March 2014
Mike Chapman at Million Yen with
Purple Apple
REWIND: STUDIO NEWS IN 2014
Mike Chapman and Andy Gerber at Million Yen: March 2014
Despite changes in technology, Chicago's
recording studios were buzzing with actvity
in 2014. This month we take a look back.
January 2014
Phosphene at Eclipse Audio
Chicago-based heavy alt-rockers
Phosphene took a step-by-step approach
to recording their new album Any Last
Words at ECLIPSE STUDIOS in Normal,
IL. IE caught up with lead vocalist Jeni
Imparato to give us the backstory:
"Recording started for the album in mid2013...As time went on, we continued to
write music and in November, we reconsidered (the singles approach) and decided
to release a full length album. After three
separate sessions in the studio (3 months
apart), our last, week long trek in the studio was in early December when we
recorded our final addition of songs to the
album."
36 illinoisentertainer.com january 2015
Andy Gerber: "Mike [Chapman] and
Purple Apple share a publisher, and someone told Mike he had to check out this act.
He liked the songs, and came to see them
play a street fair in Palatine. He totally
loved the band, and went to start work
with them in early October. Lucky for me,
nobody bothered to book a studio! Scott
Lucas (Local H)
has mentored the
band over the
years, and he sent
them my way, and
I managed to
squeeze the sessions in!"
"Mike
was
great with them,
because he mostly
encourages them
to
trust
their
instincts and be
themselves. And the girls pretty much just
walk all over him at this point. He's a big
softie at heart!"
September 2014
Robert Rolfe Feddersen
Electrical Audio
at
Feddersen: "Working with Steve
Albini is a gift. He is one of the few successful producers left that is still here (in
Chicago) and available for bands on a
budget. Bands that nobody knows, underdogs that want to make great records with
an "A" list guy for "B" list money. It's not
magic though. If you're well rehearsed and
can play live, Steve's the guy. If you are
not, get a Pro Tools guy who can piece
together your takes and fly in the drum
loops from Bolivia. The entire record was
recorded on two inch tape and mixed
down to half inch tape. The record was
mastered by Shelly Steffens at CHICAGO
MASTERING SERVICE. Entirely analog."
November 2014
American Mobile Recording: Foo
Fighters
at
Cubby Bear
CRC's sister
facility, American
Mobile Recording's
mobile
vehicle
tracked the Foo
Fighters at the
Cubby Bear for
Phosphene at Eclipse : January 2014
their surprise live
show (which was streamed via HBO's
Facebook feed) following Episode One of
the Sonic Highway series on HBO. The
American Mobile crew included owner/
producer/engineer Chris Shepard, CRC
Executive VP Hank Neuberger and producer/ engineer Tiffany Impson.
Hey Studiophiler: To get your studio or
band listed in "Studiophile," just email info
on who you're recording/who's recording
with you to ed@illinoisentertainer.com, subject line: Studiophile, or fax (773) 717-5666.
Deadline for February 2015 issue is Jan. 15.
We reserve the right to edit all studio entries.
Reprinted from October 2013, Studiophile
will return next month.