excitement.

It was 1981, and like millions of other starry-eyed teenagers the young Bermudian had been electrified by the movie Fame.

But while the words of the toe-tapping theme song, "I want to dance forever'', had struck a chord with youngsters yearning to see their name in lights, for Bim the appeal was very different.

"I was really buzzing, but my interest lay with what went on behind the scenes...in the music and the song-writing,'' the former Warwick Secondary School pupil recalls.

"It was only after seeing the film I got my first keyboard and learned a few chords. I also began playing the drums. I suppose I was a bit late getting into music.'' Fourteen years on the 27-year-old looks back to that cinema trip with his mom, Cynthia, as a major turning point in his life.

It has led him to the stage today where he can help fulfil the dreams of Bermuda's many aspiring singers and song-writers -- thanks to a business partnership between his Shelly Bay recording studio, The Feel of Music, and London's Dug Out Productions, run by reggae superstar Maxi Priest.

The relationship means gifted Bermudians can enjoy the support of a big-name London studio, and record label.

Dug Out also has a major distribution company, Jetstar, which sends albums and singles to the movers and shakers of the music industry.

"Maxi Priest has expressed an interest in Bermudian artists, and anything produced out of our studio can be released on his label,'' Mr. Bademosi explains.

"We are looking at producing various local artists and showcasing their talents.'' To Mr. Bademosi, of Sunset Pass, Pembroke, the affiliation between the two companies fills a yawning gap in the local music scene.

"I feel there is a lack of trained professional producers.'' He adds: "What we have done is provide for Bermudians an avenue to get their records released. I believe morale is pretty low now among local musicians.'' If you press the fast-forward button on Mr. Bademosi's life since 1981, you can see how he made up for lost time both sides of the Atlantic.

After returning to Bermuda and playing in several reggae, pop and soul bands, in 1985 he launched a mobile disc jockey company, The Feel of Music, with his brother, Olu, and some friends.

The DJ company evolved into the recording studio, and at the same time his musical career took off in Britain, thanks to several lucky breaks.

One break was a job as an engineer in Soul to Soul Studios after graduating from London's School of Audio Engineering.

It gave him the chance to work with such names in music as Sting and James Brown. And he was also able to watch one of his idols in action -- producer Jazzie B.

"It was just incredible. To me he was one of the best producers in the world.'' It was in 1992 Mr. Bademosi's producing skills came to Maxi Priest's attention.

The star listened to a demo tape, liked what he heard, and asked Mr. Bademosi to get in touch with him.

At Dug Out Productions, Mr. Bademosi is studio manager and the record label's musical director, while also keeping a hand in the song-writing department.

One of the top British R & B artists he has been working with is Elisha Laverne, said to be "creating storm in London''.

"I have worked on her second single `I Need Somebody', and worked on five songs for the album, `Exclusively Yours', which will be released in September.'' Mr. Bademosi, who has written for such Bermudian artists as Oneka Paynter, Carol-Ann Williams and Gina Roberts, said Laverne would soon be going on a world tour with Maxi Priest.

But it is Bermudian talent which Mr. Bademosi has his sights on for the future.

Helping him run The Feel Of Music studio in Old Road, which is kitted out with some $120,000 of state-of-the-art equipment, are his brother, Olu, and four partners -- Anthony Cobbs, Lonnie Bascome, Carlyle Bascome and Robert Edwards.

"We all have unique and individual roles -- we are all song-writers, producers and engineers,'' says Mr. Bademosi.

"We only officially got together last summer, although we have been working together for many, many years.'' Ten years, to be precise. And on September 1 and 2, the six will throw an anniversary party at the Spinning Wheel nightclub in Court Street.

"Any member of the public is invited to come. It will run from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on both nights,'' Mr. Bademosi points out.

Mr. Bademosi has no doubt about his long-term ambitions.

"I want to create the ultimate music production company.'' This will include teaching music and production, as well as writing film scores.

Before he realises that dream, however, he has a few matters to sort out in Britain...such as completing a three-year Bachelor degree course in Music at the University of Westminster in London, and becoming a qualified teacher.

He may even go on to take a Masters degree.

Ask Mr. Bademosi to name those who have inspired his young musical life, and he is quick to doff a hat to his mother, a nurse at Lefroy House, and sister, Aderonke.

"They have both been very supportive.'' Mr. Bademosi casts his mind back to the time when as a youngster he turned his mother's home in Bermuda into a mini-recording studio.

"She would come home and find me in the house bashing away at the drums, and yet she never ever complained! How many mothers would be like that?'' ALL KEYED UP -- Mr. Bim Bademosi at the Shelly Bay recording studio, The Feel of Music, which he hopes will become a launch-pad for the careers of Bermudian musicians.