Old fashioned recording in a modern studio - the classic sound is back!
On the 10th of September 2010 three veterans of the Amsterdam music scene opened their brand new recording studio: Amsterdam Recording Company. The studio, which measures over 2700 square feet, is located in a historic building, built as a warehouse by the Royal Dutch Steamboat Company. At the heart of the studio is a unique and superb Polygram mixing console from 1972.
The founders of Amsterdam Recording Company have spent the last ten years carefully searching for vintage equipment around the world. This equipment brings back the sound of the past decades. That means the fifties jazz sound Sun and Blue Note records produced. Or the raw Rock-‘n-roll sound of the sixties, remember the Beatles. The grotesque seventies sound, such as Led Zeppelin. And the unpolished sound of the late seventies Punk. But also the Synthpop of the eighties and all its bizarre effects.
Amsterdam Recording Company is founded by Aziz Badrane, Jean Morreau and Nicholas van den Doel, three entrepreneurs form Amsterdam with a passion for music. They are no strangers to the national and international music business. Aziz en Jean are members of Amsterdam’s best known punk band, NRA, and Nicholas toured Europe and the United States as lead dinger for the rock band Oil.
What makes Amsterdam Recording Company unique?
The Polygram Console
Before the studio had even taken shape, there was the console: a unique Polygram (Philips) mixing console from 1972. Philips felt the top consoles of the era, such as Neve, weren’t good enough for their prestigious Polygram studios and therefore built their own. In doing this they set a standard which has never been matched since.
The Building
The studio is located in Loods 6, a former warehouse in the harbour of Amsterdam, built by the Royal Dutch Steamboat Company, KNSM, at the beginning of the 1900’s. It was the first building in Holland to be constructed entirely out of cast concrete.
The Spacious Band Rooms
The studio also has two very spacious band rooms of 430 and 840 square feet respectively. The larger one is even equipped with a bar.
The Unique Atmosphere
The founders of Amsterdam Recording Company have used their passion for and love of music to build a unique studio with an equally unique atmosphere. Not only have they paid much attention to finding the best microphones, synths and compressors, but their attention to detail has also created a warm and inspirational atmosphere.
The Owners
Aziz Badrane – Frontman for the punk band, NRA who have multiple records to their name, released on many record labels based throughout Europe and the United States. In 1995 Aziz and his girlfriend started the skateboard and punk record shop Independent Outlet (located on the Vijzelstraat), which has since then grown into an international household name. In 2007 they opened Arrival/Departure (located on the KNSM-laan).
Jean Morreau – Within the studio Jean can combine his big passions for music and technology. Besides songwriting and performing, this former Philips engineer has been very active as a committee member of Amsterdams independent stage the OCCII. He hopes he can forward his experience and insights to a new generation of musicians.
Nicholas van den Doel – From 1997 until 2004, Nicholas was the lead singer for the band Oil, which released multiple records and toured Europe and the United States extensively. Among other recognitions, the band received an Essent Award in 2004 and played Lowlands and Noorderslag in that same year. Nicholas is now a member of the band The Cut/Up and he is also co-founder of Devil in the Details, an art initiative which provides a stepping stone for young and upcoming artists.
A.R.C.: A unique recording studio founded by unique people in a unique building with unique equipment which produces a new and unique sound in a unique atmosphere.
