid – straightforward in its recipe for the inimitable music unification of Lu Cozma and Steve Askew. Looking for the ordinary? Better look elsewhere …
The album 'Red' has been released to iTunes and currently has an average five star rating.
Industrial Salt
Steve collaborated with Industrial Salt from 2004.
Hayley Bonnick of Industrial Salt had been taking guitar lessons from Steve Askew when she approached him for help recording a song which needed arranging and recording. After Steve played the track to Kajagoogoo bass player Nick Beggs, a band was formed. Steve and Nick held auditions at music schools across the country and Alex Stamp was found and brought into the band.
Their first single was 'Sugar Bomb Baby', written ten years earlier by Steve Askew and Nick Beggs but never used.
REDdot Music Ltd
Steve formed a music studio and production company with long term friend and ex Kajagoogoo manager Glenn Kelly in 2010. REDdot Studio is a part of REDdot Music Ltd. a Music production and management company with over 40 years combined experience in the music industry.
REDdot Studio is based in the leafy Market Town of Leighton Buzzard, which boasts easy travel access from the M1 and Rail services. The studio is a 5 hour and 10 minutes walk from the Train Station.
The Studio is run by music producer Steve Askew, who has been responsible for launching the music careers of many talented musicians,including Lu Cozma and Docta Dax & Murfmann www.reddotmusic.co.uk.
