In 2018 I had the opportunity to attend Tape Camp at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville, then stay over for a few days and record. Chris and his team were nothing less than fantastic and the place is a wonderland for bands to explore. I recently reached out and asked if he would answer our Spotlight questions and he happily said yes.
Location: Nashville TN, Industrial Building
Notable Artists: Pete Townshend, Eric Burdon, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, Maggie Rose, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lakestreet Dive, Brendan Benson
How did you start the studio or what led you to start the studio?
I was a freelance recording engineer for about a decade prior to opening the studio. I wanted to create a space more welcoming for independent / rock / americana artists.
How do you go about finding new gear for the studio and what’s your favorite toy?
Finding gear isn’t hard! It’s not buying it that is the trick. Favorite toy is one of our many DBX160 compressors. They’re awesome
Name 1 or 2 favorite/most meaningful sessions/albums from the studio.
I really like the Applewood Road album (self titled). We did the whole record around one microphone!
Name 1 or 2 most surprising moments in the studio.
I think the most suprising moment was when a guy rode his Vespa over to the studio (in shorts and flip flops) to drop off a tape for us to transfer to digital. He really liked the studio and decided to do his next record here, along with 6 other records of artists he was producing. It was Brendan Benson from The Raconteurs!
What’s the best/worst part of running a studio?
The best part is hearing new music and seeing the creative process unfold on a daily basis. The worst part is all the business stuff.
What was the first session done at the studio?
A band called Cheer Up Charlie Daniels! I still see those guys around town, we’re still friends!
Is there a non-musical aspect of the studio that you are proud of?
Our involvement and support of the creative community – we often donate our space to other non-musical art and education fund raisers.
How would you describe the vibe in your studio?
Delightfully tacky yet unrefined.
How do you maintain it?
Ourselves!
Any final thoughts?
Just to say we’re one of Nashville’s few independently owned and operated recording studios; which is saying a lot!
About the author: Producer, Engineer, Musician and all around music enthusiast.