From Sharon Jones to Amy Winehouse, Dap Kings to Bruno Mars, the old-school soul and R&B revival that's taken place over the last 15 years can be largely attributed to one small, no-frills analog recording studio in Brooklyn, NY. Armed with a dynamite house band, genuinely gifted producers, and a choice collection of gear and instruments, the Daptone House of Soul in Bushwick continues to churn out hits at an alarming pace. Reverb caught up with Daptone's Neal Sugarman to talk shop and find out what it is about this room that constantly pumps out gold and platinum records, almost as if that were the easiest possible thing to do.
Yes, it's pretty small -- cramped, even. No, there's no fancy woodwork or any real thought toward luxurious interior design commonly found in a commercial recording studio, especially one with a client list as stacked as Daptone's House of Soul. The proof, however, is ultimately in the musical pudding. The records that come out of this studio have a definite energy, and a classic vibe you'd typically have to dust off a 50-year-old record to hear.
Do you have a favorite Daptone recording? Know of any other small studios that are making records the old way? Can we borrow your Ampex 440 8-track? Let us know in the comments!
Retro Tube Recording Gear