9.49°C Not only Animal Noise and Dingus Khan, but Slugworth, Off The Wall, Alex Osiris, Dream McClean, Ordinary Noise, The King Is Blind, Hero and Leander, Pistols & Vultures and many more. Aside from being great acts, they all share one thing in common – they’ve recorded material at Tom Donovan Studio.
Some of these artists feature in a brand new video showcasing Tom Donovan’s work to date, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to find out more about what his studio offers.
In the last month alone, Tom has worked with five hip-hop artists, a thrash band, a prog-folk outfit, and one of the best country rock bands he’s heard in years. That’s just a snapshot of the range of musicians passing through his recording studio and production suite on the outskirts of Colchester.
With over 14 years’ experience producing and recording music, Tom admits he loves all genres. Working as a producer taught him early on that lessons from one style often translate into another. The subtle intricacies of a cello part, for example, can share surprising common ground with drawing the best out of a finely crafted guitar solo.
Getting the best from a band is partly about finding space for each instrument within the overall sound, all built on a strong foundation. Across every genre, that foundation starts with the drums. Whether he’s working with grime, stoner rock, death metal or sweet power pop, everything begins with achieving the right drum sound.
Vocals are another area where experience across multiple genres pays off. For Tom, it’s not just about the technical side of capturing a strong vocal take. He believes that too much focus on technicalities can overlook the most important aspect of singing – personality.
When he first started out playing in bands, Tom admits he was “shit-scared” of stepping into a recording studio. That experience shaped how he runs his own space. He wanted to create an environment where artists don’t feel like performing seals. In his view, you’re there as an artist, not just a client.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to recording a band. While Tom may have deeper experience in some genres than others, he has an insatiable appetite for working with musicians of all styles and abilities. He loves the raw passion of a band recording for the first time just as much as he enjoys hearing what long-standing collaborators create next.
As Tom puts it: “I run this studio because I have to – how else would I get to hear so much brilliant music being created?”
To find out more, visit www.tomdonovanstudio.com.
