Local sounds abound for new music producer

For many, the appeal of the Orangeville area lies in its rustic landscape of rolling hills, meandering rivers and gentle pastoral scenarios.

But Stefanie Peel there is a burgeoning music scene bubbling beneath it all and the audio engineering grad intends to help bring it to the surface with a new sound studio she aims to have in full operation by the end of the month.

Tosh Media on C Line is a business, but it has what could be seen as a civic-minded mission statement. Ms. Peel says the 400-square-foot sound studio’s primary market will be the new musicians who need a polished demo to help sell themselves.

“Rather than recording in their bedrooms or basements, this will be a big step up,” she explains. “My main focus is to help people along their way.”

She feels up-and-coming recording artists face a dilemma, insofar as they dedicate large portions of their meagre resources to recording equipment, instead of to the actual instruments of their craft.

“By the time they’ve bought all their (production equipment) and learn how to use it, they don’t have time to focus on what they’re supposed to do. They could be spending their money on an instrument, rather than on equipment.”

Ms. Peel will be offering her services at a relatively inexpensive rate of $20 an hour for rehearsal space, $40 an hour for recording and $35 for post-production work, which includes graphics.

“The prices have to be reasonable,” she says. “These people don’t have careers, yet.”

For their dollar, clients have access to such professional equipment as a 24-channel console and compressors and reverb units, as well as a Digi- 002 rig, Pro Tools 7 software and AKG and Sennheiser microphones.

Through her current job at Acoustic Traditions in Orangeville, Ms. Peel is confident she can rustle up able session guitarists, should the client require them.

While she is aiming to do quality recording, she has no doubt there are quality musicians in the area to play the music.

Among her favourites is local guitarist/singer Johnny Lane. “He’s so into his music, it’s like he’s in his own world when he’s on stage. He can play other people’s songs and it’s like he wrote them.”

Ms. Peel also praises the “very poetic, playful melodies” of local musician Erin Bolton and “organic rock style and solid overall sound” of Tim MacIntosh and his band Project MacIntosh, as well as the acoustic indie-folk of Caitlin Gale.

She also points to the Harmony Rainbow Group as a sign of things to come in local music. “It’s a fun fusion of styles from eight or so local bands, playing to everyone’s strengths; a unique combination which incorporates many genres.

“I think this sort of group-effort will become more common in the years to come. It’s already starting.”

Meanwhile, some may question the wisdom of Ms. Peel jumping into what is definitely a limited niche business during a very prominent economic slump; even if she possesses the expertise gained through a recording engineering diploma from Vancouver’s Pacific Audio Visual Institute and work with several prominent bands in that city.

She, however, doesn’t have such qualms. “Whether it be the best or worst of times,” she philosophizes, “people will always find money for music.”