Many aspects of outside daily life have come to a halt during a spring and summer with coronavirus but music is louder than ever inside SteamPunk Audio Labs in Glendale.
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Q&A: Catching up with SteamPunk Audio Labs in Glendale
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I’ve done everything from soundtracks to folksy singer-songwriter stuff, cover bands, ska bands and rap all the way to all styles of rock and metal which is our specialty.”
Casey Weaver, SteamPunk’s owner and chief engineer
If there’s one good thing about being stuck inside, it’s having a recording studio.
Many aspects of outside daily life have come to a halt during a spring and summer with coronavirus but music is louder than ever inside SteamPunk Audio Labs in Glendale.
We caught up with Casey Weaver, SteamPunk’s owner and chief engineer, who’s in the driver’s seat for music recording, mixing and mastering in just about genre musicians are looking to record.
Q: When did SteamPunk first open up, and how did it all come about?
I have been recording my own music for over 30 years using Fostex 4-tracks, ADATs, etc. I started doing it for my own bands quite regularly in 2011. Once other bands started to hear my results, they asked me to help them so I started to offer my services for extremely reasonable rates and I’ve always kept my cost low to everyone. The truth is I enjoy doing it so I’m not looking to get rich from this. I like seeing bands get a quality product. Word of mouth has kept me in business.
Q: What styles of music typically get recorded there?
I’ve done everything from soundtracks to folksy singer-songwriter stuff, cover bands, ska bands and rap all the way to all styles of rock and metal which is our specialty. A good song is a good song regardless of the genre and can be made into a great song with the right studio and an objective ear.
Q: What are some current projects, or recently completed ones? Or even future ones?
Just completed the single “Retribution” from Black Wolf Mountain as well as five additional songs that are currently being produced for BWM. Just finished the second release (five-song EP) from Moons, Birds & Monsters called “Four Deers Beep.” Mortal Device has just released a four-song EP entitled “Vol 1,” and a second four-song EP called “Vol 2” is currently wrapping up. Finished producing Stereo Rex’s cover of Eddie Money’s “I Think I’m In Love.” Downhill Trend just finished a 10-song album called “New World DIsorder.”
Q: How has coronavirus impacted the music recording business, especially at SteamPunk?
The safety of everyone involved is priority #1. We can’t put our family or yours in danger until Arizona starts trending in the right direction. We take it extremely seriously and are currently reviewing how to move forward safely. We have put restrictions in place including limiting people in the studio at one time, facemasks, appropriate distancing as much as possible and hand sanitizer plus cleaning the studio and all equipment used after a session.
Q: For the audiophiles out there, tell us about the gear your studio typically employs to capture the best sound?
We use Lynx Aurora convertors, Neumann, Yamaha and Focal monitors, mic pres from Chandler, Aurora Audio, API, A-Designs & BAE. Our outboard gear includes AudioScape, KuSh audio, Empirical Labs and Teletronix. Plus we pride ourselves on having one of THE largest selection of top-shelf tube amplifiers and speaker cabs in the Southwest. We have Marshall, Mesa/Boogie, Peavey, Fender, Fortin, Diezel, Bogner Krank, EVH, Engl & Friedman to name a few. Our mic locker is also stellar to choose from including Shure, Soundelux, AKG, Pearlman, Lauten Audio, BeezNeez & Heil, which is a sample of what we have to offer. In addition to recording your bands from the ground up, we can mix, master and reamp any tracks you have created on your own. We understand artists sometimes like to record themselves so you can send them to us for a professional touch.
Q: What’s the best way for bands/musicians to connect with you about recording services?
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.
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