Young sound engineer opens recording studio

Hamish Dickinson, who is just 25, launched Phoenix Sounds recently - a professional music studio in the town of which he is throwing open the doors to budding artists.

The multi-instrumentalist realised a long-held dream by creating the studio space at the Sherwood Phoenix music shop on Rosemary Street, and now is hoping it could help fulfil their potential of local talent.

“The bands I’ve spoken with said there’s hundreds of musicians out there,” said Hamish.

“There’s been a massive music scene in Nottinghamshire but whether it’s still vibrant I don’t know.

“This is a collaboration with Sherwood Phoenix, I was looking for a space and they wanted a recording studio, so it made sense.

“I see these kids carrying guitars and I want these youngsters to come knocking on the door whenever they want.

“When I was 15 I started recording and I became really inspired - I was blown away by the engineer and decided that’s what I wanted to do.

“Playing instruments is my first love but this is unique.

Originally from Hampshire, Hamish moved to Nottinghamshire two years ago.

And despite his tender years, he can play guitar, violin, piano, plays drums in a band, is a classically-trained saxophonist and with both parents being trained musicians, has the appropriate heritage.

He also has a first-class honours’ degree in music production, so it’s fair to say he knows what he’s doing.

As the chief engineer and studio manager, Hamish is a one-man band, so to speak.

He has worked one on-one with bands and artists across different genres, producing albums and EPs from preliminary recordings, through mixing and mastering to the final product.

His new studio has all the latest equipment and software to make a truly professional record.

With no fewer than three of his own drum kits set up, he also has access to instruments from Sherwood Phoenix’s stock.

It’s a far cry from the growing number of musicians who attempt to record in their own bedrooms using computer software.

And while studio time is often not cheap (£140 for a full day), Hamish says he is ‘happy to negotiate to make it work’.

“I have been there as a youngster and I know it can be expensive,” he said.

“Everyone is recording these days, but it doesn’t mean they know what they are doing.

“You can put a sound on a computer, but it doesn’t mean it’s good.

“Whatever musicians are doing, they can try it in a professional studio and it does not have to break you financially.

“I designed these studio rooms a certain way to capture the best sound.

“I’m driven by the love of music, it’s such a satisfying feeling.”

n For more information, log onto www.hamishdickinson.co.uk or www.facebook.com/phoenixsoundrecording.