LOVELAND, Colo.—Rather than being located in an industrial zone where rent is cheap, Backbone Studio sits on 3 acres with a view of the Rocky Mountains. Named for the Devil’s Backbone rock formation that can be seen from the front door, the studio is an analog and digital production facility with video and monitoring capabilities.
Musicians can record, mix, master and produce individual songs and albums in a traditional or live studio setting. They have access to a wide selection of vintage and contemporary gear, including instruments, amplifiers and microphones.
“We wanted that private, getaway destination type of facility,” said Greg Colley, studio owner and a recording engineer who plays guitar. “We’re trying to give the artist a place to concentrate.”
Backbone has two separate studio rooms and a sky loft.
Studio A, the main recording area, is a 1,200-square-foot, acoustically balanced studio with 20-plus-foot ceilings and moveable acoustic partitions.
Studio B, which spans 1,600 square feet and has 14-foot ceilings, is used for live and full-band recordings.
The sky loft, an apartment above the two studios, has accommodations for six people with rehearsal areas and the capability to record music via the Studio A or B consoles.
“What the artists want is a large collaborative space,” Colley said. “They like being able to live in the studio while they make music. They get closer and more in tune with each other.”
The artists can stay for a couple of days or several weeks, Colley said. In most studios, they would have to use a motel or hotel and come in each day to work, he said.
“This building was dedicated to artists who really want to concentrate on their art and write and record music,” Colley said.
In 2006, Colley and his wife, Nancy, bought land to build a studio and moved into the existing house there a few months later. They built a 5,500-square-foot studio, taking 1 1/2 years to do the work.
They opened Backbone Studio in October 2008.
“My wife and I fell in love with the artistic culture in Loveland,” Colley said. “We also love the Devil’s Backbone.”
Jay Harper, a recording engineer from Frederick, joined Colley as studio manager and senior partner.
“I share that passion for creating good art and good music and capturing it well,” said Harper, a drummer.
Colley and Harper, along with a half-dozen part-time engineers, work with three types of artists. These include national bands, Colorado musicians and children ages 11 to 20 through an outreach program that covers production expenses.
Jake Hungsberg, a singer and songwriter from Fort Collins, has been recording songs at the studio since it opened, he said.
“(Colley and Harper) know exactly what they are talking about, whether it’s a question about recording technology or instrument usage,” Hungsberg said. “They’re basically there looking out to help you any way they can.”
The cost to create a national, radio-ready album requires a record company to budget $50,000 to $100,000, a fee that most local artists cannot afford, Colley said.
The studio charges $10,000 to $30,000 to produce an album and stay in the living quarters. The costs are less for smaller projects and single-song work.
“The creative process is what this is about,” Colley said.
———
On the Net:
Backbone Studio:
