The Slip’s Brad Barr Creates Rough Magic

Scott Bernstein: What do you look for in a recording studio?

Brad Barr: There’s nothing particular I look for in a studio except for a certain warmth and energy and character in the room (and, of course, a few nice mics and pre-amps). I suppose the type of room and setup you choose has a lot to do with what kind of project you’re recording. But if you’re going to be spending lots of time recording somewhere, you want to feel comfortable and inspired. Thats what I look for. Then again, I’m sure some great records have been made in leaky basement studios with rats running across the mic cables.

SB: What led you to record at Rough Magic?

BB: This was a very loose session we threw together when I found out Sonya and I would both be in New York — literally off the cuff without even knowing what songs we would do. Albert contacted me a few months earlier and wanted to show me the studio, kindly offering to track whatever project I had in mind. Sonya and I had been talking about getting together and playing/writing. I suggested doing this at Rough Magic.

SB: How was recording at Rough Magic different from some of the other places you’ve recorded?

BB: I think their name says a lot. It wasn’t the prettiest studio I’ve ever been in, but after a four-hour session, we left with a good-sounding CD of rough mixes. We were tracking just acoustic guitars and voices. It was a different experience in as much as any studio is different from another: room size, acoustics, equipment, engineers, medium — their engineers were very accommodating.

SB: How did you meet Sonya Kitchell?

BB: I met Sonya at the Boston Music Awards. That’s where I first heard her sing. She was nominated for an award, lost by a margin to Melissa Ferrick, and I talked her down off the roof of the Avalon. I certainly hope to work with her in the future.

SB: The progression of the quality of Slip recordings from the early days to Eisenhower is incredible. How much of a factor did the places you chose to record each album play in the final product?

BB: Its hard to say how much the studio affected the final outcome of Eisenhower. Obviously it plays a big part in how the record sounds, but the band grew a lot over those years too. We had all been experimenting in our home studios, recording and recording some of those songs. I can’t downplay the role Matthew Ellard played in taking the care and having the know how to really milk the sound from each instrument. He was a huge asset to that project. About the space, I can say this: on Eisenhower, we got the basic tracks (drums, mostly, some bass and guitar) at Q Division, a really nice studio in Somerville, MA. We then took those to our friend Deckie’s loft space, also known as Bubble and Squeak, where we had the time to stretch out, try things, improvise and experiment, without worrying about thousands of dollars flying out the window. This helped the creative process greatly.

SB: What else have you been working on these days?

BB: I’ve been tracking some music up here in Montreal. Some friends of mine put together a great studio space, rich in room sounds (womb sounds). I was happy trying this out, letting things bleed, not being too careful or precious. It yielded some strange and mysterious moments. Ghosts may have played a role in it. The ensemble is a group of people I’ve grown to know and love up here. It includes harp (symphony, not harmonica), contra-bass, organ, accordion, drums, guitars. I put one track (Deacon’s Son) up on MySpace. Its a duet with me and the bass player, Miles Perkin. And though it sounds like there are overdubs or other people playing, its two people live off the floor. Check it out.

Thanks to Brad for taking the time to chat with us, and we look forward to hearing the end results of all his projects.

Rough Magic Studios is located at 61 Greenpoint Avenue in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Rooms are currently available for both recording and rehearsing on both an hourly and monthly basis.

You can email [email protected] for more information.