Karen Ponzio Photos.
The official ribbon cutting commences.
Neighborhood Music School launched a new recording studio and debuted its own record label, Equitone Records, with a press conference, ribbon cutting, and, of course, live music.
The state-of-the-art, 200-square-foot studio, located on the third floor of NMS’s building on Audubon Street, was the setting for Wednesday afternoon’s event, which began with a performance by one of its alumni, musician and teaching artist Seny Camara. After he delighted those gathered with a solo piece on djembe, NMS Executive Director Noah Bloom took to the podium to welcome everyone and speak about the school’s latest endeavor.
“That’s how every press conference should start,” Bloom said with a smile, thanking Camara for the “musical blessing and offering.”
Bloom noted that both the studio and label expand “our commitment to deepen the human experience and build connections through the performing arts.”
After talking about the school’s history and growth over the years, he asked how many people in the room had ever listened to recorded music, which of course brought smiles and nods, and then begged the question “how can you be a music school without a recording studio?”
“We want our students and teachers to share their music, to tell their stories, to feel they belong here, and feel that they deserve a space like this,” Bloom said.
Noah Bloom
According to Bloom, the studio is equipped with mixing boards, speakers, microphones, a Steinway grand piano, a vintage drum set, and amplifiers. Functioning as an audio and video studio, it also includes an isolation booth that is wired to the downstairs recital hall.
“A young singer who always dreamed of playing with an orchestra can now do that right here at NMS,” he said.
Highlights of NMS’s initial plan for the studio and label include a YouTube channel called Who’s Your Artist, a series that allows students, teachers, and NMS alumni to share their stores and art. Bloom shouted out New Haven-based hip hop artist Ibn Orator, who he said has been an “integral part” of the studio and that series.
Students will also be able to record original works, ensemble performances, and college auditions — which, according to Bloom, can be costly and prohibitive at times, but will now be “built into their education here.”
The studio will also be used in partnership with other community organizations, having already worked in its early phases of development with New Haven Public Schools students as well as artists from the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, among others. NMS is also in the “beginning phases” of creating a curriculum that will enable students to work side by side with professionals to learn skills specific to the studio environment.
Equitone Records artists will “benefit from the full support of essential services including studio time, music production, and publicity, and the success of those artists will not only directly support the artist … but will also increase the visibility of NMS and support opportunities for future artists and students.”
Eben Pariser.
Musician and producer Eben Pariser of Equitone Records, who Bloom said is “an incredibly important part of all aspects of design and in the creation of this studio,” spoke next.
“I need to just pause and say wow, it means so much that this community and NMS in particular took the risk and made this possible,” he said as he looked around the studio.
He gave a history and backstory before discussing Equitone itself, noting that everyone in the room had a connection with music that is a “spiritual, important part of our lives.”
“Seminal recordings by genius artists” are what inspired Pariser and many others to pursue a life in the recording arts, he said. He also noted the downside of the recording industry, that has often demonstrated exploitative and racist practices throughout its history.
Pariser explained three goals to forming Equitone. First was trying to collaborate and work with “incredible and awe-inspiring musicians and artists.”
“We don’t feel there’s a better way to draw people into this vast ecosystem than just doing incredible awe-inspiring art in the same way that I was drawn in by seminal recordings. Great artists make new artists.”
Second, Equitone wants to reduce the “crippling financial barriers that musicians face,” noting that it can take upward of $20,000 to release a record. Equitone wants to “flip record deals” so the label takes on the financial strain and potential profits are split 50/50 with the artist, with the label’s cut going back into supporting other artists as well as arts education.
Third, Equitone wants to “prioritize Black and Brown musicians and Black and Brown music,” based on taking a “critical look at what’s happened in our industry over the years and trying to take positive steps in the right direction.”
“This is really a pinch-me moment,” added Pariser. “This is truly a dream job to work in a field that I love so much and to try to do something good with it.”
After the ribbon cutting, Thabisa — one of Equitone’s inaugural artists — came forward accompanied by Pariser on guitar to share her song “Imagine,” which she felt was appropriate for the occasion.
“We have more hopes and dreams, and this is a perfect song for someone who had a vision of making something happen,” she said. “I know a lot about dreams because I am a dreamer, constantly making dreams a reality, and to be able to record is one of the dreams.”
Thabisa — who is currently on tour in New England and is also working on her first label release, a single called “I’m Alive” — spoke afterward about getting her music to as many people as possible through live performances and recordings.
“Deep down I believe I’m a global artist, but you got to start somewhere, so by me doing this New England tour, it is putting my best foot forward and seeing how people like my music,” she said. Meanwhile, “recording music is the most integral part of being a musician.”
Of Equitone, she said “the service itself has been invaluable, and it’s giving me an experience I can’t put a price tag on.” She has plans for an EP, adding that “this is long-time dreams just slowly coming to fruition, and meeting other people’s dreams and collaborating on our dreaming.”
Or, as she sang during “Imagine”: “This life is like a dream. You can make it whatever you want, you can make it if you try, you can make it if you believe.”
More information about The Studio at NMS can be found on the Neighborhood Music School website. Information about Equitone Records can be found on its own site. The ongoing “Who’s Your Artist?” series can be found on YouTube.
