Studio Grant, WAMMIE Vote Request + More Updates!
Happy New Year, and I hope this message finds you well! I have some exciting updates to share (and a humble request), so please read on!
First off, I’m proud to say my recording studio Innovation Station Music has been nominated for another “Best Music Studio”WAMMIE Award (the DC area’s version of the GRAMMYs)!
As a past winner in 2019, 2020, and 2022, I can say that the recognition provided by these awards has definitely helped my studio grow (more on this in a moment) and allowed me to better serve my clients and my music community.
With that in mind, I’d
greatly appreciate you taking a couple of minutes to vote for Innovation Station Music this year. The process is super quick and easy, but I’ve included instructions at the end of this message just in case 🙂 Voting is open now through January 31.That brings me to some exciting news, most notably the launch of the 3rd annual“Pay It Forward” Grant.I started this program a few years agoas a way of putting positive energy back into the world after recovering from a traumatic burglary in which thieves broke into our home and stole much of my studio gear.
With this opportunity, I once again hope to make it a little easier for struggling local artists and groups who seek to make a positive impact with their music to realize their goals (Here’s some press coverage we received on this program in
FairfaxNow and the Washington City Paper). If you or someone you know might be interested in the “Pay It Forward” grant, please visit or share this page. Applications are due by February 9 and the winner will be announced on February 14.
Looking back, I’d have to say 2023 was a BIG year for Innovation Station Music. We produced and released a whole bunch of new records by artists and bands such as
Lou Black, Emily Henry, Jack Astronaut, Killing Dayzies, and Juliet Lloyd, some of which have already gone on to win awards and receive great acclaim.
Our team also expanded to include several new producers and engineers, as well as our fantastic studio assistant, Jacie (a talented artist in her own right with new music coming soon!). This
enabled us to more fully utilize both Studios A and B, increase creative output, and take on a more diverse array of projects in multiple genres — and languages!
I won’t get into all the technical upgrades we’ve made (OK, OK…maybe just a few — powerful new M2 Mac Studio computers in both rooms; Osmose, arguably the most cutting-edge keyboard/synth ever; remote-controllable personal headphone mixers with LED displays…I could go on…:)
We’ve also strengthened partnerships with collaborators and industry professionals here and around the world. Along those lines, in September I had the privilege of spending a week at an incredible studio in the south of France with Grammy-winning Producer/Engineer Andrew Scheps. Andrew has worked with a veritable who’s who of top artists and bands, such as Adele, Metallica, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, U2, and Jay-Z.
At “Mix With The Masters”, I was fortunate to join an amazing group of professional producers and engineers from across the globe for
a intensive music production seminar where we got to delve into advanced mix techniques, while deconstructing some of Andrew’s Red Hot Chili Peppers mixes, recording and mixing live drums on a Hozier song with Elvis Costello’s long-time drummer, and much more.
Sitting beside Andrew at Studio La Fabrique’s gorgeous Neve console, I got some great feedback (and validation) on my mixes. It’s perhaps no accident that I chose to have Andrew apply some of his magic to one of my favorite recent productions, “In This Dark” by Joe Downer, as that song recently won an award in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest! As they say in France, “C’ést super cool”!
It’s amazing to see how my studio has evolved over the past 17 years, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of so many of you.
I am super grateful for our connection and, if you’re so inclined, I would appreciate you taking a moment to vote on the WAMMIES. Keep in mind that anyone, anywhere can vote, and it doesn’t even matter if you’ve already voted for another nominee in the same category!
Here’s what you do:
Step 1: Go to wammiesdc.awardsplatform.com
Step 2: Register for an account (unless you’ve voted before)
Step 3: Click “Judge” at the top of the page
Step 4: Click on the category “Best Music Studio”
Step 5: Find “Innovation Station Music”
Step 6: Click the ‘ Vote’ button!
Here’s to a prosperous 2024. Thanks so much again, Dan — best to you and yours 🙂
Kind Regards,Dave
P.S. If you’d prefer not to receive messages like this, please reply with the subject line “PLEASE REMOVE” — no worries at all 🙂
