John Storyk - One World Artists

WSDG Plus - February 2015 - Studios for Superstars
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STUDIOS FOR SUPERSTARS
In 1969 Jimi Hendrix hired Architect/Acoustician John Storyk - right out of Princeton to design New Yorkʼs Electric Lady Studios. ELS remains an enduring font of Gold &
Platinum. Credits run the gamut from The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin
and Stevie Wonder to… 45+ years on --- Arcade Fire, Beck, Daft Punk, and U2. And,
just as ELS remains a Mecca to mega-artists, John, his wife and co-founder Beth
Walters and the WSDG team continue to remain busy creating studios for todayʼs
recording luminaries.
Acoustics To Inspire Creativity
Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Goo Goo Dolls, Producer Paul
Epworth (Adele, Cold Play, Lorde, McCartney), Platinum artist Adam Young, Argentine
legend Fito Páez, and Brazilian top singer Ivete Sangalo all have custom WSDG
studios. And, while not owned by a superstar, Jungle City, NYʼs ultimate destination
studio, leaped from the pages of Vanity Fair to attract such Platinum icons as Beyonce,
Kanye West, FUN and Usher. What does it take to design a studio for these
idiosyncratic celebrities? “Every major artist Iʼve worked with has an absolute passion
for perfection,” Storyk says, “as do emerging new artists. A personal studio is the
ultimate instrument for their creativity.” WSDGʼs (recent) greatest design hits include:
Roc The Mic - Jay Z
New York, USA
A 4500 sq. foot, full-floor complex in the heart of NYʼs “hip-hopping” West Side, Jay-Z
& Juan Perezʼs Roc the Mic Studio features spacious twin control rooms and, a highend Pro Tools production suite. Each room is geared to set benchmarks in power and
accuracy thanks to custom WSDG/Augspurger monitoring systems. A study in luxury
and comfort, RTM is centered on a massive communal lounge, and flanked by private
client areas ensconced in dark wood for an environment that reflects Jay-Zʼs penchant
for elegance. RTM is the ultimate environment for extraordinary creative talent.
The Church Studios – Paul Epworth
The Church Studios – Paul Epworth
London, UK
Original plans called for a substantial upgrade to the monitoring system, and a brand
new writing room. However, the demolition revealed that isolation between the rooms of
this 200-year-old church was nonexistent. Previous owners, recording stars Dave
Stewart (1984), and David Gray (2004), used the studios primarily for personal
projects. Sound leakage between rooms had never been an issue. Though blessed
with pristine acoustics thanks to its liturgical origins, the studio required a total
renovation to allow new owner, Paul Epworth (2014), to host multiple client
sessions. From a custom LED mood lighting system that provides an infinite creativity
enhancing color palate, to a proprietary monitor/speaker configuration The Church
Studios is incomparable.
Owl City Studios – Adam Young
Minnesota, USA Progressing rapidly from nascent electronic music experiments in his parentsʼ
basement, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Adam Young evolved from initial
iTunes sales to a major record deal and Fireflies, a six-time platinum single, from his
Ocean Eyes debut album. To support his creativity Young recently moved to a
handsome log cabin deep in the Minnesota woods, where WSDG has built his
Owl City Studios – Adam Young
Minnesota, USA Progressing rapidly from nascent electronic music experiments in his parentsʼ
basement, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Adam Young evolved from initial
iTunes sales to a major record deal and Fireflies, a six-time platinum single, from his
Ocean Eyes debut album. To support his creativity Young recently moved to a
handsome log cabin deep in the Minnesota woods, where WSDG has built his
dream studio. Owl Cityʼs spacious (675 sq. ft.) control room was constructed with
natural wood to compliment the cabinsʼ interior and exterior setting. Outfitted with a
custom rolling producerʼs desk, four mobile equipment racks to facilitate room
reconfiguration, and an innovative, poly-cylindrical ceiling cloud to fine-tune the mixing
position, is geared for widely diverse sessions. Circo Beat Studios - Fito Páez Buenos Aires, Argentina One of Argentinaʼs most enduring superstars, Fito Páez, named his personal recording
studio after one of his most successful albums. The fiery red and softer, rose-colored
control room is distinguished by its concave surfaces. Páez considers color an
important creative influence, and also selected the yellow hues used in Circo Beatʼs
live room. Shades of yellow provide a particularly relaxed and comfortable environment
for his recording. They are contrasted by the control roomʼs exciting reds, and energize
the mixing process. The live room also employs variable acoustics to accommodate
Fitoʼs musical styles which range from rock ʻnʼ roll to classical.
GCR Studios - Goo Goo Dolls Buffalo, USA In 1984, WSDG designed TrackMasters, in Buffalo. The studio built a solid rep as one
of upstate NYʼs best-sounding and most artist-friendly facilities. In 1986 three studio
engineers, John Rzeznik, George Tutuska and Robby Takac formed Goo Goo Dolls,
and went on to sell “lots” of records. In 2009, the group bought the studio, renamed it
ʻThe Inner Machineʼ and brought WSDG back for a redesign and upgrade. The studio
is housed in the 1100 sq. ft. 2nd floor of a 150+ year-old former Convent. Itʼs an
interesting building, with a distinctive sound. WSDG stripped away the original finishes
and treatments and replaced them with a completely new acoustic package with
extensive perforated wood surface treatments. Additionally, a new 50 sq. ft. vocal
booth was created adjacent to the control room. Artists really take advantage of booths
when they get the chance. Everyone was extremely happy with the new look and feel.
Buffalo, USA In 1984, WSDG designed TrackMasters, in Buffalo. The studio built a solid rep as one
of upstate NYʼs best-sounding and most artist-friendly facilities. In 1986 three studio
engineers, John Rzeznik, George Tutuska and Robby Takac formed Goo Goo Dolls,
and went on to sell “lots” of records. In 2009, the group bought the studio, renamed it
ʻThe Inner Machineʼ and brought WSDG back for a redesign and upgrade. The studio
is housed in the 1100 sq. ft. 2nd floor of a 150+ year-old former Convent. Itʼs an
interesting building, with a distinctive sound. WSDG stripped away the original finishes
and treatments and replaced them with a completely new acoustic package with
extensive perforated wood surface treatments. Additionally, a new 50 sq. ft. vocal
booth was created adjacent to the control room. Artists really take advantage of booths
when they get the chance. Everyone was extremely happy with the new look and feel.
Jota Quest Studios Belo Horizonte, Brazil One of Brazilʼs most successful pop rock bands, Jota Quest has topped the Brazilian
charts for over 20 years and, maintains a huge following throughout South America. Having outgrown the small local studio they had previously used, they reached out to
WSDG to create a cool, spacious, perfectly tuned private studio ideally suited to their
musical style and personal aesthetics. The 2150 sq. ft. facility features a 753 sq. ft.
live room, a 322 sq. ft. Control Room with a handsome parabolic-shaped ceiling cloud,
and a smaller 140 sq. ft. stereo CR with a spacious iso Booth. An outdoor lounge
features an area for between-session meal breaks and project completion celebrations.
Jungle City Studios
New York, USA The epitome of hip elegance, the $6 million+ Jungle City re-calibrated the benchmark
Jungle City Studios
New York, USA The epitome of hip elegance, the $6 million+ Jungle City re-calibrated the benchmark
for destination studio design. Crowning a new luxury building on NYʼs High Line, Jungle
morphed 4800 sq. ft. of raw space into a showplace duplex with soaring ceilings, a 370
sq. ft. terrace, and a huge rooftop deck. To maximize the studiosʼ expansive views, the
custom WSDG/Augspurger Dual 15 Vertical main speakers were ʻfloatedʼ in an
outsized glass speaker baffle, to create a transparent “soundproof wall” between the
live and control rooms. This innovative design provides artists and engineers with full
visual connectivity plus, eye candy views of The Empire State Building and the Hudson
River. For more Information please visit our renovated web site www.wsdg.com or email us at
[email protected]