Hidden Gems: Meet Nicholas Morford of Sure Why Not Studios

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Morford.

Hi Nicholas, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn  your story today. So, before we get into specifics,  maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to  where you are today?
Absolutely! After attending college in Chicago I made the  move to Los Angeles in 2011. I was lucky in the fact that a  lot of my friends from Chicago ended up on the west coast.  As soon as I arrived I began looking for projects to join, at  one point in time I was playing bass in five bands – there  was a prog one, a folk one and the rest were mostly indie.  Honestly, I learned so much from playing out, and it really  helped dial in what I wanted to do which ultimately was  start my own band and move on to producing. In the Fall of  2012 my roommate at the time, Tavis Balkin, and I started a  band called Slow Coda. Over the past decade, we have put  out three EP’s and one self-titled full-length album. In that  time though music wasn’t always my sole focus. I found  myself working for a tech start-up that ended up being  purchased by Amazon and that career path put music on  the back burner. It wasn’t until the pandemic when I  stepped back and regained the desire to make music a  career.  

In 2022, I built a recording studio and created my own  company called Sure Why Not Studios, I also began  releasing my own music under the moniker Sure Why Not.  Starting my own business and reigniting my desire to make 

a living writing, performing and producing music was the  best decision I ever made. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so  far would you say the journey have been a fairly  smooth road?
You know, it has not been the smoothest haha but I do not  think it is supposed to be. When you have a strong desire to  make a passion into a career, you are always going to hit  roadblocks. Hearing “no” or not getting the job is a hard  reality to face. Not being able to find your place within the  musical landscape of LA is another hard reality. There’s so  much going on all the time and the older you get you  realize you cannot do it all by yourself. Along the way  though a few doors started to open and new friends in the  city began to connect me with others and over time I have  been able to build up a network that’s allowed me to grow  into the artist I have always wanted to be. 

We’ve been impressed with Sure Why Not Studios, but  for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you  share with them about what you do and what sets you  apart from others?
At the core, it was a way to turn my passion into a  profession. It was also a way to carve out a niche service in  the East Hollywood neighborhood of LA. The studio offers a  laundry list of music and audio services: recording,  producing, composing, songwriting, mixing and podcasting 

mixing / editing. I am super proud of the space and  atmosphere the studio provides for clients that come in.  Everyone that has come through to record or write has  commented on the relaxing vibe of the studio. Personally, I  feel it really allows for a great working environment and a  place to create and accomplish whatever the client desires.  For singers/songwriters, I always offer the first session for  free. While this is a business, I feel that establishing a long lasting work relationship with someone comes down to  trust and collaboration – removing the cost from that first  sit down creates a creative space that is also anxiety free.  The name itself Sure Why Not Studios comes from the fact  that I never say no to an idea, whatever musical or audio  idea the clients has I always reply back with “Sure, why  not!” I could say that’s kind of been my mantra since  moving to Los Angeles.  

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to? None of this would possible without the support of my  family. My dad is a trumpet player and a lot of my extended  family happen to be music teachers. The love for music was  ingrained into me from the very beginning. I would say  family helped shape me and my close friends in LA gave me  the confidence to make the studio become a reality. My  bandmate Tavis Balkin and another close friend Ben Adams  have seen me move between a lot of different paths during  years in LA, but those two always kept pushing me to make  music a full-time profession.

Since opening the studio, I’ve had the chance to work with  some great artists. Vincent Coleman who performs under  vincethealien is a singer that has taken my producing and  songwriting to new levels. I am planning to release a new  producer EP in late June and overall there’s a lot of exciting  stuff coming out of the studio this year! 

Pricing: 

• $250 = studio day rate + engineer

Contact Info: 

• Website: https://www.surewhynotstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surewhynotstudios/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@surewhynotmusic/videos

Image Credits
Artwork for Mall Walker EP – Tavis Balkin Pictures 2 & 3 – Rothwell Polk Last Photo was taken at New Monkey Studios – Paul Edelman