Hiding in Plain Sight: Louisville’s Under-the-Radar Recording Studio
Cozied up in Irish Hill, this little-known recording studio boasts an eclectic interior, a homey feel, and services that draw musicians from all over the country.
The South is known for many things, not the least of which is its deep musical roots. New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz; rock and roll was born in Memphis, and Nashville is known as Music City, USA. Though Louisville might be more widely recognized for horses and bourbon, there’s a lot to be said about the music scene in Derby City, too.
“’Happy Birthday’ was written in this town,” says Gregg Rochman, general manager of local analog/digital-based recording studio La La Land. “The jug band was invented [here, and] the first orchestral work commissioned by a composer was done by the Louisville Orchestra. The music scene in Louisville … has been special for a very long time.”
A musician himself — Gregg was a bass player in the early 90s — the New York native now helps others make their recording dreams come true in a nondescript brick building behind a wooden fence in Irish Hill. La La Land is easy to miss; there’s no big sign, no flashing lights, and nothing to hint that artists including Ray LaMontagne, Joan Shelley, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy have recorded there. If no one told you that the building at 1139 Lexington Road was a music studio, you’d never guess. And that’s the point.
PinJim James, Ray Lamontagne, Jake Shears, GRLWood, Strand of Oaks, Joan Shelley, Boa, and countless others have recorded at La La Land.
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“The whole goal of this business was to make it feel really comfortable,” says head engineer and producer Anne Gauthier. “If you’ve ever been to another recording studio, [you’ll notice that] people always try to make it look fancy. But most musicians do not want to feel fancy … That’s not what you need to feel comfortable to perform, get good takes, and make a great record.”
‘Comfortable’ is undoubtedly the adjective that best describes La La Land. Stepping through the front door feels like walking into someone’s home. On the right, a plush sofa sits by a piano dotted with knick-knacks. To the left, dishes and spices line the shelves of a full kitchen. The space boasts a mix of eclectic decor that appears to have been collected over several decades. Gregg says the building was built in the 1970s and initially used for industrial glass production. It has served multiple other uses since, and some of the furnishings and artwork have remained, adding to the uniqueness of a space that is now home to three isolation booths and a 2,500-square-foot tracking room.
PinThere’s an eclectic mix of furniture and decor spread throughout the space.PinThe tracking room at La La Land is 2,500 square feet.
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“It was originally designed as a studio by producer and musician Kevin Ratterman in 2011,” Gregg explains, adding that the vintage, 40-channel Trident TSM40 board in the control room was built in 1981 for the well-known Sausalito, CA recording studio, The Record Plant.
“The story goes that Huey Lewis and the News’ first breakout record was recorded on this board,” he says. When La La Land needed a replacement board, Anne identified the Trident and helped make moves to get it to Louisville. Today, the board and the rest of the studio’s full array of equipment allow for recording everything from drum tracks and string sessions to full sessions on analog tape, digital, or both. Whatever a musician’s recording goals may be, they can likely be attained with Anne’s help; she knows what it takes to create a strong album. The Montreal native has been a musician since she was 15.
PinLa La Land boasts a comfortable, homey space to create.
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PinLa La Land offers a full array of recording gear.
Once business at La La Land got to a point where Kevin couldn’t handle everything himself, Anne moved to Louisville to continue her career in music. Today, she, Gregg, and their studio manager Mark Charles run the bulk of the operation. “The three of us are sort of ground zero,” Gregg says, “but there are lots of other people that [help out].”
In addition to offering recording, mixing, mastering, and other services for musicians, La La Land also hosts recording and tech camps for teens and adults. Participants learn the basics of recording and live sound setups before assisting with an actual recording session.
“This is for the community,” Gregg says. “That’s why we keep it going. … There are other great music studios in town, but we’re the only studio like this.”
All photography courtesy of La La Land.
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Originally from Hawaii, Lennie Omalza is a Louisville-based freelance writer of over 18 years. Lennie is a yoga-loving foodie who travels as often as she can and enjoys writing about food, homes, and weddings. You can find more of Lennie's work at Eater, Hawaii Home & Remodeling, and The Louisville Courier-Journal.
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