Why I Built This Studio
I've worked my whole life in software to pay the rent, but it didn’t feed my soul. This does.
As the founder of Right Take Studio, I have loved performing live my whole life. There's something magical about walking on stage with a guitar, knees shaking and your mind racing. Though you're terrified, you tell yourself, "I'm going to do this." And then something wild happens — you do. You go out into the great wide open and share part of your soul with the audience. Every chord you play and every lyric you sing, echoes out into the room and, if you're authentic, sends chills down the spines of anyone within earshot. It's like you and your band are having a conversation with the audience, without speaking.
If they like it, you can feel it coming back to you, and your performance gets better. If they don't, you can change your approach to better capture their imagination. It's a co-creation, a conjuring of all that is good.
However, when we cut records, we lose some of that magic. Everything starts to sound the same — clinical, too perfect. Producers pass songs through AI algorithms to make sure the track sounds just like the last smash hit. Everything just becomes a long stream of sameness.
When you go see a live band, you see humans doing what they do best: creating art. You see the sweat, hear the mistakes. It's real, visceral and honest. That's what I hope to capture.
"Think less big cathedral, more Cavern Club in Liverpool — that tight, dark, brick-walled sound the Beatles cut their teeth on"
There are many studios in the Boston area, what makes this one special is that each piece of hardware was chosen specifically to get the best live performance from our artists. From the pre-amps and EQ choices, to the types of fixtures and cameras. You play your heart out, we make sure it is streamed globally for the world to see with the highest fidelity.
Another reason I wanted to start this studio is because bands these days, especially those just starting out, are having a hard time finding places to play. It costs so much money to put on a live show, and most venues now want references from other places you've played — making it almost impossible to get started. Or maybe a band does manage to find a gig, but it ends up being at the grand opening of a clothing store, or a brewery where no one can hear them.
With Right Take Studio, I want to give artists a way of getting that kick from playing live while streaming it out into the world. Nowadays, the audience doesn't have to come to you; you can go to the audience. With the streaming aspect of our studio, the folks in the control room can tell the band, "Cindy from Wisconsin is asking you to explain one of the lyrics in your latest single.", or "Tom from Delaware says you guys suck — what do you want to do about it?" And the band can playfully respond on the live stream: "Hey Tom, that's not very nice, This new one's just for you!
I hope Right Take Studio can open doors for solo musicians and bands. They can play live shows and stream those performances all over the world, gaining a wider audience in the process.
Lastly, I want to give back to the community. I got where I am today because of the kindness of others. When I first came to America, I had nothing. After the dot-com crash, I was even homeless for a short time — sleeping on benches and in a 1974 Ford van that had rust holes everywhere. When it rained I woke in puddles of water. It was the kindness of strangers sometimes that allowed me to eat, drink, and wake up in a warm bed.
And now I want to give back. If you're a musician or band who's just starting out, get in touch. Every so often we'll give away studio time for up-and-coming artists. America has been kind to me, and I want to return the love.
With Love,
Richard McCluskey
Founder, Right Take Studio