Long heralded as one of Melbourne’s iconic underground production studios, Studios In The City has produced a rich history of Australian music and housed artists including the likes of Bodyjar, The Getaway Plan, Shihad, Dream On Dreamer, Closure In Moscow, Strangers, Calling All Cars, Them Bruins and Cairo Knife Fight, not to mention producing High Tension’s 2014 ARIA-nominated album Death Beat.
At the launch event earlier this week, Tom Larkin (Head Honcho of Homesurgery) surprised guests with a fully refurbished studio, along with a new fit-out. The centrepiece of the renovations and upgrade was clear – A Vintage 1974 EMI Neve Recording Console. Larkin also introduced Matt Giusti, who as the new custodian of the board worked tirelessly over the last 4 months to ensure the console stayed in the southern hemisphere.
Larkin’s relationship with this historic desk began back in 1993, when his own band Shihad were the first to enter York Street Studios in Auckland, the consoles birthplace. Shihad were also the last band ever to record at York Street, with their No.1 NZ / Top 10 Aus Charting, ARIA-nominated album FVEY.
“We went from a spotty teenage high school band from Wellington, New Zealand to selling over a quarter of a million albums worldwide – four of which were recorded at York Street Studios.”
Built to exacting standards and only one of only 7 built in the world alongside EMI Abbey Road Studios, the console has also recorded acts such as Crowded House, No Doubt, Silverchair, Interpol and Killing Joke.
This month alongside the announcement that the studio will be open for commercial use, Mixdown will have the privilege of documenting the first band to record on the console with awesome indie-punk rockers The Sinking Teeth commencing work on their debut album. Being both the band’s manager and returning in the producer’s seat, Larkin says “This is the perfect band to kick things off.”
For more information or to enquire about bookings, contact The Studios In The City via their website or email [email protected]
