"The Building Is the Hardest Part"...!

The Building Is the Hardest Part

New TreeHouse Studio                               August 8 2008

Hi folks. On April 26 2008 the footings were poured for the new addition of 1,000 square feet onto our existing log home here in the hills of Ridgetop, TN just a few miles from downtown Nashville. For the past 10 years we have recorded some amazing albums by some incredible artists, including Carter Brothers and our subsequent solo albums here in our home studio with the control room on one side of the house and tracking room on the otherside which doubled as our living room….oh and my bedroom used as an iso-booth! It sounds kind of rinky-dink at first mention but we actually have garnered one Grammy winner and three other nominations and "special mentions" in our humble set up here on a couple of dozen acres back in the woods with its awesome view of 'Smiley Hollow' down below.

We have so many wonderful memories of all the sessions and accompanying good times that went along with them. It was really cool to sit in our living room and watch our friend Vince Gill cut vocal tracks last month….he said afterward "man, why are you guys building a new studio when it sounds so awesome in here". We've had many good friends cut tracks here over the years. A lot, like Vince, are well known around world and we've done quite a few 'gratis sessions' for the unknowns who were working hard and couldn't afford to make a quality recording anywhere else…but that has always been a Carter Brothers philosophy about anything we do. Over the years we have had a lot of folks believe in and have helped us graduate to where we are now and we believe in passing that good karma on down the line to deserving and hardworking musicians. This place, our home and adjacent new studio, just reeks of good mojo and magic, to those who visit here will attest to.

Alison Krauss will be among the first to record in the new space after her tour with Robert Plant this fall and there is a long line building up behind her waiting to record as well. The new Carter Brothers album will be recorded in here soon as well for the Tree O Records music label.

The new building, which was built onto and attached to the main house is constructed with 10" cedar logs which were milled specifically to match the existing house so as not to disrupt the aesthetic quality of the exterior. The inside is a marvel of custom "artwork" by our very talented and skilled friends from around the USA including award winning L.A. studio designer Kevin Hughes. No expense has been spared from the state-of-the-art control/editing room to the unique layout of the tracking room, designed to actually accommodate room for up to an audience of 30 people to do actual 'live in the studio recordings'.  Two large iso-booths, bathroom facilities and small lounging areas inside and outside will add to the comfort level.. As soon as the two foot thick roof was raised and closed in Tim, myself and bassist friend George Harper took some instruments in there and with a toast of some of Tennessee's finest 'shine' commenced to playing songs…the inside log walls seem to soak it all in without complaint!

This Friday night on August 8^th 2008 we will begin transferring equipment into the new digs, which will incur another special occasion celebration I'm sure, and prepare for the first session on the following Monday. Tim and myself are living our dream of having such a fine state-of-the-art facility to provide only the highest quality and versatility in recording for us and our clients. But none of all this would ever be possible without the emotional and physical support of some of the best friends/characters/pirates/lunatics and gypsies that a person could ever imagine having!

A chronological collection of pictures are here on My Pics....

Best

Danny