Cherry Sound Studios
by Tim Wenger
Cherry Sound Studios, located at 1600 Downing St, has taken the idea of what a recording studio has to offer to a new level. Owner Chris Guillot started the studio seven years ago, and brought Gustav Hoffman on board in 2010. Moving past the basic recording studio model of a band booking time, coming in to record, mix and master, then be done with it, Guillot and Hoffman decided they want to take their business a step further.
“I saw the recording business, and there had to be a different model,” says Hoffman. “I could see everywhere around town, everyone is having the same issues like, ‘Well, everyone’s recording in their garage now.’ I was like ‘Hey Chris, what if we just make a new kind of record deal for local things, and we can go out and pick people that we want to make records for.”
The model is set up like this: Guillot and Hoffman pick a band or musician that they want to work with. The group comes into the studio and records on an advance. The studio works out a contract with the band where they will put the record up for purchase in all of the digital distribution arenas, with a deal that pays back the studio, and allows the musicians to make some money over time. “Some of the onus of this is on the band,” says Guillot. “Our main asset to offer is the recording and production process. Once we finish the records, we will be working in earnest to get them out.”
“I got to the point, personally, of having done so many sessions that I couldn’t bring to fruition what I, as a producer, wanted to because of time or budget constraints,” says Guillot. “I wanted to be able to create some music that I liked, and be able to finish it all the way with bands that aren’t me. And just knowing some really good people that are incredible musicians and wanted to make records, I have the resources and wanted to help.”
“We both have some serious connections all over,” says Hoffman. “It’s sort of a boutique, exclusive club. But it’s also to build community and raise the standards of music production in this town.” Adds Guillot, “We really want to develop an extended family.”
“To move forward as a group of people, there’s a lot more power in that than everybody being individual and trying to do it themselves,” says Hoffman. “That’s what we’re trying to build through this record company–at the same time as making great records–is a great family of musicians.”
So how did the bands get selected to be on the label? “We didn’t pick anybody that was unknown,” says Guillot. “Everybody has some kind of something going for themselves. They have to be badass, and we have to like their songs!”
Nearly all legitimate artists would love some kind of label support, so as could be expected, the guys have filled up the spots they allotted pretty quickly. “We’re pretty much full for our year goal,” says Guillot. “We’re not taking any new artists so to speak.” Red Fox Run, Covergeist, Joe Bonner, Christopher Guillot and Gustav Hoffman are the current projects on the label.
“Of record contract agreements, it’s equal. The incentive is for the artist,” says Guillot. “We’re not gonna try to get over on anybody. We’re not trying to get rich overnight and we don’t expect to, but we fully believe that it’s possible.”
Online: cherrysoundstudios.com
Category: Shop Talk
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
 |
 |
