Recent guests in the studio include:  Hindu Kush  .  .  .  Ken Fine  .  .  .  Phil Marquez  .  .  .  Kacey Cubero  .  .  .  James Jackson Productions  .  .  .  Izzy Stradlin  .  .  .  Duff McKagan  .  .  . Rick Richards  .  .  .  The Ju Ju Hounds  .  .  .  Danny Click  .  .  .  Robben Ford  .  .  .  Ted Danson  .  .  .  Mary Steenburgen  .  .  .  Brett Dennen  .  .  .  Celtic Spring  .  .  .  Perla Batalla  .  .  .  Bruce Botnick  .  .  .  Barney's Buddies  .  .  .  The Electric Prunes  .  .  .  Rebekah Eden (Edminster)  .  .  .  Red Grammer .  .  .  New West Symphony  .  .  .  Tom Kell  .  .  .  Nordhoff High School (Symphonic band, Jazz Band, a Capella, Women's Choir)  .  .  .  Mark Goldenberg  .  .  .  Bob Glaub  .  .  .  Don Heffington  .  .  .  Malcolm McDowell . . . Greg Leisz  .  .  .  Jeffrey Cox  .  .  .  

Zircon Skye Production - Main tracking room (1,145 sq ft w/ 14 ft ceilings) - excellent for drums and live room sound
Click the thumbnails to view our studio facilities! Control Room (Pro Tools view) - 650 sq. ft w/ 14 ft. ceilings, tuned by world-class acoustician George Augsperger. - click to enlarge Control Room (Neotek & Studer view) - click to enlarge Control Room (Jeff Evans) - click to enlarge
Isolation Room 1 - (108 sq. ft, 10’ 8” ceiling) - dead room sound, ideal for tracking vocals - click to enlarge Isolation Room 2 - (218 sq. ft, 14 ft. ceiling) - secondary room with push-out wall and equipped with Pro Tools v6.0 Digi-002 workstation, Hammond C3 w/ Leslie cabinet and multiple synths - click to enlarge Iso Room 3 - (247 sq. 14 ft. ceiling) - slight room sound with dampening and push-out wall, perfect for bass and guitar tracking - click to enlarge
 

Attention artists, bands, labels and producers!


Flower Studios
Promo Materials
[PDF format - (9 Mgb)]

Looking to record or mix at a pro facility located in one of the most beautiful towns in California?

Wish you could find a relaxing and inspirational place to get away from it all and simply be creative?

Flower Studios can help!

Check out our recording gear and competitive rates!
 

12 / 24 hour studio lockouts available upon request.
 

Zircon Skye Production is running a v6.4 ProTools HD|4 ACCEL system residing on a dual 2Gig MacIntosh G5 (1Gig RAM) utilizing the OSX v10.4.2 Panther operating system, equipped with a wide array of killer plug-ins, and complimented by racks of classic vintage and state-of-the-art outboard gear. Follow this link to learn more about what our Pro Tools HD|4 ACCEL system can do for your next recording project.

 
The Latest at Flower Studios:

A special thank you to John Brokaw and Zircon Skye Production -- now known as Flower Studios

It is with the utmost gratitude and respect that we announce the departure of John Brokaw from Zircon Skye Production.

Producer/Engineer and Recording Artist Greg Penny -- renowned the world over for his Grammy® award winning work with artists such as k.d. lang, Elton John, Cher, Paul Young, Eddie Reader, etc. -- has recently acquired the studio.

The new name for our facility is Flower Studios.

While we are sad to see John go, we acknowledge and support his need to move on, and are thankful for the opportunity to have worked with and gotten to know and love him as a friend. John has given his all to the music industry and our community for the past 15 years and for that we are eternally grateful.

Likewise, we are excited for the future with Greg Penny and look forward to taking our years of working together to new heights.

The first projects under this new ownership include the debut release by the band Hindu Kush (Flower Records) and a new holiday CD by Perla Batalla (Mechuda Music) -- both coming soon.

Producer/Engineers Jeff Evans and Ken Eros will remain on board. Keep checking back for more announcements, new gear and a new "B" room in the near future!

Until then...

More Flower Studio news  -->>

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about us | the studio
the label
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Flower Studios is now on Myspace

Click here to visit Zircon Skye on Myspace! <<-- Click the image at left, or follow this link to visit our Myspace page.

If you're already a member, click here to "Add Us" immediately as your new Myspace friend.

Find out about the Music Industry at Music Business: Producer, with the dirt on record labels, music lawyers, producers, and more.


Flower Studios Podcasts

All of the music featured in our podcasts is available for rapid clearance music licensing and radio re-broadcast. Contact Ken Eros or call 805.640.7995 for more details.

Special thanks to
Garageband.com and the band Green Man for their assistance. Keep checking back for more new music from Flower Studios!

Click here to launch Podcast #1.

Click here to download it
(71 Mb).

more >>

 

More News from Flower Studios . . .

Hindu Kush returns to Flower Studios with Greg Penny to begin recording their debut release

Hindu Kush have returned to Flower Studios with a vengeance; and this time they are recording tracks for their long-awaited debut on Flower Records.

Once again, veteran producer Greg Penny (k.d. lang, Elton John, Rickie Lee Jones, Cher, Paul Young...) is commanding the sessions with Flower Studios'  Jeff Evans and Ken Eros at the board.

For more info about Hindu Kush, visit the band's website at www.myspace.com/hindukushojai
 

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Mary Steenburgen lends her talents to the Stand Up To Cancer campaign
 

The Impossible

A poignant film by Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World, The Little Rascals) that points to amazing examples in history when the impossible became possible and asks us to make that same leap in defeating cancer today.

The fabulously talented and stunning actress Mary Steenburgen provided the voiceover narrative for this important short film. Flower Studios producer/engineer Ken Eros handled the session.

Please make it a point to visit the Stand Up To Cancer website at for more information and ways to help fight this disease. To view the film, follow the above link then select After Hours -> More From The Show -> The Impossible.

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Kenny Davin Fine brings Memphis to California

 

Kenny Davin Fine -- the doctor is in.

The prolific "physician on a mission of nutrition" is back in the studio with Flower Studios producers Ken Eros and Jeff Evans cutting vocals for his new Memphis soul record. Ken and Jeff have once again contributed their background vocals and arrangement talents to this CD. No release date has been set.

For more information and details, visit www.kennydavinfine.com

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Phil Marquez brings his swampy flavah and talents to Flower Studios
 

 
California native singer/songwriter Phil Marquez arrived to lay down some of his killer grooves and give our Yamaha C7 a workout.Visit the Phil Marquez website at www.philmarquez.net

Now living in Houston, Texas, Phil returns to Southern California a couple of times a year. We were lucky enough to have him swing by for an impromptu recording session. It was like our own private concert of New Orleans style jazz and rhythm & blues.

A dynamite player, singer/songwriter (and a hell of a nice guy to boot) give Phil a listen next time you are in Houston. You won't be disappointed.

For more information visit Phil's website at www.philmarquez.net
 

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Kacey Cubero returns to Flower Studios
 

Visit the Kacey Cubero website at www.kaceycubero.comJust out of college, Washington, DC-native Kacey Cubero moved to San Diego, California with a suitcase and a guitar. A prolific songwriter, performer, and studio musician, Kacey has collaborated with an array of eminent singers and songwriters, including Jackson Browne, Louis Johnson, and Gary Scruggs.

Following a solo tour to promote her CD Diamond in The Rough, Kacey joined other artists on a Hard Rock Cafe tour, across the U.S. to benefit underprivileged children, and ventured out on yet another solo tour to support the U.S. troops in Japan. Around the same time, she found herself fronting the all-star IRS Band. Included in the band were Chris Slade (AC/DC, The Firm), Joey Molland (Badfinger), Greg Douglass (Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison), Mario Cippolina (Foreigner, Huey Lewis) and Terry Ilous (XYZ).

Kacey returns to Flower Studios with
Jeff Evans at the board to continue development on her new CD Fill Your Cup -- slated for release in the fall of 2008.

For more information and details visit Kacey's website at www.kaceycubero.com
 

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James Jackson Productions says ..."It's a wrap!"
 

James Jackson Productions have put the finishing touches on the seventh and final installment in a series of corporate training videos for a well-known Southern California power company.

James Jackson, who in 2006 won an Emmy Award in the "Environment - Program Special" category for his film Greener Buildings, Bluer Skies, found in Zircon Skye Production a studio that could deliver both background and title music as well as sweetening and rapid turnaround for these video projects.

If you are interested in discussing similar needs for your next project, call us at (805) 640-7995, or email Flower Studios' Producer-Engineers/Music Licensing Coordinators Ken Eros or Jeff Evans.

 

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Hindu Kush "Blood For Oil" video now available at iTunes

The timely and relevant video "Blood For Oil" by indie darlings Hindu Kush has been taking YouTube by storm.

Thanks to producer Greg Penny and Flower Records, the video is now available in glorious high-resolution format only at iTunes. The track was recorded and the video shot here at Flower Studios.


Click here to preview and purchase "Blood For Oil"

For more info about Hindu Kush, visit their website at www.myspace.com/hindukushojai

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Emmy Award winning filmmaker James Jackson is in the house

 
James Jackson Productions are back in the studio working on the fourth installment in a series of corporate training videos for a well-known Southern California power company.

James Jackson, who in 2006 won an Emmy Award in the "Environment - Program Special" category for his film Greener Buildings, Bluer Skies, came to Flower Studios looking for a facility that could deliver timely edits and sweetening as well as provide background and custom music beds to enhance his videos.

If you are interested in discussing similar needs for your next project, call us at (805) 640-7995, or email Flower Studios' Producer-Engineers/Music Licensing Coordinators Ken Eros or Jeff Evans.

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Hindu Kush delivers "Blood For Oil" with the magical help of Greg Penny

The boys of Hindu Kush are at it once again -- and this time they've delivered a timely and powerful track called "Blood For Oil" with the help of Producer Greg Penny. Flower Studios' Ken Eros and Jeff Evans engineered the session.

Follow this link to view a high-resolution version of the video and to send it to your friends

For more tour information about the band, visit their website at www.myspace.com/hindukushojai

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You'll have to figure this one out

We're not at liberty to say who was in here just yet, but this band sounds like candy that sticks to your teeth being eaten by man's best friend.

And yes, the tracks are awesome.

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Blues great Robben Ford speaks the Truth

On his latest release Truth, guitar legend Robben Ford speaks the truth...not just with the sound of his guitar, but with the vision behind his music as he ventures deep into the blues with aggressive licks, direct and honest vocals and an uncharacteristic, yet appealing, rough edge.


Ken Eros contributed vocal and guitar engineering on several tracks. The album received a Grammy® nomination for "Best Contemporary Blues Album."

For more tour information and details about Robben, visit his website at www.robbenford.com
 

Photograph by George Wells

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Legendary goth band Bauhaus records and mixes Go Away White in just 18 days

Bauhaus slid fully formed from punk rock's womb in late 1978. Over the course of four hot years, they unintentionally birthed a genre (Goth), moved on, moved forward, and surged mercurial through the post-punk music scene, tearing into tense, stark, dub bass-driven new-wave, T-Rex-esque glam, and swirling, clattering, orchestral atmospherics, whilst churning it all into a grand velvet, Rimbaudian hallucination. It was a wild, inspired, enthralling sound. And it still is. Now there is a new record.


‘Go Away White’ was recorded in 18 days at Flower Studios (previously Zircon Skye Production) in Ojai, with singer Peter Murphy, bassist David J, guitarist Daniel Ash, and drummer Kevin Haskins playing together as a band in one room, taking first takes as final cuts. Flower Studios Engineers Ken Eros and Jeff Evans were at the board. (Jeff also restored and mixed the audio for the band's two videos "Bela Lugosi's Dead" and Dark Entries" which were recorded live at Coachella and are offered exclusively through iTunes.)

So, a new record but apparently a final one, the band having decided to release it as a posthumous swan song. The band also took an additional two weeks time to rehearse for their guest slot on the NIN tour.

‘Go Away White’ is everything you would
hope Bauhaus would deliver as their final statement. Fronted by a cover photo of Bethesda, the angel of the healing waters in New York's Central Park, the music inside is pure cathartic renovation, a psychedelic glimpse into an enchanted moment. Aided in part by guitarist Daniel Ash's inspired use of Jimi Hendrix's own personal Colorsound wah wah pedal, gifted to him by Peter Murphy at the start of the sessions, it is pop as much as it is experimental.


For more information about Bauhaus and Go Away White, visit www.bauhausmusik.com
 

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Flower Studios welcomes back the artistry of Danny Click

Danny Click is a top-flight singer, songwriter and guitarist hailing from Texas by way of northern California.

His guitar playing and songs are exceptional and we are proud to have him back in the studio, along with musical partner Dave Sampson, to record the final vocals for his upcoming new release (produced by the incomparable Mark Goldenberg).

For more details about Danny, and to keep tabs on the progress of his new album, visit www.dannyclick.com
 

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Kenny Davin Fine returns to Flower Studios

Kenny Davin Fine is both a doctor and a musician. He incorporates his passion and professional singing, songwriting musical skills into his public health mission.

"Everything that creates through me is for your health, happiness, and hope." says Fine. His passion is for the music itself, and sharing the meaningful messages of his songs. Kenny's lyrics reflect life's ups and downs, found love and lost, mystical and spiritual pursuits, important realities, or just having fun.

Flower Studios is happy to welcome him back to the studio.

Visit Kenny Davin Fine's website for more information:

www.kennydavinfine.com
 

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New release from The Warm Guns

The Warm Guns'
Electric Mobile Movies
is now available!

Flower Studios is pleased to announce that advance copies of Electric Mobile Movies, the long-anticipated new album by The Warm Guns, are available at CD Baby and Digstation.com; where you may also purchase individual singles (just like the old days).

Listen to 192kBps streaming audio of a few songs below, or visit the band's page at CD Baby for a couple more songs, but at a slightly lower audio resolution of 128kBps.



The Warm Guns
Electric Mobile Movies
  1. Lowdown Park
  2. Life & Times
  3. Electric Mobile Movies
  4. Still Breathing
  5. The Relative Ends
  6. Role
  7. Hey You
  8. Under Whitechurch Chapel
  9. And We Thought Again
10. Rise
11. Brand New Lay
12. The Program's Gone All Weird

Check back for details of iTunes availability, coming soon!

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Flower Studios is now on Myspace

Click here to add Zircon Skye as a Myspace friend!
Yes, we've joined the masses. 
 
Flower Studios is now up and running on Myspace and would love to include you as one of our friends.

 -->> Click the image above, or follow this link to visit our page.

-->> If you're already a member, click here to "Add Us" immediately as your new Myspace friend.

It's that easy.

Being a friend of Flower Studios will allow you access to special deals, services, and audio -- like a sampling of the upcoming new release Electric Mobile Movies by The Warm Guns -- available only to members of the Myspace community.

Keep checking back for more details, and help spread the word!

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It's Celtic Spring time in Ojai

Celtic Spring is back in the studio recording their new album "Cornerstone" with Jeff Evans at the helm. Look for the release of this album sometime in the Spring of 2007. Visit the band's website for more details.

Referred to as the "Von Trapp family of Celtic music," and recently voted one of the top acts in the finals of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Celtic Spring is a fiddle and dance band composed of the six Wood family siblings on fiddles and in dance shoes, joined by their father on the traditional Irish drum, the bodhran, and their mother on the piano.

The band is currently recording their following-up CD (Flower Studios' Jeff Evans is handling the duties) with mixing and release slated for Spring of 2007.

Visit the official Celtic Spring website www.celticspringband.com for more information, tour schedule and updates.

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We've upgraded!

Digidesign Unleashes Pro Tools 7.3 Software for All Platforms
Creativity-empowering upgrades are built for speedWith new music composition tools, customizable user enhancements, and improved post production workflows, Pro Tools 7.3 provides everything you need to record and mix music and audio — and fuel your creativity.

With new music composition tools, customizable user enhancements, and improved post production workflows, Pro Tools 7.3 provides everything you need to record and mix music and audio — and fuel your creativity.

This version rocks! And yes... Flower Studios has it.

Contact us today and let us know how we can help you with your next project.

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Flower Studios welcomes Perla Batalla back to the studio

See Perla and her tasty band performing the timeless classic "Cucurrucucu Paloma" (a favorite of her fans everywhere) live in Monterey, CA

Celebrated singer/songwriter Perla Batalla is back at Flower Studios preparing for her upcoming tour of Spain in 2007.

For a taste of what those lucky folks have in store for them, watch her latest video Gracias a la Vida (directed and edited by the talentedWatch Perla Batalla's latest video "Gracias a la Vida" (recorded and mixed here at ZSP by Ken Eros and Jeff Evans). David Scheuber; music recorded and mixed here at Flower Studios by Ken Eros and Jeff Evans).
 
You can also see Perla and her tasty band performing the beautiful classic  Cucurrucucu Paloma (a fan favorite) live in Monterey, CA, by clicking the image below.

Visit Perla's website www.perla.com for more song samples and information.

 

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Path of Gold recording artist Rebekah Eden (Edminster) celebrates recovery

Rebekah Edminster-Eden

Gifted vocalist Rebekah Eden (Edminster) is in the studio working on her latest track, Baghdad Is Never Far Away. The piece, which is slated to be released in late October 2006, and forms the cornerstone of a new album (to be released in 2007), celebrates her husband Michael Weisskopf's journey of recovery from a life-threatening injury he sustained in Baghdad.

Baghdad Is Never Far Away was engineered and co-produced by Ken Eros and Jeff Evans.

Featured performers include celebrated uilleann piper Eric Rigler (Bad Haggis) and Mario Calire (Ozomatli, The Wallflowers) on drums.

The track also offers stellar contributions by session greats Mark Goldenberg, Kenny Edwards, Bob Glaub, and Billy Goodrum.

 

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The Electric Prunes give us Feeback
 

 
Pictured left to right: James Lowe and Mark Tulin laying down tracks for the new Electric Prunes album "Feedback" now available on Prune Twang Records. The band found Flower Studios' Aviom personal headphone monitoring system indispensable during the tracking sessions.

Visit The Electric Prunes official website for audio samples and CD purchases.

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Dualtone Records recording artist Brett Dennen breaks New Ground with KCRW's Chris Douridas

Photo (left to right): Jeff Evans (ZSP Engineer), Randy Schwartz (Drums), Kendal, Brett Dennen (Voc. Gtr.), Chris Douridas (KCRW), Taras Prodaniuk (Bass), and Matt Demerritt (Sax)

Follow this link to hear Brett Dennen recorded live @ ZSP on 7/29/06 for KCRW's "New Ground w/ Chris Douridas"

Look for the release of Brett Dennen's new album "So Much More" on Dualtone Records Sept. 19th 2006. Visit www.brettdennen.com for more details.

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Brand new gear for our clients
 

Manley SLAM! - Analog Version: Stereo Tube Mic pre with ELOP & FET Limiters
Royer SF-24 - Phantom powered stereo ribbon mic Crown PZM-30D (2) - Pressure Zone Microphone RODE K2 - Precision Variable Pattern Dual 1” Condenser Valve MicrophoneLittle Labs IBP - Analog Phase Alignment Tool RE27 N/D - Variable-D® N/DYM® dynamic cardioid microphone

 
Some may say our new gear purchases are out of control!
But what's out of control about wanting only the best for our clients and projects?

These cool pieces just in:

For more recent upgrade details, follow this link!

top>> 


Special thanks to "Analog" Mike at Analogman.com
for his help
This Colorsound Wah-wah pedal once owned and used by Jimi Hendrix was d.o.a. when it arrived here for a session with legendary band Bauhaus. Modifier circuit board was removed thanks to tips from Analog Mike and now this pedal sings! Visit Analogman.com for some awesome pedals and gear!
The above 'Colorsound Wah-Wah' pedal, once owned and used by Jimi Hendrix, was d.o.a. when it arrived here for a session with a top-secret legendary band.
(More on that to come.)

Modifier circuit board (installed post-Jimi) was removed thanks to tips from "Analog" Mike and now this pedal sings!

Visit Analogman.com for some awesome pedals and gear!

top>> 


Flower Studios has upgraded
What's new in Pro Tools v7.1 What's new from Waves

In keeping with our mindset of bringing you the latest and greatest recording services and tools, Flower Studios has just upgraded to the following:

Operating System:
   Tiger v10.4.5
Pro Tools:
   v7.1

Waves:
   Diamond and Surround 360° v5 -- including:

 

top>> 


Flower Studios congratulates Greg Penny and Red Grammer on their recent GRAMMY® nominations!

ZSP congratulates Greg Penny on his GRAMMY® Nomination!Flower studios owner/operator Greg Penny was nominated  in the "Best Surround Sound Album" category for his masterful work on Elton John's compact disc 'Honky Château' (Universal).

Not only did Greg Penny mix and master this groundbreaking surround album for Sir Elton; he is handling the 5.1 duties for Elton John's entire back catalog!

ZSP congratulates Red Grammer on his GRAMMY® Nomination!Red Grammer's new CD 'Be Bop Your Best!' (Red Note Records), recorded and mixed here at Flower Studios (previously Zircon Skye Production) by our own Ken Eros and Jeff Evans, just picked up a GRAMMY® nomination in the "Best Musical Album For Children" category.

Thanks to Red, Pamela Phillips Oland, and all of the excellent musicians who contributed their extraordinary talents to this worthy GRAMMY® contender.

top>> 


 

 

  Flower Studios welcomes Singer/Songwriter Jeff Frankel

  We've recently inked a publishing deal for two of Jeff's amazing songs: Twang Twister and I'm Coming Home.

We look forward to promoting the songs of this gifted musician, and don't forget to visit his website at www.jefffrankel.com

 

top>> 


 

 

New release by Perla Batalla

Grammy® nominated Latin singing sensation Perla Batalla has just completed tracking and mixing her latest album What I Did On My Summer Vacation at Flower Studios with house engineers Ken Eros and Jeff Evans at the board.

The compact disc is a new twist on a collection of standards gathered from Argentina, Mexico, and Cuba -- all sung in Spanish -- and performed with an incredible lineup of musicians.

(Jimmy Haslip, Gilberto Gonzalez, David P. Jackson, Jorge Strunz, Dave Palmer, and Peté Korpela to name but a few.)

The CD is slated for release sometime in November of 2005. Visit the artist's website at www.perla.com for more details.

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Nordhoff High School gets a boost

The award winning Nordhoff High School Music Department recently visited Flower Studios to begin recording their new booster compact discs -- and took advantage of our offsite remote recording services as well!

Follow the links below to view a slideshow of the initial tracking sessions:

Jazz Band
Women's Choir

Symphonic Band


 
top>>   
 


 

 

"I've recorded in studios all across the nation, and Flower Studios is my favorite."

-- Tom Kell, Singer/Songwriter

 


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