Live@Metrosonic presents: Kaleta ft. Zozo Afrobeat, Friday June 12 8pm

On June 12th, MetroSonic will proudly be presenting another installment of Live@Metrosonic! This time around we will be featuring the amazing sounds of Kaleta ft. Zozo Afrobeat, along with DJ sets from Peter Matson of Underground System, as well as announcing an amazing contest for Indie bands!

Kaleta is an artist that is truly taking the Afrobeat movement by storm and bringing it to the next level! Born in The Republic of Benin, Leon Ligan-Majek earned the name ‘Kaleta’ while mastering his musical skills. Relocating at a young age to near by Nigeria, Kaleta set out with the goal to play with one of his idols, King Sunny Adé and then soon after he played with the pioneer and creator of Afrobeat: Fela Kuti.

Once again relocating to New York City, Kaleta put together and leads the band Zozo Afrobeat, who are at the forefront of the Afrobeat revival. Zozo Afrobeat (which is comprised of members from all over the world including America, West Africa, South Africa, Poland, and Spain) have made an art out of combining Benino-Nigerian rhythms with American Jazz and Funk!

Backing this highly anticipated performance we will be welcoming DJ Peter Matson! Matson is the cofounder and guitarist for Experimental Afrobeat band Underground System and is sure to be showcasing the best of what Afrobeat has to offer.

The details for the Live@MetroSonic Video Contest will be released very soon/in time for the June 12th show. The contest will end on our Live@MetroSonic event that is yet to be announced in July. Come back here soon or check out our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram in the coming days for more information.

See the show live by buying your tickets above or watching the live broadcast on MetroSonic’s Homepage and MetroSonic’s YouTube!

To buy your tickets Click Here!!

The Coffin Daggers Make Live Analog Recording Look Easy

Since the beginning of time, music has been synonymous with the musician’s imagination. It often translates or transcends the very wide spectrum of the human psyche, making it hard for people to not be drawn towards it… Or at least that’s how I felt during The Coffin Daggers stay at MetroSonic!

Hailing straight out of New York, The Coffin Daggers are Viktor Venom – guitar; Rob Morrison – keyboards & guitar, Peter Klarnet – Bass, and Pete Martinez -Drums, who all aim to rejuvenate the iconic Surf Punk genre with a psychedelic twist. With their sound resembling something out of a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack mixed in with your local Freak Show Circus, The Coffin Daggers were the perfect subjects for the all analog live recordings that we love to do. The combination of their live performance, classic equipment, and recording straight to tape truly captures the essence of this band’s dynamic sound. From playback of the very first takes, it was clear to see (or hear) how their music truly benefits from an all analog production process.

(If you would like to read the rest of the article, Click Here!!)

In the Studio With Ariana Castelli

Today in the studio we were graced by the up and coming singer/songwriter Ariana Castelli, here to work on her next single.

Her first single “LOVE is LOVE”, which dropped in late 2013, spotlights the struggle of being the person you were born to be and being with the person you love. Using her lyrics as a way of inspiration, Castelli lends her voice to insure that you are not alone with your struggle and there are ways to overcome what you feel is breaking you down.

To read the complete article about Ariana Castelli, Cick Here!

Live@MetroSonic Presents - DAMEHT - "I Love You Too"

Watch NYC Punk Rock band DAMEHT's 11/15/13 performance of "I Love You, Too" taken live from the MetroSonic Show-Room in Brooklyn NY! (presented in HD)

Making Waves in Electronic Music: Dan Berg Speaks On His Upcoming Compilation Album and More

Daniel Berg stopped by the studio to work on some new material this week!  I sat down with the “Fireberg” producer who, originally from Philadelphia, moved to Brooklyn in 2009. About a year later he started working under the pseudonym “Fireberg” in which he produces electronic music and loops for live performances.

Dan is putting the finishing touches on a compilation EP made up of plethora of songs recorded over the past three years. If you had to give the album a concept, Dan says,” The concept would be without a voice”, and for the simple fact that the album has no recorded vocals.  Where Dan lacks in vocals, he makes up for in varying samples of old school informational videos telling you things you should already know like not to do drugs or stay in school. Throw a couple vinyl samples, hip-hop influences, and an understanding of the different components of jazz into the mix and you have the self-proclaimed “Eclectronic” style of music Dan loves to make.

To read the full article click here!

Marina Rosenfeld Makes Boomkat’s Top 100

Congratulations to Marina Rosenfeld for making it to the top 20 of Boomkat’s Top 100 albums of 2013 list with her album “P.A./Hard Love”!

Marina Rosenfeld is a talented composer from New York City, who blends Art and Music for a experimental blend. Marina Rosenfeld, along side of virtuoso cellist Okkyung Lee and Warrior Queen collaborate sounds that should not mix but find away to be a very surreal collision of sound that will entice the listener for more.

Boomkat describes the album as, “The inter-dimensional blend of Warrior Queen’s vocals and Okkyung Lee’s cello infused, electro-acoustic scapes draped by the intense frequency modulations of Rosenfeld really sounds unlike anything you’ll have heard before: it’s sort of like Rashad Becker, Kode 9, Ryoji Ikeda, The Bug and Laurie Anderson all playing at once, somehow sounding cohesive and startling all at once. Adapted from a series of quasi-sculptural sound system installations, ‘P.A. / Hard Love’ unfolds around morphing location recordings with unstable acoustic parameters in electronic sound fields strafed with eerie sci-fi tones and complex synthesizer patterns. Warrior Queen sounds like she was dialed in as a mischievous AI presence; something like a character in the latter chapters of Necromancer, singing and spitting amidst the laser zaps and gyroscopic diffusions.”

They continued, “Most crucial to the record’s appeal, though, is that constantly morphing patina of electro-acoustic flux; like the scramble suit in Philip K Dick’s ‘A Scanner Darkly’, perpetually shifting and realigning your ear’s focus between the peripheries and the foreground with something approaching a slow, controlled, cybernetic psychedelia. Quite simply, it’s a stunning and highly idiosyncratic record, one that sucks you in deeper with every repeated listen.”

Metrosonic Recording Studio had the pleasure of Mastering Marina Rosenfeld’s album and we are proud to see how far her work has come! Check out the track “Hard Love” below and for more of Boomkat’s Top 100 Albums of 2013 click here!

Exclusive Rolling Stone Video: Black Lips at MetroSonic with Mark Ronson

Atlanta’s raucous Black Lips and Amy Winehouse/Lily Allen producer Mark Ronson — whose album Record Collection came out in September — might seem like an odd couple. But as Ronson says in this video, “You can tell when you’re working with people who love music as much as you do because there’s an excitement to it.”

Ronson is helming the band’s sixth LP, due in the spring, and judging by the material captured here, he hasn’t changed what he calls their “lo-fi garageness.” The sound is a bit tighter but the songs could have come from any of the group’s recent LPs.

Eyal & Grassmass crank out the grooves

Seal Breakers Bklyn Remix

Seal Breakers Craig Williams with Greg Brown stopped by for their “Bklyn re-mix”, a hip-hop version of their R&B/Soul single tribute to Brooklyn culture.

Show-Room @ MetroSonic Recording Studio

Welcome to the Show-Room. It’s the ‘good twin’ of the Metrosonic family.  Naturally, the recording studio side is dark, brooding, mysterious and of course, very handsome; but maybe you need a space that’s a little more open, a little brighter, and has fewer vintage guitar amps lying around. The Show-Room is your man. The addition of the Show-Room @ Metrosonic has made for a wonderful place to create and present arts & entertainment events.

The Show-Room is an authentic 800 sq ft artist loft perched on the 3rd floor with large west facing windows revealing generous natural light, golden sunsets, and skyline views.  The exposures, the white & red brick wall, wood floors, & unique acoustics  all promise to provide a warm and welcoming creative setting for your event.

Because we are able to offer extensive technical support for audio/video services along with the room and amenities, the Show-Room is the ideal comfortable, spacious, and affordable place to hold a wide variety of functions including:

-Live Music Events (album release parties, upcoming tour promotions, record label showcases, intimate performances for taped or live streaming radio/web broadcast, with options for remote host interview, catering, video & audio multi-track recording, etc.)
-Photo Shoots
-Video & Film Shoots
-Fashion & Accessory Shows
-Auditions/Casting Calls
-Yoga Classes
-Art Openings & long term exhibitions
-Dance/Theater Rehearsals
-Product Demonstration
-Private Parties

Specs and services:
-800 sqft
-Freight elevator access
-Kitchen/Lounge area
-Private Restroom
-Air conditioned
-High speed internet/WiFi
-Backline *
-Studio equipment*
-Lighting packages*

The Show-Room is available for 1/2 or full day bookings. Your rate will depend on the scope & requirements of your event. Please call for a quote. A 1/3 deposit is required to confirm your booking. You can see our full booking and payment policy here. Also, ask about our discounts for non-profits and student artists.

Schedule a visit now! Contact us at showroom@metrosonic.net or call (718) 782-1872 with some details about your event. We’ll be happy to show you around the space.

*some equipment & services may be included or provided for an additional fee.

One on One With Matte Black

Matte Black stepped foot into the studio once again for a candid interview with Ryan, here at MetroSonic!

Matte Black Drops Their Debut Album "Lowlands"

Hey everyone! Awesome news; Matte Black’s debut album “Lowlands” is now available on their website. You have your choice of Vinyl or Digital Download, along with other really cool band merch. 

These guys have worked hard here at MetroSonic to bring to you some fantastic Rock music. Make sure to support Matte Black by picking up some merch and checking them out LIVE at the Saint Vitus Bar March, 20th

KidTribe - Unjunk Yourself

KidTribe began as a grassroots organization dedicated to kid’s health and fitness but has grown into one of the leading pioneers in the field. They’ve partnered with organizations such as NASA, The American Cancer Society, Target and many more. 

To read more about KidTribe and to watch the "Unjunk Yourself" video Click Here!

Our all discrete electronics vintage Neve 5315

Peter Gordon's Live Jazz improv recording

All Analog Metrosonic Recording Package

Analog recording and mixing to tape and pressing vinyl can be intimidating.  Analog is not easy like an MP3 or a CD.  For some, the whole process seems complex, confusing, fraught with decisions about how to get this done right, not to mention expensive.

But you want it.

Our Ampex ATR 102

You want analog because it's real. Because your music DOES sound better recorded on tape and played back on vinyl. Because every great record you have was produced this way.  You're an analog snob.  No worries, so are WE.  All music sounds great produced in the analog domain, and some really benefit from this method of production. That's why we're taking the hassle, confusion and expense out of this process and helping you get your All Analog project done right.

Metrosonic is proud to bring you an all analog EP recording/vinyl pressing package unlike anything else in New York City. You'll receive 5 days (40 hours) in the studio for 15% off our regular rates! Included in the price are 2 days access to our huge live recording room (a $300 value). No digital in any part of the process here; you're receiving an all tape recording session. Vintage mics, Neve board...it doesn't get any better. Once recording is done, your EP will be mixed to 1/2" tape. We will take care of the pre-mastering including editing and sequencing the songs.  Next we'll set you up with the lacquer master and reference acetates. Finally, your record will be sent out to the plant for pressing.  We will help guide you through the process every step of the way.  All we need from you is your music and a deposit.  So let's get started!

Of course, every project has different requirements.  How much tape you will need, how many records you want pressed, EP or LP, all will affect the final price.  Let us know your budget and we'll help you work out the rest.  Packages start at $3500. Call 718-782-1872 or email info@metrosonic.net to book your session!