Meet Anthony Colocho of Studio Classless in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Colocho.

So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised in the Long Beach area. I started playing bass at ten years old, had my first band at 13 called NextDoor we played together for eight years. We were sponsored by Monster energy drink and recorded with Scott Stevens and Scott Humphrey at Tommy Lees house studio. That was my third or fourth recording studio I was in at that time I was around 21 years old. I wanted to one day have my own recording studio. When I was 18, my mother passed away due to chemotherapy and breast cancer. She was a huge supporter of my music endeavors as well as my father.

So I continued to play and tour. With life sort of falling apart, the band fell apart as well and at age 22, I left the band moved to Downtown Long Beach with my friend where I helped raise my brother for his last few years of high school, I was pretty much like a father and worked 5am-1pm Monday through Friday for about three years, in this time I made a little home recording studio and began to record my own songs and experiment with home recordings. I was heavily involved in the yoga movement practicing twice daily until at 25, I became a yoga instructor/therapist teaching at Naples wellness center, Yoga on the Bluff and joined a band called Hopeless Romantics; we played for about three years and my yoga career lasted about four years I wasn’t recording much during this time. Around 2016 I was able to join a sum what recording studio/ rehearsal space where I recorded my first full album with my latest band named Band Of Wizards it was done with what I had so was a little rough but I had a lot of fun putting the music together and tracking the band without having to pay another studio. Felt good to have it done on my terms. In 2017, I met a woman we fell in love and about a year later she was deported so I moved to Mexico then to Chile. I would go back and forth from California to Chile at the time I was seasonally working for marijuana farms in Northern California. While living in Chile, I missed music with my whole heart and had dreams of investing time into my recording studio back home.

Last year 2019 October my friends and I went to Europe on a road trip from Italy to Amsterdam then to Spain. Within this time, we all came together on the idea of investing in the studio and recording our music ourselves. So when we got back, we started a label and or collective called Classless Records. We then invested in gear and a new space. When we finally opened, it was April 2020 shortly after the world was hit with covid so we had a slow start. I got a gig producing a radio show called Morning Intentions for KLBP Long Beach public radio. As the months went on, I was able record Loch Jester, Band Of Wizards, Evers Dead Babies, UGH!, Cupcake Kid, Dyzzy on Vynyl, Scotty Salmon and Dokkodo. Along with Recording and producing I play Guitar/Bass for Jane Free And The Earthlings, Band Of Wizards and Loch Jester.

Has it been a smooth road?
I think there are always struggles and I feel as I get older most struggles I found ways to tune in to the smoother parts. Struggles in my life were one my mom passing away and how drastic life changed after, having my partner deported was a struggle and finding a home here in Long Beach that is affordable. Right now, I live with my father and brother on the couch and I have money for a place too. It’s just insane to spend 1550 on one bed one bath. If it wasn’t for covid id probably still be living in another country.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
We are a recording studio recording local bands and podcast makers. I am a recording engineer and musician. I think I’m known for this studio and more so years of playing music in the city. I am most proud of friends and musicians this studio brings together and the albums/songs that are tracked here. I think what sets us apart is that we are classless and have no restrictions or boundaries at what could be done here.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think for us, we will have a more detailed space that we can build in. I see more and more bands committing to tracking their songs and I think that’s where it counts. So in 5-10 years, there will be some amazing albums to share.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: studioclassless bandofwizards liviniskey

Image Credit:
Aleskey Volchek

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.