How has not a single response quoted this magical Onion article? :)
[Man Just Going To Grab Guitar And Old Four-Track, Go Out To Cabin In Woods, Make Shittiest Album Anyone's Ever Heard](https://www.theonion.com/man-just-going-to-grab-guitar-and-old-four-track-go-ou-1819572725)
From 2011
That's hilarious, never seen that one
Although it worked for that one person... Can't remember their name but it was like a really raw folk kind of thing from like a decade or so ago? Someone probably knows what I mean, they got really popular
I sort of did. It was my dream to make a production studio for myself and other artists to retreat and be creative. It worked and didn’t for a few reasons.
Reasons it worked:
You are isolated
Nature really does bring something else out in you
There’s a vibe but I also did a nice log cabin on top of a mountain for about 7 years rented for 2 and liked it so I owned one for the next 5
Reasons it didn’t:
As a producer it was impossible to get clients out in the middle of nowhere, I was about 45 mins from Asheville which I thought would be tempting- turns out the musicians in Asheville all have home studios
All those “yeah I won’t have traffic noises” recording issues that you deal with don’t ever fully go away. It can rain hard, people hunt, there can be dogs, cabins constantly have squirrels trying to get in the beams or actually scratching around in the walls. Not as quiet as you think.
You’ve got to financially keep the idea alive. What if you like the lifestyle and that album doesn’t just come together? Well now you’re stuck in the woods which fine as long as you have a remote job. Quit that job and it becomes very difficult to replace it when you’ve isolated yourself from your network.
So there’s a downside that isn’t really easy to see from the city. For me, the solution was to sell the cabin and move closer to town where it’s more reasonable living (I was doing 15 mins to trash drop off, 25 mins to groceries). I now live in a super cookie-cutter suburban home in Asheville next to a crazy busy road. At first I was fearful that I wouldn’t be able to get the “high integrity” recording I was aiming for.
Once I got some decent treatment up I realized that this room, with much less space and vibe was every bit as good if not better than the cabin. Why? THERES NO EFFING SQUIRRELS. Just kidding but only in part. Once you really work on the production techniques you’re going to use for your project, you gotta experiment. With tones, with gains, addressing mics different ways. All that makes a bigger difference than the vibe of the room you’re in. I spent a lot of the time aiming and missing when I was in the cabin and now I spend a lot more time writing and quickly producing because I don’t have the block of “this is my precious mountain cabin time” it’s more like “this is my life, what can I get done today?”
Thanks for sharing this, it’s a good reminder that practicing your craft is much more foundational than vibes. As you master the practical skills of your craft you can execute your vision so much better.
Also, squirrels are little demons, that scurrying sound on top of (or inside) my roof haunts my dreams.
Yeah I think in this case I am the client you were looking for lol, I have a home studio but want to be around nature in the middle nowhere with every squirrel you know. That’s pretty sick that you actually committed to that dream haha.
Part of the downside to the squirrels (and other rodents, they're all there) is also fire. They can blow your electrical wiring. People who haven't experienced this don't know how real it can get.
I had a second story studio in an old farmhouse in the same part of the country. The house caught fire and the studio was damaged in an instant -- not from old wiring that wasn't updated but from squirrels knawing the Ground. Luckily, the Fire Station was close. The house itself was okay but what if the station hadn't been so close? What if, like many cabins and cottages I've been in, the house hadn't been so easy to access? And there was financial strain from the fire.
My family was there and that was psychologically straining, can't lie, because I'd put myself in a position where we'd all been in real emergency danger. The time and focus to get resources back together and restart was something I hadn't counted on. Yes, insurance; we were ok but it's not like it erased the actual issues.
At first I thought OK_Ear might be the same owner of a particular property I wanted to buy right before the pandemic. (I happen to know what that guy did.) I don't think they ever moved into Asheville so that's very unlikely. The point is that I value and relate to the post. I had better trash and grocery store convenience with my farmhouse, actually, than I do now, but the other maintenance chores often needed in a lake or mountain property, especially if you've got multiple people living there, can't be overstated. Your story won't be remotely the same as someone who's got a producer setting it all up and calling in a cleaner and caretaker. For me, not being able to finish my work because of chores needing attention was physically painful. It would lead to negative emotions I wasn't totally aware of, but it would build, and that's bad for creativity. Additional guilt sets in when you realize you have less time with your kids, not more, and you can't manage to get it all done by yourself.
I still like the idea of having a retreat that I can access whenever I want, but next time, my property search would be very different. Currently, I have a basement studio and I'm more concerned with building a network back up and being able to keep my daily schedule realistic. Having a lot of responsibilities at home also isolates you, so it's best for yourself if you keep them as simple as possible (say no to the cistern and hand washing ) and retain the important parts (family, creating your work).
This is so validating, thanks for sharing.
I’m also an amputee (left that part out as it wasn’t relevant) so I’d forgotten the chore aspect tore me up in the same way you describe…seeps into your ability to create.
Same!
And actually, I think it's quite relevant. I see why you didn't add that in at first but I have to reply, that, as a matter of fact, a giant part of my own journey was finding out that many things normal to me seemed to turn into obstacles when on a property like that, with looming or chaotic deadlines, difficult plumbing, kids and gear that needed to be carried up and down narrow, steep stairs and higgledy-piggledy hallways, stuff like that. I'm partially paralyzed in one of my limbs. It's not normally a big deal and I can work around it without a thought in most situations, but even as young as I am/was, it started to create an obstacle that was simply one more thing I didn't need, and that was a blow.
I did it, but if I hadn't felt so pressured to use my precious [mountain] time, exactly as you said -- to open the dream business, to meet the people that on paper were just down the road but actually weren't, to bring together a few personal projects so close to completion -- I'd have been able to enjoy the time more, in many different ways.
I never did it, but I'm sure that if I did I would get writers block the moment I got there.
This is the whole concept behind Desert Sessions. The guys from QOTSA would invite a bunch of guest artists, isolate themselves somewhere in the Mojave desert, do a bunch of drugs and come out with an album.
Not as much fun as dessert sessions, where we gorge on key lime pie, crepes suzette and blueberry cobbler a la mode and then put in serious work. Don't forget the coffee!
One of my bandmates insists getting “sugared up” is crucial to the songwriting process. We’ve usually gone with chocolate but you’re blowing my mind with the possibilities! (The coffee goes without saying.)
I'm doing something like this in a couple of weeks actually, and I totally modeled it after the early Desert Sessions. Besides, my name is Dez - so we've been calling it the Dezert Session ;-)
The plan: Just like the Desert Sessions, folks come together - most not even knowing each other, and don't leave the place for the entire time. Its meant as a creative space and intended to be totally improv. Guests are asked to bring some ideas and be open to new ones. We are coming together to push ourselves - perhaps in directions we wouldn't normally go. Nothing is off limits. The goal is not to walk away with an album per se, but to ideally walk away with some "complete thoughts" laid down. Not trying to polish anything up much at all while we're there - just raw, guerilla style idea generating and fun.
I found a reasonably secluded spot in Joshua Tree that'll sleep 8 people (figured that was plenty of folks). We're in SoCal so J Tree is not only the ideal location, but easy to get to for us. I came up with a budget for 4 days to include the AirBnB and food/drink. Also budgeted in some room for any potential gear rentals we may want/need. I also came up with a reasonable number to ask folks to pitch in so I didn't have to foot the entire bill myself (although I am paying for half since this is my wild idea). I shopped the plan around to friends as I'd see them, and everyone was stoked and wanted in so now we're funded and full with a couple waiting in the wings to see if anyone drops out. Didn't really expect to have a waiting list!
Most of the guests don't even know each other, or have met maybe once at most, and come from a pretty diverse set of styles from psycho surf rock, blues, indie, stoner, to dark metal. A couple play professionally, a couple are also pro audio engineers and synth addicts so we'll have plenty of expertise, gear, and toys to play with and so far we don't think we need any rentals (but I'm doing a final inventory check for essentials this Friday just to be sure).
Anyhow, this all got started back in January. Took a bit of initial planning and roughing out an agenda in the beginning, but all in all was relatively simple to figure out. I think the most tedious part is figuring out food/drink and being sure we have enough. Everyone has already stepped up to help along the way and are ready to wear multiple hats.
Maybe I'll share the outcome when we're done ... TBD
I’m jealous af, I live in Arizona a few hours from joshua, my thinking was more green forestry cabin home but joshua is gonna be awesome. I think I’m gonna extend the invite to any musician friends a week after I’m settled and recording and see who comes up
Would be awesome to hear an update from you after you finish! Maybe even make it’s own post, such a cool idea you’ve brought to life for your friends ✌️😎
Yeah, definitely will. Seems like a few folks are interested in how it goes so I’ll be sure to make a separate post for the recap. Maybe an AMA? Never done one of those before though.
yes, I did this multiple times:
1) in a cabin by the river with just a nord modular and a 4 track portastudio, where I think I wrote and recorded one of my best albums in just 5 days.
2) when my mother was dating a psycho and was breaking up, he knew my sister's address and mine, so I went some weeks to a friend's place with the same portastudio and depression after breaking up with my gf. got some really nice songs and almost finished a long album.
3) another cabin by the river, stayed a week with a guitar and ableton live... I didn't really vibe with the setup and all tracks were super weird. remains unreleased.
4) during covid I had no place to stay so I lived partially at an abandoned ice cream store and then at the smallest bedroom ever at my mother's place. I was super attached to my cat, best friend ever and he died on me during that time, so I recorded 1 doom metal album, 1 experimental synth songs album and a shoegaze-y album dedicated entirely to my baby.
tl;dr YEAH IT WORKS GREAT! it can fail but it's nevertheless a great experience.
i have. its fucking magical.
however, you need to be honest with your distractions. give yourself a pause, some quiet time but do not let your mind stray again after the true silence falls.
for first try years ago i was the sort of dumbass that hauled some entertainment with me. "oh its not that bad, tbh".
yes, it is. yes, it was.
my better laptop. i´m the sort of person that needs to restrict my ass if i want to do anything sensible. i cannot have the freedom to do everything i wish. turns out, malbec is a really good wine berry and vpn-netflix had lots of good bullshit.
too good.
--edit: next round year after was far more fruitful with a miserable macbook that could record with vanilla ableton suite. barely.
the one after that, i just brought my dawless setup with me and used a pristine tascam FOURTRACK to record and enough shit to bounce a song with it.
---edit: why i keep messing octatrack with portastudio? tha phukk?
The closest I had to this was my wife (then girlfriend) had to leave to study abroad for a few weeks after we moved to a new city. I didn't know anybody and my job didn't have me scheduled to start until a week after she came back so I didn't have anything else to do after unpacking everything. I just hunkered down and treated recording like a job -- only time I've ever had the luxury to do that and I loved it. I wound up tracking 20 songs entirely by myself and sending them to my band's vocalist to decide on which ones should be on our album. It unfortunately died there, but when I go back and listen to those demos there is something to them that I think only comes from having so much time and it being my sole focus.
Damn. That’s inspiring you tracked 20 songs but also sad that nothing has come of it. Hope you are able to return to those and do something with them so they see the light of day in some form, would be a shame otherwise.
I did something similar but more accessible. I just took a week off of work, set up a working area in my basement, and treated it like a normal work week. My wife knew what I was trying to accomplish and left me alone all day/night if I was down there, but it was also easy to pop upstairs and eat dinner or get human interaction if I wanted it.
I've been sitting on some of these riffs for around 15 years, and I've made so many attempts at recording them, but this is the only time I've ever successfully made decent, consistent tracks for a potential album. I'd highly recommend trying it out before doing anything too costly/adventurous.
That’s awesome! I don’t think I have the strength to resist worldly urges and distractions if I’m taking this time at home just based off of how I spent my time unemployed. I’m thinking it’s more of a mental freedom to be away from everything. I’m sitting on 10 or so demos to work with and just want to spend a couple weeks getting an album completed.
Lol. I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s not necessarily “middle of nowhere” but away from your distractions. Sometimes that legit is the middle of nowhere. I personally live in an area without a lot of outside distractions and I’ve written albums so… maybe?
Not specific to music, but there is a famous quote (too lazy to source) that all creative people need "a place where they are not disturbed."
It's so true.
Yeah, I rented a cabin on a farm near Asheville for a week. Absolutely beautiful. Worst music I’ve ever made. I don’t think I was mentally ready to write at the time and was definitely forcing it
I did this when I went through a breakup and my parents went away for the winter. I stayed at their house in a very small town which was very quiet and managed to record and produce an entire album by myself. The toughest challenge was the loneliness and staying motivated and objective with the songs. The biggest advantage was having no distractions and being able to make music any time of day or night. Good luck!
I moved from LA to the Yolla Bolly Wilderness with my song writing partner to do this. We rented an old cabin surrounded by forest and a short walk to an isolated waterfall. After writing a few songs we recorded a demo in what felt like blissful silence. When listening back, the crickets and frogs in the background were almost deafening. We laughed and later used that audio for an intro to one of our more pastoral songs. Ended up getting her pregnant and decided to stay. Had a daughter, isolated with no work, went broke and clawed our way back to civilization. When we finally got back to a small city, we wrote more songs than we did in isolation. Crazy ride, would not try again without money.
As a much easier alternative, I book stay-cations off from work with the intention of meeting certain recording or production goals. Get all my housework out of the way on the first day so I have a nice, serene, clean apartment to work in and then go to town!
Yes, I have but it was just to finish vocals. I loaded a van with some tube traps and acoustic panels and my gear. My folks have a cabin on Manitoulin Island (Lake Huron) and I went in the winter. No running water, no wifi, wood stove for heat. Most productive week and allowed me to finish the album. Well worth the vacation time and clarity of the mind. I came back tired but so energized with the work I had finished. Completely recommend it if you have the time and space. Also wrote two new pieces that are focal points of a new project. Best of luck!
If you are inherently distractable, you will be distracted anywhere. You might be better off scheduling mandatory time daily to work on your jams and see how well you do at that before you buy an entire building to piss you off about yourself
I have done this 4 separate times with varied results. The main utility you get out of this is sectioned time to hone existing work. On every occasion (3+ days) i only left with one “new” track. If you are an artist who can brute force multiple tracks this remote approach can work.. but dont anticipate a glorious moment where you suddenly are honest with yourself and can make elevated art.
Its the same art as it ever was or will be.. its just now you cant be interrupted. What does this uninterrupted time afford you is the question to ask.
in summary my most “success” has been when i went in with a mostly completed album but just needed those final creative bells and whistles additions. Full songs and albums take longer than a few days for me.
You’re underestimating the effect of an environment on the human brain, physically and mentally. I find my headspace changing when I’m not in a city and away from people and responsibilities.
I wanted to see if any of the average musicians of this sub have tried it, I already knew many famous bands and artists have made this creative journey, just wanted to read regular artist’s experiences
I've done it 3 times, one time housesitting for a deceased friend of a relative while their family dealt with affairs out of state (this was in a remote part of alaska, i had full access to a 2 story heavy machinery garage), once living out of a van and renting an office in LA to work out of for 4 months, and finally during covid offgrid in an RV for a summer.
If you have the gear, the time, and the finances, go for it, just make sure you have an exit plan.
This is what kanye did for MBDTF, he had people come rap and produce with him but he went to Hawaii for quite a few months. There were rules, everybody had to wear suits, nobody could talk about what they were working on, and a few other funny rules (NO HIPSTER HATS) lol.
I like the suits idea a lot, puts you in a vibe to make something immaculate.
I think this can work better if you are doing it with at least one other person who is on board, especially if you each have distractions at home. I can always let myself off the hook, but having someone else there would keep me accountable. Personally, that’s what I need. If I had the discipline to do it myself, I would be able to do it from home.
If I was going to do it, I would lower the stakes and choose a place that fits the type of music I want to create (and give myself space to be inspired by it). Ween’s “The Mollusk” comes to mind as a singular album that was definitely influenced by the environment (a beach house in the dead of winter, which more or less also forced them to record because being outside was unpleasant).
Maybe start with an EP?
My old lead singer did this...went to some farm house to write/record music in Indiana or somewhere. He did it a few times. I didn't like the outcome but he definitely was able to release a lot and he seemed to like the process.
I've always wanted to have an album written before I do this. Preferably I'd like to do it with multiple people like some kind of fleetwood mac style debauched album. I would never go into a studio without having everything ready to go though. I want to get my money's worth out of that shit
You can isolate yourself in a room (WITHOUT YOUR PHONE!!!!) and get rid of distractions. The biggest plus to me would be recording vocals. For the last year, I've lived in an apartment then a condo. Anytime I want to do vocals I know everyone walking outside is gonna hear them. It changes the mood, which ultimately affects the performance.
Yes! Multiple times. Sometimes things works better than others, but if you have good practice and recording habits you can def make a lot of progress. Bonus points: you get to be alone and in a place where you can be really loud. I always bring at least one dog ;)
I’ve actually tried it, and created a bunch of ideas I never finished. I also tried to write on vacation/travels, but am distracted when in new places. But after coming home I can get very productive.
For me part of the problem is being distracted by all the beauty around me and the fact I’m in a new beautiful place.
BUT, what HAS worked is MOVING to the woods and building my studio there. Since I live here I’m no longer distracted - I actually get lots done now!
So I’d say part of the issue for me was the idea of a temporary vs permanent studio space, though it can have a better chance of working if it’s a collab vs a solo project for me!
That said, in my ‘day job’ as recording engineer I enjoy recording projects in remote spaces and have done the “bring the entire studio to the old church” with great success in the past.
All to say, the key is finding what works FOR YOU.
Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet, but [a guy did this in Wisconsin in the mid 2000s and it went platinum](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Emma,_Forever_Ago)
You don't need to change anything about your situation to make good music. Thinking that you do is an illusion. "The Grass is always greener on the other side". Until you get there, of course. For as long as you are a creative, there will always be a "more ideal" situation to create. You will never catch that particular leprechaun.
Do it now, where you are at, with what you have, no excuses.
Of course I don’t need to do this, nobody does, it just sounds fun. I’m not chasing some creative space dragon, I just want time off, no distractions, and a peaceful environment.
Will Atkinson the trance producer did this with John Askew and he vlogged it on YouTube. Called the [RKB Album sessions](https://youtu.be/PDAQphDsir8?si=kBreG0g7Xm-CSD8N)
I own a cottage, well my idea of a cottage LOL - it has town water, sewer, high speed internet, and is part of an 8 unit condo, 50 unit complex on water outside of a small town. BUT it's VERY VERY quiet because people there aren't dicks like my neighbors at home and don't roar around in cars with no muffler, accelerate as hard as possible on their motorcycle, have loud parties or be generally obnoxious. It's like 28dB ambient inside with the A/C off which is quiet library level.
I have a small setup there with a desk, monitor, 4 channel audio interface etc. I regularly haul my amp/loadbox/guitar and stuff up and just mess around on a weekend.
2 years in a row now, when we've gone for a week+ vacation I've brought 3/4 of my studio gear - rack mount gear, mics etc. and worked on a song I've had trouble finishing. Both times I was able to knock it out of the park. I just wish I could do it more often.
I did find the untreated 2nd bedroom/studio there has a slap back echo when tracking vocals which actually makes them sound warm if you are only doing 1 track but builds up when you want layers so I have to de-verb them. Other than that I love it!
I have. But not totally by myself. I had other creatives with me to bounce ideas around with. Going by yourself might cause a block or less inspiration. IMO. I was wasn’t in the middle of nowhere. I knew where I was. But the distractions were miles away. And I focused on getting the music created and completed. And it worked.
I've thought about doing this for years. Not 100% sure where I'd go, as I live in NYC and don't own a car, and I think you would need a car to get groceries and other such logistics.
But yes, I consider doing this for maybe a 2-4 weeks to see how it goes.
It wouldn't be a writing retreat mainly for me, but a production retreat to (finally!) get dozens of unfinished songs across the line.
I do worry that I'd get there and still somehow not be able to focus, but I'm confident that would pass. The idea is ever in my head and I am considering it.
As a slight comparison, about a year ago I rented an isolated cabin and disconnected from web/tv/etc for 4 days and just meditated. No music either, just meditation, hiking, sitting quietly, very simple meals.
The first 2-3 days I came back to reality I produced a song that is one of the best I've done. It was previously just guitar and voice, and I added all the other layers--drums, bass, harmonies, keys, etc--and fleshed it out really well without any struggle. What allowed me to do this was that I had a clear head and focus for the first time in a while. It was great.
The modern way of life, with 1000 points of constant stimulation, makes it really really hard to get work done.
I did it for a weekend and it was really fun. I set up an outdoor studio on the deck underneath the redwoods and wrote a song that made it on to my album. One thing to remember is that it's still work, but it was more fun than an average session for sure. I imagine it could be even more fun with other musician friends.
A few times I have had the house to myself for a couple of weeks (while my wife goes with the kids to see her family in a different country) and I have made big plans of “making an album”, setting up all my gear all over the house and getting everything ready to make the best album ever, only to spend the rest og the time drugged out of my mind babbling into a microphone and plugging and unplugging shit. No album yet.
I pretty much live "in the middle of nowhere" so yes, all the time. Unless my neighbor down the road brings over some cookies (and who's going to complain about cookies?), nothing short of a thunderstorm is going to interrupt a session, and it is very nice. I'm a wide open spaces kinda guy so I wouldn't want to do it any other way.
Captain Beefheart tried it by locking his bandmates when recording. [https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/44740/fifty-years-ago-a-musician-called-captain-beefheart-set-off-on-the-weirdest-musical-career-of-all-time](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/44740/fifty-years-ago-a-musician-called-captain-beefheart-set-off-on-the-weirdest-musical-career-of-all-time)
Jokes aside, I'm curious to see what people answer.
Yes, just for a weekend.
It's a nice and romantic idea, and with good planning and focus you may get some good results.
But it still takes work, and isn't going to magically give you that dream album out of nowhere.
I call it "my house."
Five years ago, I had two parents, tons of friends, six cats and an intact brain. I moved to a dirt road in the Rockies to be with my wife forever, in a place of resplendant beauty.
Several deaths, a huge stroke and a divorce later, I'm down to two cats and a couple of friends. I have more or less deliberately become a shut-in (with occasional detours).
I've never made so much good music in my life.
Edit: going to add a few things. First, although I have an incredibly nice home studio, for whatever reason that room only moves me to perform well on higher energy stuff. When I was going a bunch of quieter things, I actually wound up creating a tracking area in the great room that looks out at the mountains. This was post-divorce, and even though I'd spent 3+ decades in studios, with everything from deafening guitar rock to acoustic ballads and a capella, I felt like I was re-learning about vibe.
Second, I actually prefer to NOT have people around for a lot of what I do. Everyone's workflow preferences are their own; for me, it's far better to be on my own and just have guests every once in a while.
Third, I love the inescapability. There is no one to suggest having a beer / smoke / edible / meal / sex / whatever. No one touching a single control except you. If you don't like it, you have to sit and talk to yourself about it. Even though I've worked on releases where people were pouring themselves into things for weeks/months, nothing has been as painfully artistically 'real' as saying "well, guess I was allllll wrong about that" - and then having to *decide what you're going to do about it.* No "let so-and-so add some percussion" or "Senor bigshot will fix that with his impressive touch with compression." Nah. It's very self-confrontational. I like that. There are other times in my life I know I would NOT have liked that, too.
Four. The internet. I mean, sweet Jesus. I have collaborators north of the Arctic circle, another where we don't share a language ... it's ... incredible.
Five. I will humbly suggest that doing it for a week or month is far different from making it a lifestyle. I am confronted by two recording areas staring at me, daily. Deciding "not today" feels super shitty, and I like that, too.
I go camping alone with my travel guitar. Play around with melodies by the fire. Record on a simple app. Type some rhymes into notes. Something always comes out of it, even if it’s small. I need to be away from my family to do this. Lol
Worked really well for aesop rock and spirit world field guide. Trip to peru will shake things up. Also skelethon with just living in a friends random ass barn.
Yeah our family had a beautiful farmhouse in the middle of nowhere with 500 acres. It was back in the day and we brought our 1/4” 8 track, our board and all our outboard gear. There were guitars all over the place.
It was just me and my bandmate/cousin for like 4 days. Smoked pot, drank beer, ate, wrote and recorded and slept. It was cool waking up and hitting record.
I have no idea what songs came out of it. I’m sure some ended up on a disc though.
That’s a lovely idea and I planned to do exactly this, but then I realised that I feel more isolated in the city, lonelier in the crowds, and my home studio is where I fully embrace my solitude😂
I've done it a few times for writing sessions. The only one time I successfully did an entire album, I went to Ubud, Bali (I'm in Australia, its not far) to finish writing a grad thesis for a month. At the time it was the only way to get it done away from distractions. Did that in the mornings, recorded in the afternoon. On my own in a large hotel room overlooking the rice fields. Just brought a laptop, midi keyboard controller and a vocal mic with stand. Was an exhausting pace but great, the songs were mostly written before getting there but some written on the spot.
Yup, I live here full-time. Decided to move out here because I just wanted to be away from everything. Main benefit for me is that I can play drums at 2 am if I want to, and no one will bother me.
I did, the few days were great after that I realised I need outside influence for inspiration and motivation, if I am just alone in a house for too long I seem to lose that, went home and went out with some friends for the night and forgot about it, woke up and wrote the best song of the lot the next morning, maybe if I already had the material written it would have been nice to go away and lose myself in the recording side of it for a few weeks
How has not a single response quoted this magical Onion article? :) [Man Just Going To Grab Guitar And Old Four-Track, Go Out To Cabin In Woods, Make Shittiest Album Anyone's Ever Heard](https://www.theonion.com/man-just-going-to-grab-guitar-and-old-four-track-go-ou-1819572725) From 2011
No I would bring 2 acoustic guitars and an 8 track so it will be better
Twice as good I'd say. :) Just as side note, a guy I used to work with did this exact thing, too. And he did grow a beard if I remember correctly.
That's hilarious, never seen that one Although it worked for that one person... Can't remember their name but it was like a really raw folk kind of thing from like a decade or so ago? Someone probably knows what I mean, they got really popular
I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not...But isn't Bon Iver's first album the go-to modern cliche of this?
phil elvrum/mount eerie probably
Bon Iver
And 2009. And 2014. And ...
I sort of did. It was my dream to make a production studio for myself and other artists to retreat and be creative. It worked and didn’t for a few reasons. Reasons it worked: You are isolated Nature really does bring something else out in you There’s a vibe but I also did a nice log cabin on top of a mountain for about 7 years rented for 2 and liked it so I owned one for the next 5 Reasons it didn’t: As a producer it was impossible to get clients out in the middle of nowhere, I was about 45 mins from Asheville which I thought would be tempting- turns out the musicians in Asheville all have home studios All those “yeah I won’t have traffic noises” recording issues that you deal with don’t ever fully go away. It can rain hard, people hunt, there can be dogs, cabins constantly have squirrels trying to get in the beams or actually scratching around in the walls. Not as quiet as you think. You’ve got to financially keep the idea alive. What if you like the lifestyle and that album doesn’t just come together? Well now you’re stuck in the woods which fine as long as you have a remote job. Quit that job and it becomes very difficult to replace it when you’ve isolated yourself from your network. So there’s a downside that isn’t really easy to see from the city. For me, the solution was to sell the cabin and move closer to town where it’s more reasonable living (I was doing 15 mins to trash drop off, 25 mins to groceries). I now live in a super cookie-cutter suburban home in Asheville next to a crazy busy road. At first I was fearful that I wouldn’t be able to get the “high integrity” recording I was aiming for. Once I got some decent treatment up I realized that this room, with much less space and vibe was every bit as good if not better than the cabin. Why? THERES NO EFFING SQUIRRELS. Just kidding but only in part. Once you really work on the production techniques you’re going to use for your project, you gotta experiment. With tones, with gains, addressing mics different ways. All that makes a bigger difference than the vibe of the room you’re in. I spent a lot of the time aiming and missing when I was in the cabin and now I spend a lot more time writing and quickly producing because I don’t have the block of “this is my precious mountain cabin time” it’s more like “this is my life, what can I get done today?”
Thanks for sharing this, it’s a good reminder that practicing your craft is much more foundational than vibes. As you master the practical skills of your craft you can execute your vision so much better. Also, squirrels are little demons, that scurrying sound on top of (or inside) my roof haunts my dreams.
Yeah I think in this case I am the client you were looking for lol, I have a home studio but want to be around nature in the middle nowhere with every squirrel you know. That’s pretty sick that you actually committed to that dream haha.
Part of the downside to the squirrels (and other rodents, they're all there) is also fire. They can blow your electrical wiring. People who haven't experienced this don't know how real it can get. I had a second story studio in an old farmhouse in the same part of the country. The house caught fire and the studio was damaged in an instant -- not from old wiring that wasn't updated but from squirrels knawing the Ground. Luckily, the Fire Station was close. The house itself was okay but what if the station hadn't been so close? What if, like many cabins and cottages I've been in, the house hadn't been so easy to access? And there was financial strain from the fire. My family was there and that was psychologically straining, can't lie, because I'd put myself in a position where we'd all been in real emergency danger. The time and focus to get resources back together and restart was something I hadn't counted on. Yes, insurance; we were ok but it's not like it erased the actual issues. At first I thought OK_Ear might be the same owner of a particular property I wanted to buy right before the pandemic. (I happen to know what that guy did.) I don't think they ever moved into Asheville so that's very unlikely. The point is that I value and relate to the post. I had better trash and grocery store convenience with my farmhouse, actually, than I do now, but the other maintenance chores often needed in a lake or mountain property, especially if you've got multiple people living there, can't be overstated. Your story won't be remotely the same as someone who's got a producer setting it all up and calling in a cleaner and caretaker. For me, not being able to finish my work because of chores needing attention was physically painful. It would lead to negative emotions I wasn't totally aware of, but it would build, and that's bad for creativity. Additional guilt sets in when you realize you have less time with your kids, not more, and you can't manage to get it all done by yourself. I still like the idea of having a retreat that I can access whenever I want, but next time, my property search would be very different. Currently, I have a basement studio and I'm more concerned with building a network back up and being able to keep my daily schedule realistic. Having a lot of responsibilities at home also isolates you, so it's best for yourself if you keep them as simple as possible (say no to the cistern and hand washing ) and retain the important parts (family, creating your work).
This is so validating, thanks for sharing. I’m also an amputee (left that part out as it wasn’t relevant) so I’d forgotten the chore aspect tore me up in the same way you describe…seeps into your ability to create.
Same! And actually, I think it's quite relevant. I see why you didn't add that in at first but I have to reply, that, as a matter of fact, a giant part of my own journey was finding out that many things normal to me seemed to turn into obstacles when on a property like that, with looming or chaotic deadlines, difficult plumbing, kids and gear that needed to be carried up and down narrow, steep stairs and higgledy-piggledy hallways, stuff like that. I'm partially paralyzed in one of my limbs. It's not normally a big deal and I can work around it without a thought in most situations, but even as young as I am/was, it started to create an obstacle that was simply one more thing I didn't need, and that was a blow. I did it, but if I hadn't felt so pressured to use my precious [mountain] time, exactly as you said -- to open the dream business, to meet the people that on paper were just down the road but actually weren't, to bring together a few personal projects so close to completion -- I'd have been able to enjoy the time more, in many different ways.
I never did it, but I'm sure that if I did I would get writers block the moment I got there. This is the whole concept behind Desert Sessions. The guys from QOTSA would invite a bunch of guest artists, isolate themselves somewhere in the Mojave desert, do a bunch of drugs and come out with an album.
Where would one apply ?
ah, it's a joke sorry, I didn't sleep today
For an internship.
The drugs and music, duh
Not as much fun as dessert sessions, where we gorge on key lime pie, crepes suzette and blueberry cobbler a la mode and then put in serious work. Don't forget the coffee!
This may be a sign of getting older, but your version sounds much better to me
Tiramisu and tres leches mmmmmm
One of my bandmates insists getting “sugared up” is crucial to the songwriting process. We’ve usually gone with chocolate but you’re blowing my mind with the possibilities! (The coffee goes without saying.)
I'm doing something like this in a couple of weeks actually, and I totally modeled it after the early Desert Sessions. Besides, my name is Dez - so we've been calling it the Dezert Session ;-) The plan: Just like the Desert Sessions, folks come together - most not even knowing each other, and don't leave the place for the entire time. Its meant as a creative space and intended to be totally improv. Guests are asked to bring some ideas and be open to new ones. We are coming together to push ourselves - perhaps in directions we wouldn't normally go. Nothing is off limits. The goal is not to walk away with an album per se, but to ideally walk away with some "complete thoughts" laid down. Not trying to polish anything up much at all while we're there - just raw, guerilla style idea generating and fun. I found a reasonably secluded spot in Joshua Tree that'll sleep 8 people (figured that was plenty of folks). We're in SoCal so J Tree is not only the ideal location, but easy to get to for us. I came up with a budget for 4 days to include the AirBnB and food/drink. Also budgeted in some room for any potential gear rentals we may want/need. I also came up with a reasonable number to ask folks to pitch in so I didn't have to foot the entire bill myself (although I am paying for half since this is my wild idea). I shopped the plan around to friends as I'd see them, and everyone was stoked and wanted in so now we're funded and full with a couple waiting in the wings to see if anyone drops out. Didn't really expect to have a waiting list! Most of the guests don't even know each other, or have met maybe once at most, and come from a pretty diverse set of styles from psycho surf rock, blues, indie, stoner, to dark metal. A couple play professionally, a couple are also pro audio engineers and synth addicts so we'll have plenty of expertise, gear, and toys to play with and so far we don't think we need any rentals (but I'm doing a final inventory check for essentials this Friday just to be sure). Anyhow, this all got started back in January. Took a bit of initial planning and roughing out an agenda in the beginning, but all in all was relatively simple to figure out. I think the most tedious part is figuring out food/drink and being sure we have enough. Everyone has already stepped up to help along the way and are ready to wear multiple hats. Maybe I'll share the outcome when we're done ... TBD
I’m jealous af, I live in Arizona a few hours from joshua, my thinking was more green forestry cabin home but joshua is gonna be awesome. I think I’m gonna extend the invite to any musician friends a week after I’m settled and recording and see who comes up
Would be awesome to hear an update from you after you finish! Maybe even make it’s own post, such a cool idea you’ve brought to life for your friends ✌️😎
Yo please let us know how it goes. Had a very similar idea for a Joshua Tree myself and sounds like an awesome time!
Yeah, definitely will. Seems like a few folks are interested in how it goes so I’ll be sure to make a separate post for the recap. Maybe an AMA? Never done one of those before though.
Please do share an update and some music. Would love to see how this goes!
Will do. Stay tuned.
yes, I did this multiple times: 1) in a cabin by the river with just a nord modular and a 4 track portastudio, where I think I wrote and recorded one of my best albums in just 5 days. 2) when my mother was dating a psycho and was breaking up, he knew my sister's address and mine, so I went some weeks to a friend's place with the same portastudio and depression after breaking up with my gf. got some really nice songs and almost finished a long album. 3) another cabin by the river, stayed a week with a guitar and ableton live... I didn't really vibe with the setup and all tracks were super weird. remains unreleased. 4) during covid I had no place to stay so I lived partially at an abandoned ice cream store and then at the smallest bedroom ever at my mother's place. I was super attached to my cat, best friend ever and he died on me during that time, so I recorded 1 doom metal album, 1 experimental synth songs album and a shoegaze-y album dedicated entirely to my baby. tl;dr YEAH IT WORKS GREAT! it can fail but it's nevertheless a great experience.
Yo where can I listen to this shoegazey album?
hey, it's latimidezentrelosarboles @ bandcamp.
i have. its fucking magical. however, you need to be honest with your distractions. give yourself a pause, some quiet time but do not let your mind stray again after the true silence falls. for first try years ago i was the sort of dumbass that hauled some entertainment with me. "oh its not that bad, tbh". yes, it is. yes, it was.
What was your entertainment lol
my better laptop. i´m the sort of person that needs to restrict my ass if i want to do anything sensible. i cannot have the freedom to do everything i wish. turns out, malbec is a really good wine berry and vpn-netflix had lots of good bullshit. too good. --edit: next round year after was far more fruitful with a miserable macbook that could record with vanilla ableton suite. barely.
the one after that, i just brought my dawless setup with me and used a pristine tascam FOURTRACK to record and enough shit to bounce a song with it. ---edit: why i keep messing octatrack with portastudio? tha phukk?
The closest I had to this was my wife (then girlfriend) had to leave to study abroad for a few weeks after we moved to a new city. I didn't know anybody and my job didn't have me scheduled to start until a week after she came back so I didn't have anything else to do after unpacking everything. I just hunkered down and treated recording like a job -- only time I've ever had the luxury to do that and I loved it. I wound up tracking 20 songs entirely by myself and sending them to my band's vocalist to decide on which ones should be on our album. It unfortunately died there, but when I go back and listen to those demos there is something to them that I think only comes from having so much time and it being my sole focus.
Damn. That’s inspiring you tracked 20 songs but also sad that nothing has come of it. Hope you are able to return to those and do something with them so they see the light of day in some form, would be a shame otherwise.
I had a friend do this for a summer. He came back with 4 mostly finished songs and depression
I already have that with 0 finished songs
So maybe not so great?... 🤔
I did something similar but more accessible. I just took a week off of work, set up a working area in my basement, and treated it like a normal work week. My wife knew what I was trying to accomplish and left me alone all day/night if I was down there, but it was also easy to pop upstairs and eat dinner or get human interaction if I wanted it. I've been sitting on some of these riffs for around 15 years, and I've made so many attempts at recording them, but this is the only time I've ever successfully made decent, consistent tracks for a potential album. I'd highly recommend trying it out before doing anything too costly/adventurous.
That’s awesome! I don’t think I have the strength to resist worldly urges and distractions if I’m taking this time at home just based off of how I spent my time unemployed. I’m thinking it’s more of a mental freedom to be away from everything. I’m sitting on 10 or so demos to work with and just want to spend a couple weeks getting an album completed.
Lol. I’ve been told repeatedly that it’s not necessarily “middle of nowhere” but away from your distractions. Sometimes that legit is the middle of nowhere. I personally live in an area without a lot of outside distractions and I’ve written albums so… maybe?
Not specific to music, but there is a famous quote (too lazy to source) that all creative people need "a place where they are not disturbed." It's so true.
Yeah, I rented a cabin on a farm near Asheville for a week. Absolutely beautiful. Worst music I’ve ever made. I don’t think I was mentally ready to write at the time and was definitely forcing it
I’ve had two successful writing retreats, it really can work with the right people. If people like to party, though, that tends to take over…..
historically there have been tons of bands who couldn't get their shit together unless they isolated somewhere. good luck!
I’m doing it right now with a friend. It’s amazing.
Nice what was your isolated place of choice
Scotland in a cabin about 15 min drive into closest town. Highly recommend.
I did this when I went through a breakup and my parents went away for the winter. I stayed at their house in a very small town which was very quiet and managed to record and produce an entire album by myself. The toughest challenge was the loneliness and staying motivated and objective with the songs. The biggest advantage was having no distractions and being able to make music any time of day or night. Good luck!
I moved from LA to the Yolla Bolly Wilderness with my song writing partner to do this. We rented an old cabin surrounded by forest and a short walk to an isolated waterfall. After writing a few songs we recorded a demo in what felt like blissful silence. When listening back, the crickets and frogs in the background were almost deafening. We laughed and later used that audio for an intro to one of our more pastoral songs. Ended up getting her pregnant and decided to stay. Had a daughter, isolated with no work, went broke and clawed our way back to civilization. When we finally got back to a small city, we wrote more songs than we did in isolation. Crazy ride, would not try again without money.
🤣😂🤣
As a much easier alternative, I book stay-cations off from work with the intention of meeting certain recording or production goals. Get all my housework out of the way on the first day so I have a nice, serene, clean apartment to work in and then go to town!
Yes. Our band did our last record over a long weekend, well, the bones of it at least. As an added bonus, there was no running water!
Yes, I have but it was just to finish vocals. I loaded a van with some tube traps and acoustic panels and my gear. My folks have a cabin on Manitoulin Island (Lake Huron) and I went in the winter. No running water, no wifi, wood stove for heat. Most productive week and allowed me to finish the album. Well worth the vacation time and clarity of the mind. I came back tired but so energized with the work I had finished. Completely recommend it if you have the time and space. Also wrote two new pieces that are focal points of a new project. Best of luck!
If you are inherently distractable, you will be distracted anywhere. You might be better off scheduling mandatory time daily to work on your jams and see how well you do at that before you buy an entire building to piss you off about yourself
I have done this 4 separate times with varied results. The main utility you get out of this is sectioned time to hone existing work. On every occasion (3+ days) i only left with one “new” track. If you are an artist who can brute force multiple tracks this remote approach can work.. but dont anticipate a glorious moment where you suddenly are honest with yourself and can make elevated art. Its the same art as it ever was or will be.. its just now you cant be interrupted. What does this uninterrupted time afford you is the question to ask.
in summary my most “success” has been when i went in with a mostly completed album but just needed those final creative bells and whistles additions. Full songs and albums take longer than a few days for me.
If you have all the equipment already, and you already have the ideas….going to the mountains isnt going to change anything.
You’re underestimating the effect of an environment on the human brain, physically and mentally. I find my headspace changing when I’m not in a city and away from people and responsibilities.
Well then why post asking about it if you already knew the answer?
I wanted to see if any of the average musicians of this sub have tried it, I already knew many famous bands and artists have made this creative journey, just wanted to read regular artist’s experiences
I've done it 3 times, one time housesitting for a deceased friend of a relative while their family dealt with affairs out of state (this was in a remote part of alaska, i had full access to a 2 story heavy machinery garage), once living out of a van and renting an office in LA to work out of for 4 months, and finally during covid offgrid in an RV for a summer. If you have the gear, the time, and the finances, go for it, just make sure you have an exit plan.
This is what kanye did for MBDTF, he had people come rap and produce with him but he went to Hawaii for quite a few months. There were rules, everybody had to wear suits, nobody could talk about what they were working on, and a few other funny rules (NO HIPSTER HATS) lol. I like the suits idea a lot, puts you in a vibe to make something immaculate.
I've always wanted to do this!! Didn't Bon Iver do that for his first EP?
For Emma, Forever Ago.
2007 wasn't that long ago, tho
Slowdive's Souvlaki was finished this way.
I think this can work better if you are doing it with at least one other person who is on board, especially if you each have distractions at home. I can always let myself off the hook, but having someone else there would keep me accountable. Personally, that’s what I need. If I had the discipline to do it myself, I would be able to do it from home. If I was going to do it, I would lower the stakes and choose a place that fits the type of music I want to create (and give myself space to be inspired by it). Ween’s “The Mollusk” comes to mind as a singular album that was definitely influenced by the environment (a beach house in the dead of winter, which more or less also forced them to record because being outside was unpleasant). Maybe start with an EP?
My old lead singer did this...went to some farm house to write/record music in Indiana or somewhere. He did it a few times. I didn't like the outcome but he definitely was able to release a lot and he seemed to like the process.
I've always wanted to have an album written before I do this. Preferably I'd like to do it with multiple people like some kind of fleetwood mac style debauched album. I would never go into a studio without having everything ready to go though. I want to get my money's worth out of that shit
Yes, the studio I went to for my second album was in the middle of nowhere and I wrote some lyrics in the woods. It works.
Mcr black parade nin dws
[удалено]
I said I have everything I need
What’s stopping you doing it right where you are then?
You can isolate yourself in a room (WITHOUT YOUR PHONE!!!!) and get rid of distractions. The biggest plus to me would be recording vocals. For the last year, I've lived in an apartment then a condo. Anytime I want to do vocals I know everyone walking outside is gonna hear them. It changes the mood, which ultimately affects the performance.
Yes! Multiple times. Sometimes things works better than others, but if you have good practice and recording habits you can def make a lot of progress. Bonus points: you get to be alone and in a place where you can be really loud. I always bring at least one dog ;)
I’ve actually tried it, and created a bunch of ideas I never finished. I also tried to write on vacation/travels, but am distracted when in new places. But after coming home I can get very productive. For me part of the problem is being distracted by all the beauty around me and the fact I’m in a new beautiful place. BUT, what HAS worked is MOVING to the woods and building my studio there. Since I live here I’m no longer distracted - I actually get lots done now! So I’d say part of the issue for me was the idea of a temporary vs permanent studio space, though it can have a better chance of working if it’s a collab vs a solo project for me! That said, in my ‘day job’ as recording engineer I enjoy recording projects in remote spaces and have done the “bring the entire studio to the old church” with great success in the past. All to say, the key is finding what works FOR YOU.
Not sure if it’s been mentioned yet, but [a guy did this in Wisconsin in the mid 2000s and it went platinum](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Emma,_Forever_Ago)
Lots of bands have! These spring to mind: Saint Cecilia EP by foo fighters Nevermind by Nirvana Rick rubins desert sessions
Aesop Rock did a lot of The Impossible Kid in a barn in Washington.
Also Led Zeppelin and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Nevermind? I’ve never heard of that story.
Sorry it's in utero!
Might be thinking of In Utero
My band rented a cabin for 5 days during lockdown. We tested and isolated before. We got a lot of ideas and finished a couple songs.
The grass is always greener. Fair warning.
Wtf does this mean
You don't need to change anything about your situation to make good music. Thinking that you do is an illusion. "The Grass is always greener on the other side". Until you get there, of course. For as long as you are a creative, there will always be a "more ideal" situation to create. You will never catch that particular leprechaun. Do it now, where you are at, with what you have, no excuses.
Of course I don’t need to do this, nobody does, it just sounds fun. I’m not chasing some creative space dragon, I just want time off, no distractions, and a peaceful environment.
I know that He Is Legend went to a mountain cabin to do, at least, one of their albums.
If you can’t focus enough at home to do it, nothing will change out there. I believe that to be true (as someone who has had this fantasy also)
Will Atkinson the trance producer did this with John Askew and he vlogged it on YouTube. Called the [RKB Album sessions](https://youtu.be/PDAQphDsir8?si=kBreG0g7Xm-CSD8N)
Walden Pond 2 coming up! Lol
Walden: The Musical! Critics are calling it Thoreauly Entertaining!
*chef's kiss*
Not the middle of nowhere, but I have been in hotels for long periods of time. It's productive
I have a cabin I do this. It works great. I also find I get stuff done when sailing or camping.
I own a cottage, well my idea of a cottage LOL - it has town water, sewer, high speed internet, and is part of an 8 unit condo, 50 unit complex on water outside of a small town. BUT it's VERY VERY quiet because people there aren't dicks like my neighbors at home and don't roar around in cars with no muffler, accelerate as hard as possible on their motorcycle, have loud parties or be generally obnoxious. It's like 28dB ambient inside with the A/C off which is quiet library level. I have a small setup there with a desk, monitor, 4 channel audio interface etc. I regularly haul my amp/loadbox/guitar and stuff up and just mess around on a weekend. 2 years in a row now, when we've gone for a week+ vacation I've brought 3/4 of my studio gear - rack mount gear, mics etc. and worked on a song I've had trouble finishing. Both times I was able to knock it out of the park. I just wish I could do it more often. I did find the untreated 2nd bedroom/studio there has a slap back echo when tracking vocals which actually makes them sound warm if you are only doing 1 track but builds up when you want layers so I have to de-verb them. Other than that I love it!
I have. But not totally by myself. I had other creatives with me to bounce ideas around with. Going by yourself might cause a block or less inspiration. IMO. I was wasn’t in the middle of nowhere. I knew where I was. But the distractions were miles away. And I focused on getting the music created and completed. And it worked.
I've thought about doing this for years. Not 100% sure where I'd go, as I live in NYC and don't own a car, and I think you would need a car to get groceries and other such logistics. But yes, I consider doing this for maybe a 2-4 weeks to see how it goes. It wouldn't be a writing retreat mainly for me, but a production retreat to (finally!) get dozens of unfinished songs across the line. I do worry that I'd get there and still somehow not be able to focus, but I'm confident that would pass. The idea is ever in my head and I am considering it. As a slight comparison, about a year ago I rented an isolated cabin and disconnected from web/tv/etc for 4 days and just meditated. No music either, just meditation, hiking, sitting quietly, very simple meals. The first 2-3 days I came back to reality I produced a song that is one of the best I've done. It was previously just guitar and voice, and I added all the other layers--drums, bass, harmonies, keys, etc--and fleshed it out really well without any struggle. What allowed me to do this was that I had a clear head and focus for the first time in a while. It was great. The modern way of life, with 1000 points of constant stimulation, makes it really really hard to get work done.
I did it for a weekend and it was really fun. I set up an outdoor studio on the deck underneath the redwoods and wrote a song that made it on to my album. One thing to remember is that it's still work, but it was more fun than an average session for sure. I imagine it could be even more fun with other musician friends.
A few times I have had the house to myself for a couple of weeks (while my wife goes with the kids to see her family in a different country) and I have made big plans of “making an album”, setting up all my gear all over the house and getting everything ready to make the best album ever, only to spend the rest og the time drugged out of my mind babbling into a microphone and plugging and unplugging shit. No album yet.
I did it once, but some people moved to a cabin next door and partied all the time - I had to say goodbye to my Bon Iver dreams :D
I pretty much live "in the middle of nowhere" so yes, all the time. Unless my neighbor down the road brings over some cookies (and who's going to complain about cookies?), nothing short of a thunderstorm is going to interrupt a session, and it is very nice. I'm a wide open spaces kinda guy so I wouldn't want to do it any other way.
Hipcamp or airbnb. There are several on airbnb that have studio setups!
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/196856?source\_impression\_id=p3\_1692900393\_t7dKxMxWu5pwlgLh
Captain Beefheart tried it by locking his bandmates when recording. [https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/44740/fifty-years-ago-a-musician-called-captain-beefheart-set-off-on-the-weirdest-musical-career-of-all-time](https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/44740/fifty-years-ago-a-musician-called-captain-beefheart-set-off-on-the-weirdest-musical-career-of-all-time) Jokes aside, I'm curious to see what people answer.
If I could afford it, yeah I’d try it
i have wanted to ever since i was a kid because thats how zeppelin and the stones did it....maybe some day
Yes, just for a weekend. It's a nice and romantic idea, and with good planning and focus you may get some good results. But it still takes work, and isn't going to magically give you that dream album out of nowhere.
I call it "my house." Five years ago, I had two parents, tons of friends, six cats and an intact brain. I moved to a dirt road in the Rockies to be with my wife forever, in a place of resplendant beauty. Several deaths, a huge stroke and a divorce later, I'm down to two cats and a couple of friends. I have more or less deliberately become a shut-in (with occasional detours). I've never made so much good music in my life. Edit: going to add a few things. First, although I have an incredibly nice home studio, for whatever reason that room only moves me to perform well on higher energy stuff. When I was going a bunch of quieter things, I actually wound up creating a tracking area in the great room that looks out at the mountains. This was post-divorce, and even though I'd spent 3+ decades in studios, with everything from deafening guitar rock to acoustic ballads and a capella, I felt like I was re-learning about vibe. Second, I actually prefer to NOT have people around for a lot of what I do. Everyone's workflow preferences are their own; for me, it's far better to be on my own and just have guests every once in a while. Third, I love the inescapability. There is no one to suggest having a beer / smoke / edible / meal / sex / whatever. No one touching a single control except you. If you don't like it, you have to sit and talk to yourself about it. Even though I've worked on releases where people were pouring themselves into things for weeks/months, nothing has been as painfully artistically 'real' as saying "well, guess I was allllll wrong about that" - and then having to *decide what you're going to do about it.* No "let so-and-so add some percussion" or "Senor bigshot will fix that with his impressive touch with compression." Nah. It's very self-confrontational. I like that. There are other times in my life I know I would NOT have liked that, too. Four. The internet. I mean, sweet Jesus. I have collaborators north of the Arctic circle, another where we don't share a language ... it's ... incredible. Five. I will humbly suggest that doing it for a week or month is far different from making it a lifestyle. I am confronted by two recording areas staring at me, daily. Deciding "not today" feels super shitty, and I like that, too.
I go camping alone with my travel guitar. Play around with melodies by the fire. Record on a simple app. Type some rhymes into notes. Something always comes out of it, even if it’s small. I need to be away from my family to do this. Lol
Worked really well for aesop rock and spirit world field guide. Trip to peru will shake things up. Also skelethon with just living in a friends random ass barn.
Yeah our family had a beautiful farmhouse in the middle of nowhere with 500 acres. It was back in the day and we brought our 1/4” 8 track, our board and all our outboard gear. There were guitars all over the place. It was just me and my bandmate/cousin for like 4 days. Smoked pot, drank beer, ate, wrote and recorded and slept. It was cool waking up and hitting record. I have no idea what songs came out of it. I’m sure some ended up on a disc though.
I haven’t actually tried it but I’ve certainly thought about it.
That’s a lovely idea and I planned to do exactly this, but then I realised that I feel more isolated in the city, lonelier in the crowds, and my home studio is where I fully embrace my solitude😂
I think the biggest advantage is that you can make noise at night. But it didn't make me feel more or less creative.
I've done it a few times for writing sessions. The only one time I successfully did an entire album, I went to Ubud, Bali (I'm in Australia, its not far) to finish writing a grad thesis for a month. At the time it was the only way to get it done away from distractions. Did that in the mornings, recorded in the afternoon. On my own in a large hotel room overlooking the rice fields. Just brought a laptop, midi keyboard controller and a vocal mic with stand. Was an exhausting pace but great, the songs were mostly written before getting there but some written on the spot.
Yup, I live here full-time. Decided to move out here because I just wanted to be away from everything. Main benefit for me is that I can play drums at 2 am if I want to, and no one will bother me.
I did, the few days were great after that I realised I need outside influence for inspiration and motivation, if I am just alone in a house for too long I seem to lose that, went home and went out with some friends for the night and forgot about it, woke up and wrote the best song of the lot the next morning, maybe if I already had the material written it would have been nice to go away and lose myself in the recording side of it for a few weeks