This week we’re highlighting the debut of a new workshop aimed at helping your local band—and anyone curious about what it takes to bust out a record. Helmed by Gadgetbox Studios’ Andy Zenczak, in partnership with Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios, the “Making a Record” roundtable discussion on Thursday, Feb. 11, is presenting the varied expertise and industry experience of local stars Lauren Shera, Naomi Wilder (Naomi & The Courteous Rude Boys), Peter Haworth (Molly’s Revenge), and Brian Gallagher (Wooster). “Major labels are dying a slow death and it’s about time for independent resources to pick up and give artists more exposure,” says Zenczak, a self-described “music-geek and science-geek” who combined his two passions when he first started recording bands in his home 10 years ago.
Gadgetbox has been newly rebuilt on Santa Cruz’s Westside—framed CDs of bands Zenczak and his team have recorded line the colorfully painted walls—and now he’s using his studio as a forum for artist networking. Hosting the workshop that’s open to the public, Zenczak has lured the panel of speakers to dish out their personal insights, successes and pitfalls in hopes that the talk will not only inspire other musicians, but also link them together. “There’s a gap between artists who know how to be successful and those who don’t,” he says. “So many artists I’ve worked with have had success and people can learn about the recording process by hearing their stories—a lot are funny, exciting and entertaining.” With musicians of divergent genres passing through the Gadgetbox hallways, Zenczak decided he wanted to establish a workshop that builds on that sense of creativity and community already pouring through his doors. It’s all to add yet another helpful tool to the wider scene at large, he says, because Santa Cruz is brimming with talent that needs to be nurtured. “Rather than lament about what we don’t have in Santa Cruz,” he adds, “I’m of the mindset that you should make things happen.”
INFO: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. Gadgetbox Studios, 417-A Ingalls St., Santa Cruz. $5 donation. gadgetbox.net/workshop or 588-7307.
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