In today’s world, creating music is an art that is simpler than you think; professional studios are no longer necessary. For Salt Lake independent artists, Nick Putz and Spencer Paul, all you need is a microphone, an interface and a bedroom.
Home studios are becoming more common among a new generation of musicians. Instead of the hassle of going to a professional studio and being on strict hours, you can open up your laptop and go to work. Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) allow you to record whatever you want, whenever you want, with multiple editing, recording and producing features. Some popular ones include GarageBand, Logic Pro, Ableton, ProTools, etc.
Putz, also known as Blank Stair, is an independent artist who uses GarageBand to record all of his songs. “I like the simplicity of it. I feel like it has everything I need,” Putz said. This isn’t just the case for Putz; Spencer Paul, another independent artist, also works in a home studio. “I’ll always have a home studio in my house. I love the freedom of it and how I can use it whenever I get the urge,” Paul said.
How does a home studio work?
When you hear the word “studio”, you probably jump to thinking about all of this equipment and space, but all you really need is a room, a microphone, an interface and a computer. Instead of worrying about booking specific hours, you can literally record or edit whenever you want.
“Once you get an interface and a mic, you have enough to start recording. My room isn’t acoustically treated or anything, but nothing has ever limited me to the point where I can’t make music,” Paul said.
Being able to record whenever is a different writing process and one that’s more “spontaneous,” Putz said. “I can record a track, save it, and come back to it whenever I want. I feel like I come up with the best guitar parts at midnight or even later, so I like just being able to do it right then and there.”
Although working in your own space has its benefits, it can be tricky at times. Due to working in an ordinary room, getting a clean sound can be something hard to accomplish.
“The biggest challenges are background noise. Sometimes I’ll get a really good take and one of my roommates will scream or a car will zoom by,” Putz said.
The future of music is at home
As DAWs continue to progress, at-home recording is becoming more common and a preferred way—prominent artists like Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande record at home due to the casual and stress-free environment. In an interview with Apple Music in 2022, Eilish said, “I don’t like the vibe of studios. It freaks me out. It, like, truly gives me social anxiety to be in a studio.”
That same sense of comfort and authenticity resonates with local artists like Putz and Paul. Something Putz loves about it is the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) sound, “where you can tell it’s not perfect.” Paul seconds this, saying he loves the “raw, garage” sound.
And that’s the beauty of this new age of creating music. Home studios are a place for creativity, experimentation and authenticity for independent artists. Musicians are demonstrating that you don’t require a glamorous, expensive setting to make something happen. All it takes is imagination and the courage to hit record.