Fort Wayne, IN (May 9, 2018)—Last year saw Fort Wayne teen Addison Agen grab national attention on NBC’s talent reality show, The Voice, as she became the runner-up of Season 13. Agen may have returned home to Indiana now, but the 17-year-old still has her sights set on building a long musical career for herself. Aiming to help make that happen is another part of the Fort Worth musical community: Sweetwater and its Sweetwater Studios recording facility.
Making use of the pro audio/MI retailer’s professional resources, Sweetwater has been helping Agen record her first album and see it through to completion. “We are proud to support Addision with our best-in-class recording facilities and staff,” commented Mark Hornsby, vice president of Operations, Sweetwater Studios.
“As an Indiana-based company, we’re hugely supportive of our local region,” concurred Thad Tegtmeyer, vice president, Campus Sales Operations & Artist Relations, Sweetwater. “We knew the scope of what we would be able to offer Addision to ensure her first recording was a success.” That turned out to be use of Sweetwater’s three Russ Berger-designed recording spaces, access to a warehouse containing over 150,000 square feet of pro audio gear and musical instruments, and more.
Teaming up with co-producers Hornsby and Phil Naish, Agen began planning the album, backed by a support package that connected her with on-staff session talent and key manufacturer sponsorships. “At Sweetwater Studios, we have the ability to do something very different than what the rest of the industry can offer,” said Tegtmeyer. “We are able to bring our manufacturer partners to the table to share in the support of our recording artists, with the gear used during the recording process, as well as the promotion of the project.”
As a result, Agen was soon connected to manufacturers such as Shure, Martin Guitar and Universal Audio. For the recording, a full complement of Shure microphones was utilized, including the KSM44A, which proved the choice microphone for Addison’s lead vocals. Meantime, Martin 00-28 and a D-28 were the go-to choices for acoustic guitar, while a Universal Audio Apollo interface was used for its AD/DA conversion and mic pre technology.
Sweetwater Studios also had numerous session players on call. “Our musicians have worked with everyone from James Brown to the Oak Ridge Boys, to Genesis to Dolly Parton,” said Hornsby. “When we present these kinds of opportunities to an artist, they almost can’t believe it. It is completely outside of the box—and when you get everybody on the same page, from artists to producers to musicians, to manufacturers, everybody wins. It is a lot of fun, really rewarding, and really effective. “
Agen’s album is due to be completed by June 1, and a video documentary is in the works that captures the recording process from start to finish , including string sessions that were also produced by Hornsby and recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Sweetwater Studios • www.sweetwaterstudios.com
