Nashville Recording Studio Renovated for Coffee House, Mountain Lodge Feel
Music’s Brewin’ at Creative Caffeine
Berry Hill — Just as one gets a warm and cozy feeling from drinking a cup of coffee, so does he or she after leaving a recording session at Creative Caffeine, if owner Jeff Brock has his way.
This is the concept behind Creative Caffeine, a Berry Hill recording studio that recently underwent major renovations to help it market its coffee house-like feel.
Among the studio’s catch phrases is “Creative Caffeine: Hot Coffee, Warm Sound,” which describes the studio’s mission, said Brock.
Renovations included converting an office and galley into a larger kitchen, where meals can be prepared, and installing solid maple cabinets, Ivory Coast granite counters and panted canvas tiled walls. The kitchen also has an espresso/cappuccino machine, and a lounge area features weathered stone walls and a place for musicians to hang out and drink coffee between sessions.
“If you drink a strong cup of coffee, you get kind of a buzz. People who walk out of here walk out with a buzz,” said Brock, referring to the music.
Brock said clients have often said being in the studio is like being in “a mountain lodge.”
“We have what many clients describe as the most comfortable studio they’ve ever recorded in,” he said.
Brock said plans include building a deck that would lead to Mill Creek, which runs adjacent to the property. He is also building a giant coffee cup fountain shooting up through the middle so that water spills over the edges onto a saucer and back down. [the deck and fountain were completed late 2007.]
More Studio Time Available
Although the concept for Creative Caffeine has been evolving for several years, Brock didn’t open the studio to the public until about a year ago. Previously, the studio was used exclusively for Brock’s company, Brock Music, which does TV scores and jingles.
“I’m kind of scaling back the number of productions I do,” Brock said, adding this has resulted in more studio time opening up.
Brock formed Brock Music in 1979 and moved it to Berry Hill 10 years later. His building is an old real estate building that he converted into a recording studio. Brock’s other company, InsurrectionMusic.com, specializes in prerecorded production music.
Berry Hill Known as Music Row II
Musicians who have recorded at Creative Caffeine include stars such as Alison Krauss, Peter Frampton, David Ball, Doug Stone, and John Oates of Hall & Oates. Often referred to as Music Row II, Berry Hill has become a hot spot for musicians ranging from leading songwriters and award winning artists to musicians looking for their first big breaks.
This marks the third time majore renovations have been done at the recording studio. Because of this location, Brock said he has been able to devote more money and time on aesthetics and less on soundproofing.
He said he’s been developing the concept for Creative Caffeine gradually.
“The studio has sort of been opening for a long time,” he said.
written by Suzanne Normand Blackwood – Tennessean.com
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