Socially Conscious Studio, [Art]illery Sound, to Open in Denver

by Tim Wenger

Denver will soon have another new recording studio. Unlike most studios, however, [Art]illery Sound will be very selective about who they welcome in and who can represent their name on a finished product. The studio will not record just anyone, even if they show up with a wheelbarrow full of cash.

Brent Adams, aka Ralph Lazo the Rap-poet, is in the process of fundraising this new studio located in northeast Denver. “It’s on my property,” says Adam. “I gutted a two car garage, and then I built the studio inside that two-car garage.” Adams is now in the fundraising stage of the project, hoping to receive enough donations through an Indiegogo page to purchase all of the equipment needed to make the studio ready for launch. “What I’m doing the (Indiegogo) for is to raise money for the equipment, once I get equipment I can provide accessible recording and comfortable space.” Adams’ goal is $18,871. Donors will receive gifts based upon the amount given. For a detailed list of the gift breakdown, visit the Indiegogo page.

“I’ve spent the past eight months pretty much by myself learning how to build and then building a small recording studio,” says Adams. “The idea is to be able to provide a space that is accessible and comfortable to conscious musical arists and poets.”

Adams will not be recording anything derogatory, misogynistic, or racial in the studio. “I won’t record any racist, homophobic or heterosexist content,” says Adams. This is why donating money to the studio does not guarantee future recording time. “I don’t want to enter into an agreement with somebody and I don’t know what kind of art they do, and then I’m obligated to record for them and their art doesn’t fit the vision of what I’d like the studio to be used for.”

Adams also puts on anti-racist and positive workshops around the country, and wants the positivity to be present in his new studio. “There are a lot of poets and musical artists who have super fierce critiques of those systems, and who have really inspiring work, and all that knowledge is trapped. Most people don’t have access to it, so my vision is to amplify the potential of that kind of art, and sort of transform people into living in relationships of equilibrium.”

A desire to work for positive change came in college for Adams after taking an Ethnic Studies class following reading the autobiography of Malcolm X. He proceeded to take more classes that opened his mind to derogatory systems that are in place throughout the world, and wanted to fight against them.

As far as recording experience, Adams has a couple hundred hours of experience in the studio. He has also done vast research and reading on the art of recording and feels confident in his ability to produce quality work. “I don’t have any formal training, just a lot of committed practice,” he says. At first, he plans on doing most of the work himself on projects that come in to his studio, and bringing in help as needed. “Starting small and manageable, so it will be me recording and engineering, and then if necessary I’ll bring someone in to make sure the quality is top notch.”

In order to record in the studio, there will be a brief application process in order to ensure positive and/or beautiful art. The link to the Indiegogo page is listed below.

Online:  http://igg.me/at/artillerysound/x/4311013

Artillerysoundstudio.com

Tags: Brent Adams, Artillery Sound, Indie-gogo, Ralph Lazo

Category: Local News