interview w/ Matt Molchany

*How did this all get started?

Over the course of the two months before I left Los Angeles, my friend and partner Jeremy and I talked a lot about securing studio space or developing a mobile way for me to take what I do production and engineering-wise anywhere. We were leaning towards an entirely mobile set up but after returning east and seeing all the action on the southside of Bethlehem and other pockets of the L.V., I felt strongly that a brick and mortar recording/rehearsal studio heavy on the d.i.y. vibe and with multiple functions was the way to go here. It seemed like exactly what's needed to speed up the growth and push it further...so began the hunt for the space. I walked around endlessly in Allentown and up and down 3rd and 4th streets in Bethlehem collecting numbers, pictures for Jeremy, and calling realtors until one morning my mom came along for the hunt and instinctively turned down Graham Place and we found it--13 Graham--it was pretty much love at first sight and its location was ridiculously ideal.

*Any particular beginning inspirations?

I got the space the morning after hopping trains, making plans, and talking big shit with Hannae and John Paul--we all held the same hope for the area, similar traveling experience and outlooks. So after I hopped a train and rode across the trestle, I jumped off onto the gravel and called the owner of 13 Graham obscenely early in the morning to set up a date to sign the lease--they inspired me to take the final step but it was talking to local musicians and artists about their lack of rehearsal/recording/creation space that inspired me to make it my mission.

*What experiences in your life/past history that prepared you for this project?

I leased a space in Allentown when I was 19 for recording, rehearsal, and teaching drums out of--it was a huge undertaking considering I was in school and gigging regularly but I learned a lot about managing a studio, which I haven't really been able to apply in L.A. Every recording situation consisted of either showing up at a studio and working or recording with my gear at someone else's space which forced me to figure out people and other people's set-ups fast. Both of these situations were massive learning experiences and can finally be married in the new space.

*What is your vision?

Simply, a functioning spot for creation of all kinds--whatever we can fit and whatever will keep it running.

*a few months from now?

A New Madrid Faults album with a ridiculous amount of instruments, more recording/mixing projects, a few bands and artists locking it out, live recordings of touring bands, regular meetings for Bethlehem Above Ground, and a cute little indie library. Maybe a sweet mural on the outside wall...and a secret show or two...

*a few years?

Another building entirely for rehearsal space rental, our own line of recording gear, live video feed, ability to remotely control other recording sessions from Above Ground Audio Labs, and in general working towards patenting new studio technology and models.

*Upcoming projects about to be born out of the lab?

Paul Thiessen Band(lehem), Swift Technique (philly), Trevor Exter (ny), the next New Madrid Faults album, and quite a few yet to be named conglomerations of local musicians.

*Projects that have already been produced from here?

New Madrid Faults, King Ricco, The Power Cords, and some friendly demos/jam sessions.

*Is the space exclusively for music?

There's definitely space for art, photo, reupholstering, soldering, drafting, crafting, reading, and other non-musical projects that require space and levels of isolation.

*Plans for the physical space? layout/design

There are plans to have a control room when you first walk in with full carpeting, a couch, several bookshelves, a 15 foot wall, and control room window centered in the wall. The ceilings are going to be insulated and covered with an alternating mix of softer acoustic tile and hard plywood. The floors will be cleaned, painted, and left exposed for the most part except for a few rugs. Walls will have lots of stained random plywood pieces at varying angles to break up the parallel walls, smoothing out the room's reverberant character.

*Do you plan to move to a bigger space eventually?

When it's necessary, definitely. It's exciting to think that some day in the near future our area would need more spaces like this!

*How is this space connected to your broader network?

It's the headquarters to Bethlehem Above Ground and New Madrid Faults, both of which are bringing bands from around the U.S. to town to record, play, or in a non-physical sense for review in the zine, making both sides of the network aware of each other.

*How will the network outside of the local area influence what's happening here?

As B.A.G. gets more booking requests and NMF brings more bands to town, I think people here will be awakened by what musicians in random towns anywhere in the U.S. are doing, thinking, and creating--I think we'll all be surprised with how much we have in common but also how different we all express things, helping us make this town a little bigger but the world a little smaller.