Just after celebrating 20 years of the studio last year I got evicted. Something about ‘…blah blah let’s bulldoze your studio and build apartments blah blah…’ With 90 days to vacate I had to work out if that meant I needed to pause the music or rebuild elsewhere. I decided to trust the universe and in a shock twist the universe provided…in the form of a workable space in an old converted pub in Collingwood with beautiful owners and awesome neighbours. Last night, through the new studio doors @paulkelly dropped in to make a recording. I remember when I was 14yo taking my paper round money down to the record store and buying Paul Kelly’s just released double vinyl ‘Gossip’ album and taking it home like the gold it is and pouring over every note and word. A few decades later, I’m stoked the music plays on. 🔊❤️
#paulkelly
#tendertrapstudios
#gallowayarms
#howtomakelemonade
#queeniethedog
Long/earnest/humourless post comin at ya! Who’s for it?! Today is the 20th year anniversary of Tender Trap Studios. So I guess I tag myself in celebration @tendertrapstudios and post a speech that no one asked for or wanted. I’d firstly like to thank the many producers and engineers who’ve made recordings at the studio over the years. Thank you for being such a supportive community and sharing a common love of dark windowless spaces with minimal light, society and oxygen. I’d also like to shout out to the sometimes unsung instrument magicians/ session musicians for being guns and bringing their talents to projects when needed. Legends. And lastly but not leastly I want to thank the many artists, bands and music makers who’ve recorded at the studio over these last 20 years. So many beautiful times, friendships forged and incredible music along the way. The studio walls are deeply soaked, enriched and layered in your music and I’m grateful for all of it. Looking back I can see that this is my 20th post in 20 years (consistent, no?) and it’s struck me that this is the first photo of the studio without people in it. I’m a gear nut like every other studio head but studio life has always been about the people. So today I raise a glass of lager and say thanks. Rock on you good things, AJ
This guy, Dame. Great drummer, talented artist, lateral thinker, devoted father and beautiful friend. When we were 19 years old we lived together in Warrandyte. We’d spend hours/days by the Yarra with our guitars, trying to get to the heart of the song. He once told me that all roads lead to Warrandyte and it turned out to be true. The second photo is Dame in that time. The first photo is recently in the studio. His 2 awesome kids are in the mix room hanging with us while he lays down drums for a song written by my girl who turned 19 last year and we try to get to the heart of the song. Wild. Happy birthday brother.
Every now and then a young artist blazes through the studio and blows my mind. I’ve had the good fortune of producing Tia Tamora’s first batch of recordings and I gotta say her talent, vision, vocals and lyrics are next level. Total bonus that she’s also the best legend person. If ya love your folk music nice and dark and wanna follow the early fire of a gifted artist emerging from the shadows, please check out her beautiful music. Debut EP on the way and new single Doll Face up now on all the streamings. @tiatamora 🪕🖤🙌🎩💪
New reality show pitch. It’s called On A Couch and it’s lovely legend @alex_lahey just talkin music, footy and Buffy. Who’s for it?
#alexlahey
#bangers
#SaintsVsHawksVsDogs
#buffy
#angel
#tendertrapstudios
For anyone curious as to why they weren’t naturally born with mind blowing vocal skills it’s coz greedy guts culprit @samsaruh_music took ALL of the talent when it was up for grabs. If she wasn’t such a sweetie I’d be legit cut about it. She’s got killer new music soon to be released so chuck her a follow if you’d like to keep across it and to hear what you too could’ve / should’ve sounded like if she left some talent for the rest of society. 🤯🙌❤️
#samsaruh
#tendertrapstudios
#croatianmusic
#greedyguts
#culprit
This isn’t studio related but hey, yesterday was a special day and I AM standing next to my favourite drummer. My baby Mika turned 18 and I’m her biggest fan. Mika was born a legit miracle birth (shout out to the wife/Mika’s mumma/miracle machine @jacintaparsons ). Born a shining star that somehow burns brighter each day, she completely changed my life and there hasn’t been a day go by where we haven’t shared a laugh. This photo is Mika today, aged 18, with her first tattoo, in Year 12 and smashing it. The second photo is Mika aged 5, on her first day of Prep (which she obviously smashed 🤘) and we’re standing outside the home she grew up in and brought so much life to. Happy Birthday Mika, you are the magic. ❤️
Shout out to the wife! ❤️Congratulations to @jacintaparsons on her magical debut book Unseen released today through @affirmpress .
So good. This photo is Jacinta at the studio recording the audiobook version...one of my favourite and most surreal gigs. Recording Jacinta reading the chapter about the birth of our daughter had me literally crying into my pre amp (Neve 1073 for all the trainspotters 😉) #amazing #debutbook #affirmpress #audiobook #audible #crohnsdisease #strong #neve1073 #tendertrapstudios
Hot tip...if ya need a fix for the shortage of laughter in 2020, hang out with @elizawolf for awhile. Eliza, you the best. Thanks for lighting up the studio again with your laughter, squeaky kicks, musical prowess and friendship. You are a total Boss. 🧨#tendertrapstudios #wolfgramm #squeaky #boss
Band shot! Nadine Garner, Nazaree Dickerson, Pete Houghton and Fiona Pepper bringing a Barbara Hostalek play to life for RN today. Thanks talented team, much love to you. And thanks art department for providing leaves for the album cover. #noongarcountry #radioplay #tendertrapstudios #bandshot
Been trying to do a lot of listening lately...including to this man...Archie Roach, what a ripper. The song Beautiful Child from Charcoal Lane by @archieroachmusic is a moving lullaby that shouldn’t be so lyrically relevant 30 years after it was recorded. This photo is of Archie in the studio contributing his soulful voice to The Mission Songs Project, a collection of songs curated by @jessielloydmusic that form part of the Australian Indigenous narrative. Much love, respect, listening.
