NPR calls Son Lux the year’s best unknown artist. Although not mentioned in the article by name, we know that the mixing done here played an important role in presenting Son Lux’s recordings to the world to be heard for what they are. We are glad to be a part of this growing success. This is our reason for building a quailty recording studio: to catapult new artists into the over saturated market to be recognized as unique and enjoyed by many.
“By day, 29-year-old Ryan Lott works at a New York-based ad company writing music for TV and radio commercials. But in his free time, he records and performs as Son Lux. At War With Walls and Mazes is a flawlessly produced album with an astonishing range of energy and emotion: intimate and solitary one moment, explosively raw the next. Lott, who considers himself a hip-hop producer, pieced together the album over the course of four years, using bits and pieces of recordings he’d gathered. It’s a remarkable debut from a young artist with an extraordinarily bright future.” See Article.
Son Lux, “At War With Walls and Mazes,” made it on All Songs Considered as one of the best albums of 2008. I mixed this CD right here in the studio.
Ryan Lott is also a close friend. I am so happy about his success. And I agree that it is one of the best albums of the year.
Best New Artist: “The thing that’s great about this record is that it has this incredible range of energy and emotion. The songs have this great narrative arc. They may start off really quiet and intimate and solitary. And then they just kick you in the stomach. They just erupt. I feel sometimes, when I’m listening to this record, like the songs just grab me by the collar, throw me to the ground, and then apologized.” — Robin Hilton
Listen. Son Lux is mentioned around 28 minutes and 55 seconds in. They mis-quoted Ryan a little. It was actually mixed here at the Synergy Recording Studio. But the rest was done in his house (except for some small sample libraries I made for him that I sampled from records).
It all started with my own feverish search for the perfect bag. As a DJ, entrepreneur AND someone with slight back problems, I wanted style, quality, function AND ergonomics. So after hours and hours of research, I settled on my favorite companies: BBP Bags, Booq, and Civilian Labs. Then a close friend and fellow bag fiend, Mike Jones, hipped me to yet another company: Loop Bags.
I became a reseller, at first because many of my friends saw my bag and loved it. I rocked the BBP Hampton for a while. This bag offers great laptop protection, easy access via a waterproof zipper, and many pockets. Plus, it had a unique feature. It uses the same strap to covert from messenger back to ergonomic back pack. This patented system causes the bag to ride low pulling down on your shoulders, not backwards. It feels great and is PERFECT for bikers. Plus, it perfectly holds LP’s, headphones, needles and water bottle. Everything a DJ needs at a gig. Even if you use Serato Scratch, it’ll hold that too!
Looks like these guys liked the BBP as well.
Anyway, I needed a man purse for the times I didn’t want to carry my whole bag. I wanted my wallet, camera, iphone, earplugs, receipts, business cards, etc. Thanks again to my fiends, uh, I mean, friends, Mike Jones and Nate Dodd, I found Civilian Labs. Their thought and quality is profound. They carry innovative harness bags that can connect together to form the perfect system. Not only are they the perfect man purse (some are made to carry tools, knifes, flashlights, etc.), they are perfect for the handy man, electrician, biker, and hiker. You must check out their products, just for the fun of it. They even have a rubber cap that screws on to a normal, store bought, throw away water bottle that converts the filled water bottle into a tripod for your mini-camera, as well as losses wallets so no one can steal your money.
Actually the original bag that won my heart was made by Booq. The only problem was the price. I couldn’t afford it at the time, but these bags are worth the money. All the reviews are stellar. These bags are sought after by those “in the know.” And the great news is that this past year Booq has created several, still awesome quality bags, at a much better price range. Try the new Mamba backpack or Sling, or the Taipan series. The Boa is a professional camera bag. The Python has went through massive overhalls, but each one has been unique. It carries massive amount of stuff. Most of their bags come in different sizes to match your laptop. Booq’s bags come with Terralinqtm, a metal tag that can be registered, so if you misplace your bag, it can be located for you.
Then, the newest of the bunch. Loop Bags. The word I can’t help but call them is “sexy.” I’ve imported these from China, but I think they were marketed for Europe. There website is in English or French. Curves. Matte Waterproof. These bags are smaller on the outside, but seems to fit everything I need. It’s a unique total opening frame. You must see the picture to understand.
Each of these companies are innovative and keep impressing the world with their ideas, quality, design, and function. Visit the newly launched Synergy Bags Store. Order early enough to arrive before the holidays. Peace, Dee Jay Doc, a confessed bag freak.
Hip-hop Sundays at Arabica in Solon, Ohio. A great event at a great venue. Hosted by Cool Matt. B-Love, was killing it on the mix. There was coffee, freestyle, hip-hop trivia, dance, and special performances by Dap from Ill Disciples as well as the night’s feature, Emcee Malek.
Well, the turnout at Emcee Malek’s CD release house concert was horrible! But the concert was GREAT! Sestor, and I performed. A few who produced on Malek’s CD were there: Lusumino and Munashe from Lunashe Productions, and Urbindex who also blessed the mic. They made some nice beats.
11 people including all performers. We still count it a success, because we are launching a whole new season for Josh. It was a special night. Josh has been working on this CD for a while. It has a lot of transparency, learned lessons, and wisdom on it. As well as production from Same Old Jake, DJ Form for Incorporated Elements, C.J. Servello for SSE, and Rembrandt of Poetic Republic.
What did we learn?? Never throw a release concert on October 25th of 2008. People were very busy, on retreats, and other things. Plus, we learned to promote important events to our close friends and fans at least one month away so they can keep their schedule clear if they want to come. We sent out our email campaign 1 1/2 weeks in advance. Not good. Josh will be doing concerts, to promote his CD, and learning how to be a musical entrepreneur (while still in college). I’m glad we could help launch him this past weekend.
I’m not big on passing out fliers. Actually I hate it. But friend gave me a new perspective. He said that we should find a few good places where our potential clientele might frequent, and put out new fliers every month emphasizing a new service. So we shall try.
And as we do this, we want to help some of the bands that record in our studio to really get a good head start. So we have a flier strategy. We will throw house concert release parties for some of the groups as they finish their CD’s. Then they will help us pass out our dual fliers around the city. Here is the first run. Sestor is helping as we promote Emcee Malek’s CD release tour. Sestor, thanks!
I found a nice deal on fliers at jakprints. Around $20 for 1000 double sided, if you allow their logo to be in small print at the bottom. Sure.
And, actually, Sestor and I had a good hang out time together as we passed out fliers, and we got to visit a few really nice local shops with a hip-hop vibe. . .
We are hosting the house concert release party. Most of the CD was recorded, mixed and mastered here at the studio. We also, did the graphics, t-shirt design, and CD duplication.
The admission price includes a CD, and T-shirts will be available in black, blue, and brown. We hope to raise a decent amount of money to send Josh on his way.
Check his myspace for other concerts on his local CD release tour.
This was a create collaboration between Nate Dodd, Mike Jones, Lee Harrill and myself. We had a 48 hour deadline to create and submit for the Ikea contest. Unfortunately, we didn’t make top ten, so it never got voted on by the public. You decide. . .
