Alabama has Muscle Shoals and New Mexico now has Rio Grande Studios... This studio is new but the location is over 200 years old and you can definitely feel the magic right when you show up. What owners Drew Newman and Kenny Riley have done with this place is nothing short of amazing. Aesthetically speaking, every inch of the property tells a story and is what makes this place so special. I truly was honored with the opportunity to lay down a few tracks (which will be available soon) with them and get to spend a week here and definitely am looking forward to returning. This hidden gem will soon be the "go to" spot when looking to capture that true sound that is missing from a lot of music these days...
"Return to your roots and you will find yourself there..."
Kenny Riley is the mastermind, or what I called him was "The Wizard", behind the sound engineering. Kenny has been deeply rooted in the music scene for a long time and is one of those guys that will take you to the next level. In just 5 days I learned so much more than I ever thought I would, getting to see my project grow from acoustic songs I would play when I had a minute at home, into this a larger than life sound. Rio Grande Studios instrument and amp selections are unlike any I have ever seen... Some of the amplifiers and mics date back to the 1940s & 50s to capture those sounds you cannot imitate or fake. Rio Grande Studios is the real deal so be looking for the projects that are going to start coming from here...
Photography by : Drew Newman & Tommy Riley