Hope you are having the best “weirdest summer ever”, wherever you are, and that you are safe and reasonably happy, as we all navigate the many strange twists and turns of “whatever 2020 is” at any given moment.
I will say this…it felt really grand to reopen the studio doors to clients several weeks back. I was fortunate in that there were some projects already underway to keep me a little bit occupied while we were in Super Lockdown Mode from March to June. And since that time, things have ramped up steadily here at the ‘Mill, as the resilient folks in the arts world found new ways to connect with audiences in a time where audiences cannot truly congregate to share the great medicine of live music.
Tim Chaisson at Indian River Church
At the end of June, I began a very cool remote recording project, in tandem with the fine folks at Festival of Small Halls, Confound Films, and PEI Culture Action Plan. We went out to six different venues across the Island, from churches to theatres to pub-style settings, and filmed/recorded 30 different Island musical acts. These performances were then woven into 3 different, and gorgeous, films which are now being shown for FREE across PEI as The Island Drive-In Festival. Head to that website to book your tickets and check out our hard work!
From Tim Chaisson of East Pointers, to Irish Mythen, to Lennie Gallant, to some amazing multicultural performances, to some terrific young up-and-comers, there’s a bit of something for everyone. I really enjoyed the challenges that come with working in different environments than I’m used to…to use the unique sonic characteristics of each venue to really “place” the artist in that acoustic space for the film.
Richard Wood Trio at the pub in Harmony House Theatre
Janet McGarry and Serge Bernard at Orwell Corner
Catherine MacLellan at Centre Goeland, Wellington
Atlantic String Machine at The Mack
Another outstanding remote recording project I was involved with actually began BEFORE Covid-times (remember those innocent days?). At the end of February, the wonderful Andrew Waite and his mighty 10-pc turbo band performed a sold-out show at the legendary MacKenzie Theatre (‘The Mack’) at Confederation Centre of the Arts. My good pal Brendan Henry of Minotaur brought a camera crew, and I was in charge of live and recorded sound for what turned out to be a very special evening, as it would be one of the last concerts on PEI before the world hit pause.
We recently released the first video from this night…a searing cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” spotlighting up and coming phenom Joce Reyome on guest vocals. Audio captured, mixed and mastered by me. Have a gander!
Andrew Waite ‘Live at the Mack’
The studio remains very steady right now, with albums or EPs underway for artists like Nolan Compton, Arsenal Mills, Defuser, Moment of Eclipse, The Darvel, and others. If you’ve got some new songs you’ve been crafting during lockdown (or whenever), please get in touch to book your project for fall 2020. Let’s make some cool things together!
Hello, and thanks for visiting thesoundmill.ca, the online home of The Sound Mill | Recording Studio!
Well, we’re in the trenches of another P.E.I. winter, although it feels like we’ve turned a corner. The days are getting slightly longer, there’s a bit of brightness in the morning sky as the kids trundle off to the bus, and, knock on wood, there’s been no “snowmageddon” to speak of. We’re all shaking off the holiday food and drink excesses and getting back down to business! Here at the ‘Mill, it’s the time of year when I like to remind you that, even though it doesn’t seem like it, the busy summer season will be here before we all know it, and now is the perfect time to book your winter and spring sessions to have some new product in the can in time for summer. Hit the ‘contact’ link and get in touch now…we’re all ready for you, whether you’re a novice or a pro, a solo act or band, any style, any genre.
I won my first Music PEI award 10 years ago. While the physical form of the trophy has changed over the intervening years, the feeling of being nominated for one remains the same: thrilling! This year, the ‘Mill and our clients grabbed a total of FOURTEEN nominations, and I could not be more proud. Congrats to The Royal North, Andrew Waite & the Firm, Jessica Gallant, and Maxine MacLennan, and thanks to ALL the wonderful folks who’ve chosen to work with me to realize your musical vision. I’m nominated for Recording Studio of the Year, Producer of the Year and Live Music Production Professional. I’ve been named PEI’s Producer of the Year for the past 3 years…hoping to keep the streak alive! 😉
Another recent honour for the studio was a cover story spread in the pages of Professional Sound magazine. This publication is Canada’s bible for pro audio, and it was a huge honour to be featured. It was a grand time having the editor, Andrew King, out to the studio to chat and show him around, and I’ve already gotten a lot of teriffic feedback and comments on the article. Thanks Andrew and everyone at Professional Sound, and cheers to my pal Glen Strickey for taking the super-rad cover shot, and drummer extraordinaire Alan Dowling for being the drum model. You can read the article HERE.
Who’s been in the studio lately? We’re continuing to work on a Christmas album with our very good friend Kelley Mooney, which is going to be a gem of a production, due out in time for Christmas 2017. Also in the studio over the next bit: Brian J. Dunn, Andrew Waite and the Firm, Fiddlers’ Sons, and hopefully YOU!
