Andy Waterman's Cloudbursts

We're All in This Together

Andy Waterman Productions is proudly starting our fifth year as recording producer for John Jacobson's Music Express Magazine published by Hal Leonard. Janet Day, Editor-in-Chief, asked me to produce the theme song, We're All in This Together, from Disney Channel's High School Musical. This made-for-cable movie musical has become a huge hit. I had no idea.

That is... until we recorded the accompanying Music Express Interview with our young host Lauren Frost interviewing High School Musical cast members Zac Efron and Monique Coleman. After the interview, our session singers (adults, might I add) working in the other room mobbed Zac and Monique for their autographs. Ostensibly for their kids...but who knows for sure?

These kids are hot! With ratings of over four million viewers, this movie musical has become the highest rated program in the history of the Disney Channel. And I believe it's an interesting trend indicator as well.

In a country where arts education is increasingly marginalized or eliminated from school curriculums - where being in the school band, chorus, or drama department is perceived as uncool or nerdy - this show celebrates the incredible opportunity for personal expression that music offers young people.

For me, High School Musical, recalls the passion of wanting to entertain and put on a great show. It's also about overcoming the obstacles along the way that keep us from reaching our goals. And more than anything else, it reminds me how music keeps us young and in touch with the next generation.

My goal on every session is to remember the enthusiasm and raw passion for music and performance that I had when I was part of my own high school musical.

In the Mix with Andy

It's been survival of the fittest in the studio biz these last few years. With incredibly powerful digital production tools available to anyone with a computer, the need to record projects in traditional studios has completely realigned our industry. Recently I heard that O'Henry Studios closed. O'Henry was truly one of the best managed, best equipped, and most client friendly, independently owned studios in L.A.

So how has Entourage Studios avoided being voted off the island? I believe we're survivors because we're doing everything possible to maintain a great acoustic environment for recording organic music. The mantra at Entourage is: "Classic analogue meets today's digital." Classic analogue means great mics, class A mic pre-amps, Marteks, API's, Neves, EMT plates and other legacy technology. And more than ever, todays digital is spelled ProTools. Entourage just made a significant leap forward with the acquisition of the most advanced ProTools system on the planet with 32 channels of Apogee AD/DA 16x - arguably the hottest, best sounding interface for ProTools.

There's one more thing beyond gear - it's called ears. The musician/engineers at Entourage are positively dumbo-esque - they have really big ears. And they have the passion to deliver world class results.

As survivors and artisans, we strive every day to keep this independently owned studio a viable venue for our clients and colleagues. Even for folks who have home studios, this is a great space for live instruments and vocal recording.

And most important, at least to me, Entourage is home for Andy Waterman Productions.

Welcome to "Up Beat"

Working freelance, as most of us do, can be wonderful, wacky and fun. There's the excitement of the current project and the angst about getting the next job. The best part is the camaraderie we share hanging out at sessions and gigs - the worst is not knowing when our paths will cross again.

Part of my motivation for this newsletter and blog is to provide a way for us all to stay in touch. I want to let you know what's up with Andy Waterman Productions and what we're doing at Entourage Studios. Now, as "interesting" as that is, I want this to be a forum for my fellow freelancers. So, let me know what you're working on and feel free to share insights, info or tidbits about our industry.

My goal is to make this forum so "Up" Beat, interesting and informative that you will eagerly look forward to receiving new posts. Let me know how I'm doing. I welcome your feedback and suggestions.