Studiophile: March 2014
Purple Apple (photo: Katie Hovland)
Chicago-based MILLION YEN STUDIOS owner/engineer Andy Gerber has been mixing the audio for a video project featuring Local H in their final performance with long-time (and departing drummer), Brian St Clair.
Also recently working with Gerber: The Dead On, The Great Whiskey Project, Flabby Hoffman, Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers, Storytown, Steve Knecht, & The War Inside and JIP. Philly-based Will Yip (Lauryn Hill, Circa Survive) was at Million Yen to record emo heroes Braid for Top Shelf Records. Jeff Dean mixed the Cheap Girls for Xtra Mile Recordings.
Craig Finn of the Hold Steady dropped in for a few days to contribute guest vocals and hang out at the studio. Dean also recorded an EP For pop-punk rockers the Big Leagues, and just recorded a new record for Rare Animals (ex-Boy’s Life/Farewell Bend).
Mike Chapman and Andy Gerber
Mega producer/songwriter Mike Chapman (Blondie, Sweet, The Knack, Pat Benatar) has been working with teen girl group Purple Apple for Sony. Yen owner Andy Gerber has been twisting the knobs on the project. IE sat down with Gerber to get the details on the Purple Apple sessions:
IE: The Mike Chapman/ Purple Apple sessions seem like a perfect match, not only for Mike as the producer, but with you and Million Yen hosting the sessions. How did that come together?
Andy Gerber: Mike 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 came 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!
IE: The girls from Purple Apple seem wise beyond their teenage years. How did they hold up with a legendary producer at the helm?
AG: Mike is 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!
At SONGWERKS in Addison, Broadway performer and Tony Award winning actress Karen Ziemba recorded an audio book for Simon and Schuster books. The multi-day session was produced via Skype by the Grammy nominated Travis Tonn in New York along with owner Robert Mackey and engineers Greg Warnecke, and Kyle Brauch.
At Indiana’s VALPOTRAX, Mike Wilder recorded a jingle for Cimcor, Inc. Cowrite, record original music with Chrissy Schulte.
A new project studio has arrived in Des Plaines. V NOTE STUDIOS is a small recording studio in Des Plaines, Illinois, The engineering team at V Note Studios is made up of Mikey Vujasin and Kevin Frytz.
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) 751-5051. Deadline for April 2014 issue is Mar. 15. We reserve the right to edit all studio entries.
Category: Monthly, Studiophile
