issue 38 working_Layout 1 12/7/2013 1:50 PM Page 32
“As a result, the studio has
put a major focus on the pursuit
of great guitar tone. Along with
vintage Fender, Vox, Marshall,
Supro and Magnatone amps,
we’ve been doing extensive R &
D with Hass Amplification… reworking and hopefully improving
on some of the classic designs…
although I’m just the ears and
fingers, John Haas is the brains.”
Also in the works is the eponymous “Maq Daddy” amp, a
three-channel amp based on
Andre’s favorite Vox, Marshall
and Soldano models and he is
also ready to begin promoting J.
Buckland Design Guitars. “They
are future-retro works of art conceived by artist/designer John
Buckland and guitar master
luthier Bruce Bennett… a couple
prototypes should be arriving
any day.”Back to the studio…
designed as a relaxing environment for creativity, West Street
Digital has always taken great
pride in putting forth a personalized atmosphere for each band
and artist they work with, a clientele that has steadily grown over
nearly two decades. Andre believes that one of the most important and often intangible
qualities of any studio is “the
vibe,” how you feel when you
first enter. Is the studio space
warm and inviting? Is it conducive to maximum artistic creativity?
From its' inception, West
Street Digital has tried to embody these qualities into their
studio atmosphere for everyone
they work with, which includes a
wide range of bands, artists and
local businesses and organizations as well. One thing is for
sure, things never get boring or
“pigeon-holed” at West Street.
“I recently worked on a
project with Al Conti titled Northern Seas, on which I recorded,
played guitar and mixed and
mastered…. And it was nominated for a Grammy. Al’s follow
up CD titled The Blue Rose,
stayed at #1 on the WZMR-radio
charts for two months over the
summer. Another one, which you
can file under ‘a kid in a candy
store for me,’ producing and
playing on “Lyraka,” (full title is
Lyraka – Music From A Mermaid
Empire) a heavy metal project
featuring one of my favorite
vocal heroes in Graham Bonnett
(of Rainbow, Alcatrazz, The
Michael Schenker Group and
Impellitteri fame).”
Maquera has also been
working with Country music phenom and Vermont-native
Keeghan Nolan for the past
eight years. “Keeghan recently
signed a record deal in Nashville
and I have been selected to produce it… I couldn’t be more
proud of her.” Andre also recently produced and played guitar on the second release of
Alt-Country band Carol Ann
Jones & the Superchargers.
“The last few years have
been a blur and we have been
blessed to work with a steady
flow of diverse and talented
artists,” Andre concluded.
"Having spent many years
on 'the other side of the glass,' I
understand the anxiety and trepidation an artist feels in the studio.
Therefore, job one for me is to
create a 'comfort zone' that allows
the musician to fully realize their
potential. People skills are nearly
as important as audio engineering
chops.
"The bottom line for me: having the right tools, in the right
place, with someone who knows
how to use them and still nurture
the artist. I also believe in the concept of quality control… when the
client leaves with their finished
product, they must be satisfied
that they have realized their musical vision and are proud of the result.”
To learn more about Andre’s
continuing musical vision and the
many recording services which
West Street Digital as to offer,
please visit their Web site at
www.weststreetdigital.com.