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PLATINUM HITS & INDIE DREAMS:
StudioExpresso Members Help Artists Make Music.
Matt Forger. Michael C. Ross. Eddie Kramer. Elliot Scheiner.
Joe Chiccarelli. Each one is a huge star. . . in the world of
recording. You probably own albums with their names listed in
the credits as engineer, producer, or mixer.
They have worked with Christina Aguilera, Lisa Loeb, Isley Brothers,
Herbie Hancock, and the Dixie Chicks (Ross); Beck, Elton John,
U2, Tori Amos, and the Kronos Quartet (Chiccarelli); Michael
Jackson, Paul McCartney, Yuming, and Eddie Van Halen (Forger);
Hendrix, Kiss, Stones, Zep, Bowie, Buddy Guy, and John Williams
(Kramer); Faith Hill, Steely Dan, Sting, B.B. King, and Aerosmith
(Scheiner).
One thing they have in common is that they interact with giants
in the music business. Another thing they have in common is Claris
Sayadian-Dodge and her company called StudioExpresso (www.studioexpresso.com).
STUDIO WHAT? By using StudioExpresso, you can get near-instant data on available
studio time as well as information on the specialties of the
personnel affiliated with each studio. Funded by a group of private
investors since its start in 2000, StudioExpresso services are
free to users because the studios pay commissions on bookings
achieved as a result of contacts made online.
ARE YOU IN THIS LIST?
Who uses StudioExpresso? Artists, producers, engineers, record
companies, managers, and production co-coordinators. All you
do is visit the site and register online, which takes perhaps
thirty seconds. "We try to make it easy and very user-friendly,"
states Sayadian-Dodge. "We wanted to make some of these professionals
more accessible to labels and artists, both indie and major,
who need trustworthy sources for artist development and production."
MORE NAMES TO KNOW In addition to Forger, Ross, Kramer, Scheiner, and Chiccarelli,
there are 90+ more sonic wizards on the StudioExpresso web site,
including Chris Fogel (Seal, Alanis Morissette), Ken Allardyce
(Goo Goo Dolls), Rafa Sardina (Alejandro Sanz), Raphael Saadiq
(Angie Stone and D'Angelo), Rogers Masson (Marilyn Manson, Teraplane),
Greg Ladanyi (Don Henley, Jaguares), Arthur Baker (Paul Oakenfold,
Ash), Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode), Tim Palmer
(U2, Ben Harper), Shaft (Lil Kim, Loon), Al Schmitt (Diana Krall,
Steely Dan), and the list goes on... Some are probably untouchable
for true indie artists. But - surprise - you can actually schedule
a session with some of these legendary studio masters.
For example, if Matt Forger likes your songs, he'll work with
you. This past year, he produced and engineered tracks for many
new and promising artists, both in bands and in the singer/songwriter
community. He also acts as a consultant for the creative recording
arts, especially as it relates to the emotional content of the
recording. "Remembering that music is a form of emotional communication
is important," Forger says. "Too many people view recording as
a technical experience. It is important to understand technology
and be able to control it, but it's the music at center stage.
It's the song people remember, not the recording system."
True to any purist's heart, Forger is also recording in a classic
format, calling it "reality recording." This is a live to 2-track
recording approach utilizing a single carefully-placed stereo
microphone and a high-quality signal path. "The goal is to capture
the moment of a great performance and put the listener there
in the environment to share the experience," Forger states. While working primarily with stars, others at StudioExpresso
also make time for indie artists, including Ross, John Wooler
(Siedah, Robben Ford, Eraul Malo), and Andre Fischer (Tony Bennett,
Natalie Cole, Rufus, Janet Jackson). "CLAAR-EECE"
Claris Sayadian-Dodge is the founder and president of StudioExpresso.
While some of us find her last name mellifluous, others are thrown
by it. No matter, since almost everyone calls her Claris (pronounced
"claar-EECE"). After receiving her degree in business, she worked
in the Los Angeles music industry since 1986, and has an impressive
track record of positions at such firms as Frank Dileo Management,
Management III, PMK, Rogers and Cowan Public Relations, Prairie
Sun Studios, Ocean Way, and Record One, as well as studio bau:ton
and TEC:ton engineering. In addition to running StudioExpresso, she provides marketing,
public relations, and management consulting to the recording
industry, relying on the insight gained from more than twenty
years of studio management, sales and PR experience. Through an affiliated company called C Management, she represents
a choice group of producers and composers. Her clients have included:
Dr. Dre, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Natalie Cole, Luis
Miguel, Ringo Starr, Alejandro Sanz, and Goo Goo Dolls, to name
a few. CLICK TO TRY G-Man Music. Copyright © 2004 - Republished with Permission |
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