April 17, 2017

Meet Guy Baruch of TempleBase Studios in Hollywood

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Guy Baruch.

Guy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From my very first memories, I felt deep passion for vocal melody. It was a bit later that I fell madly in love with POP/R&B and the greatest vocalists and songwriters and artists of our time. Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Babyface, Mariah Carey and George Michael played a huge influential role in my life. I wanted to do what they did for me. I wanted to make people feel uplifted, inspired and full of love. I spent my pre-teen years and every year since developing myself as a singer, songwriter and person who was able to do that.

When I was 17 years old, I auditioned for a boyband. The team putting this together had auditions in LA, NY, and Miami and after impressing them with my live audition, I got picked to be one of the boys. It was especially exciting and meaningful for me because one of the producers putting together this boyband was also writing/producing for Whitney Houston, Babyface, Toni Braxton etc. In my 17-year-old excited mind, my dreams were a done deal.

I had never been in a recording studio at that time and the next step after signing us was putting us in the studio to record demos for the label. That first recording experience was not a comfortable one for me because it was completely unfamiliar. I was also extremely nervous because of that unfamiliarity and because of who was vocally producing us. One day he was with Babyface and then next, with me. WOW! On the same night I came home from the studio, I received a phone call from the manager saying I was kicked out of the group because I was not good enough in the studio. My heart sank to the floor. It and my dreams felt like they had been crushed into a million pieces.

That experience did not decrease my determination to be a great singer/songwriter but it did create a very tumultuous relationship with the recording studio. I feared it. I felt “not good enough” every time that record button was pushed. Even though I knew logically that I was a good singer, I was overwhelmed with feelings of insecurity and fear. I spent the years following developing myself and diving into every option I could find to feel “good enough” at it.

Along the way, I discovered that I had a natural ability to executive produce music projects and to successfully develop the talent and music around it. If something was needed to accomplish the end goal, I made it happen. That included converting my parents guest house (that I lived in) into a full recording studio as well as buying (Well…putting on my credit cards) the equipment it takes to create the music. The first collaborator in my first studio called “Selective Sound Studios” was none other than Wanya Morris from BoyzIIMen. I realize now what a sign it was that I was on the right path. Alot of great music and projects where created in that studio and when it was time to move, I collaborated with one of best friends, Sharlotte Gibson (who sang backgrounds for Whitney, Mariah, Stevie Wonder etc.) and converted her garage into a full recording studio. I usually don’t do manual labor but I built those first 2 studios with my hands (and the hands of friends who helped).

Neither one of the studios were used commercially. They were used for my own personal projects and the projects of the community of artists that I was surrounded by. In 2008, I officially started my artist development company in an office space and set my sites on finding a studio in Hollywood so that I could utilize it for artists I was developing. Upon asking my community and multiple professional studio referral services about finding a studio space in Hollywood, I was told by everyone that there is no such space that would not need an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to build. The movie “The Secret” came out around that time so I used its principles and from a random Craigslist ad that didn’t even say it was a recording studio but a “creative space”, I checked out the location.

It did not look pretty but it definitely had the needed foundation of what could be built into a recording studio that my artists can record in. My life partner at the time and I put our design touch on things and in January of 2009, TempleBase Studios was born. Though I originally thought that the studio would only be used for my artists, I came to find that there was an even bigger blessing in store.

I had a friend who worked at Sony Publishing and told me that they needed to book studios for their writers. This surprised me because I was under the assumption that Major Record Labels and Publishing companies have their own studios and did not need outside studios. I’m SO glad I was wrong! LOL

From the first booking that Sony publishing made, the artist raved about the studio and the vibe. Sony started booking fairly often and before we knew it, everyone who came in started telling their co-writers and producers about the vibe of the studio. They would call it a hidden gem. Warner Chappell, BMG, RCA, Universal, Def Jam, MOTOWN and everyone in between started booking us on a regular basis. Ironically, finding studio time to develop my own artists was challenging at times.

We have never promoted or advertised. It has all been word of mouth. I am honored to say that a tremendous amount of major artists have recorded songs that are on the radio and even Grammy winning. Carly Rae Jepsen recorded her worldwide #1 “I Really Like You” at TempleBase. Tinashe recorded 4 songs from her album “Nightride” at The Base and many others. What I am even more proud of is that the biggest and best songwriters and producers feel at home at The Base. When that happens, music magic is created as I witness over and over on a daily basis.

That first studio experience of mine affected me in such a deeply disturbing way and I believe it led to having a lot of sympathy for creative people and the journey of developing themselves into the artists they want to be. I set out a strong intention with TempleBase Studios that every person who came in felt safe, supported and honored for their creativity no matter what level they are on.

I am happy to say that 8 years later, we are currently under construction for an expansion from 1000 sq. ft. to an addition 2000 sq. ft. of space in the upstairs of the same building. There will be more rooms and more opportunities for a community of music makers and creatives to come together and inspire, uplift and fill each other and the world with love.

Grand opening June 2017!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road AT ALL! LOL

Financial challenges where always present. Though the studio was making an income, life around that income was bigger. There were 2 owners and 2 lives to take care of. The splitting of that partnership 5 years into the company was the biggest challenge of all.

Our personal separation came at a time when we took over the upstairs. We could not see eye to eye and that left us in limbo paying rent on 2000 sq. ft. in the Hollywood Media District without utilizing it to make money. It has been 3 years since I took over the upstairs and only NOW am officially moving ahead with the expansion. We don’t have time for the 3 years of challenges but let’s say they were tremendous. I honestly thought I was not gonna make it on many of the months in the last 3 years. There were months that I have no idea how the total overhead came together. Owning your own business definitely requires a lot of trust and faith in something bigger than yourself. That spiritual development that I learned for the sake of my artistic development definitely came in handy the last 3 years.

TempleBase Studios – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Often called a hidden gem, TempleBase studios is a recording studio you can call home. A state of the art recording studio with a private feel, you can take your shoes off and enjoy the same hospitality you would expect from a middle eastern mama. Our staff is always there to provide anything needed for the music maker to make their magic. We have such high respect and honor for music and those that make it and I think everyone who walks through the doors can feel it.

We often have mixers and back yard block parties. We turn our parking lot into an event space with DJs, catering, decoration and live music bringing together the community of music makers in the industry and their fans.

I am especially proud that TempleBase has created a benefit concerts for non-profit organizations that gives back to the youth and surrounding communities. We work with various nonprofits such as the Gay and Lesbian Center and Urban Entertainment Institute supporting our youth through their love and passion for music. Facebook – OpenArtistMovement

We develop and have developed young, up n coming artists into incredible people and artists. I have honored my intention to provide a safe and supportive space for new artists. No one that I am aware of has ever gone through a negative first experience in the studio. I’ve watched insecure and overweight teenage girls develop into confident, healthy artists.

I am extremely proud that TempleBase has been a base for so many incredible songwriter/artists/producers and beyond to create their art. It is so fulfilling to provide the environment that inspires creativity in these precious artists. Beyond music making, we have had the likes of Marianne Williamson, Mastin Kipp and Kute Blackson record audio books and self-development programs. Since I am a huge fan of self-development, that makes me really proud.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I can honestly say I feel tremendously proud every time someone has a positive experience since that is the ultimate intention. I am extremely proud that the likes of Mary J Blige, JoJo, Justin Tranter, Taylor Park, Megan Trainor, MNEK, Adam Lambert, Daya, Cameron Dallas, etc. has recorded their but even more so, that they enjoyed their experiences and made amazing music.

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