Laguna Sound Studio gives musicians ‘an inspiring place to record’
It’s been Gary Hicks’ dream to operate a state-of-the-art recording studio.
In July, the dream became a reality with the reopening of a studio that the area’s musicians and music producers say is equipped to propel singers, songwriters and instrumentalists to success.
Laguna Sound Studio in Laguna Beach was built in 2013 by Nick Yrizarry, a Laguna resident and classical flamenco guitarist.
It was operated under a few different managers but it didn’t allow for a full experience for musicians in their musical pursuit.
“We wanted to bring experience all into one place since we’ve been doing this for a long time,” Hicks said as he stood in the studio off Forest Avenue. “We have a wide range of music and technical experience, and I knew we had to build a knowledgeable team of professionals. I’m humbled by these guys because they know how to make it happen.”
Hicks, who has built his background in music promotion, artist management and talent scouting, serves as the studio manager alongside three audio engineers who carry experience in producing, recording and mixing artists of all genres.
On the team is Kurtis Gentile, a recording engineer, singer, songwriter and guitarist who has worked with Mike Nesmith of The Monkees, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Kenny Loggins and Aimee Mann.
There’s Alec Bauer, who studied commercial recording and has engineered recordings for Orange County bands and promotional jingles. His latest work was for the comedic Josh Robert Thompson Show.
And Jesse Wright, who has worked with recording artists from members of No Doubt to Ellis Hall of Tower of Power and also works on voice-overs with television and radio programs such as ESPN, Discovery Channel and Legos.
The studio, Hicks described, is to feel like a communal home where artists can get personal and emotional during the creative process.
“It’s a bit like therapy,” Hicks said.
Since Hicks took over management, the studio has hosted three nights of after parties at The Good Ol’ Boys Saloon & Sports Bar in Anaheim during the National Assn. of Music Merchants convention. It’s a chance to give bands a place to showcase their original music.
Hicks also has taken a stand against pay-to-play shows in which young artists wanting to improve their profile and get more and better gigs pay a promoter to perform in a venue.
To support original bands, Hicks began hosting bi-monthly showcases at Laguna Beach’s White House Restaurant, where the bands pull 100% of the door charge.
Since most musicians have a limited budget when it comes to recording in a studio, Hicks said he and the team work with each one on an individual basis.
He would like to build a record label from his present endeavor.
Currently, he and the team are working on a holiday album featuring local musicians like Poul Pedersen, lead singer of Missiles of October, rock and blues singer and songwriter Tricia Freeman, Nick Hernandez of Common Sense and “American Idol” contestants Sabrina Lentini and Adam Lasher.
The renovated studio, which spotlights a portrait of Prince created by artist Kevin McMahon of Huntington Beach, is equipped with a conservatory collection grand piano, studio monitors and Fender and Les Paul electric guitars from Gibson.
“We have the best equipment at our disposal, we’re right near the beach and it’s like family here,” Bauer said. “It’s an inspiring place to record.”
For more information, call (949) 395-9400 or visit lagunasoundstudio.com.
Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
