Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Nogueiras.
Danny, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started recording in the Glassell Park area as an intern in a studio up the street from where Balboa Recording Studio now sits way back in 2008 or 2009. After putting in some hard work there I opened up my own studio in Echo Park with my good friend David Jerkovich. The studio was called The Ocotillo and we ran it out of pehrspace (a DIY punk venue in a strip mall on Glendale Blvd).
That space was an incredible place to grow and record as many bands as we could but eventually the venue (and studio with it) was evicted from the building when it changed hands and they wanted to develop it into a more profitable space for the property owners. After a year or two of trying different spaces and moving clients from room to room, I decided to invest in my own space that would be able to stand for a long time and be a safe and comfortable place for us to make records. After about five and a half months of construction Balboa Recording Studio opened in November of 2017. It was a challenging build out and a much larger scale project than anything I had taken on at the time but I think we created a great room and have spent the last two years making records with incredible bands and artists.
Has it been a smooth road?
So far, Balboa has been pretty smooth sailing. There are inherent challenges that come with the studio/music industry and it can be tough to get by when starting out but overall we’ve had an incredible experience and, thankfully, the community of musicians, artists, and labels in Los Angeles have kept us busy.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Balboa Recording Studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Balboa Recording Studio is all about being a comfortable, affordable place to make art. Whether it be songwriting, tracking, mixing, or rehearsing I just wanted to make a studio that felt like a home. Our equipment is well maintained and runs smooth, the patchbays were laid out to be very easy to just come in and learn in a minute so anyone can run the control room, and the instruments we keep here all come together to allow for some very eclectic sounds. All of the interior decorating was done by wife Ali Nogueiras who I think brought a really amazing voice to the space that you don’t often find in recording studios. The end product is a professional level recording studio that doesn’t feel intimidating or soulless at all. It’s a home for musicians and artists to settle into and feel free to make art at their own pace.
I think what sets us apart the most would be the people who work here. Staff and Clients alike. I (Danny Nogueiras) do a lot of producing here and have had the privilege to bring some of my favorite LA bands into the studio (Together PANGEA, Criminal Hygiene, No Parents, Mean Jeans, Culture Abuse). Our head engineer David Jerkovich is an incredible talent who nurtures the bands he works with in a way that always helps to elevate their work and get them where they want to be (Young Lovers, The Frights, Hyps). Our Assistant Engineer, Aaron Moxness, is always around to help out and knows his stuff, he’s become an asset to the studio in a big way. And, our newest Engineer, Daniel McNeill brought in some incredible vintage studio gear and instrumentation and has already brought some great new people into work at Balboa (Mamalarky, Kirin J Callinan).
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the people of Los Angeles and the weather. I think I love most things about this city. Biggest dislike would be how expensive it can be and what that can do to young artists trying to develop their work while worrying about how to live!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.balboarecordingstudio.com
- Email: danny@balboarecordingstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balboarec
Image Credit:
Alice Baxley
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