SOS visit Paul Epworth at The Church Studios

In his search for the perfect studio, award-winning British producer Paul Epworth (Adele, Florence + The Machine, Coldplay) happened upon an unusual space in North London with a rich creative heritage. The building has been a studio since the '80s, playing host to acts such as The Eurythmics, Bob Dylan and Radiohead, but in order to satisfy his exacting standards, it has undergone something of a transformation.

We take a look around the stunning newly-renovated studio complex known as The Church, and talk to producer Paul Epworth about redesigning The Church Studios, his vintage EMI Neve console, and why he prefers to be on the same side of the glass as musicians.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction
01:07 - How Did Paul Find The Church Studios?
02:55 - Studio Developments
05:47 - Why Is There No Control Room?
07:18 - EMI Neve Mixing Console
10:08 - How Is The Studio Set Up?
12:14 - Recording Sounds With Character
14:25 - EKO Computer Rhythm Drum Machine
15:10 - Paul's Favourite Pieces Of Gear
16:40 - Outboard Equipment In Studio 2
18:01 - Convenience Of A Writing Room
20:26 - Creative Process From Start To Finish

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[Nightshift]

Oh man, This studio is amazing SSL and Neve, AMS, Distressors ...I would lose myself. The guy seems humble and he really knows his stuff!!! Thank you for the video!!!

[Audiojunkk]

Amazing! Thanks again soundonsound! Speaker face at 4.38 

[idave]

Fantastic space, I lived around the corner in the 80's and was fortunate to spend a fair amount of time recording and just hanging out with my mate "Worth" who Managed the place for Dave Stewart & Annie Lennox, , , GREAT MEMORIES!!

[jonnieperry]

Great to see some of the old valve gear still being used. Worked at Trident in the late 70's and can appreciate that unique sound. Good to see Paul as a custodian.

[Akatosh]

one of the best (if not the best) and forward thinking producers of this century

[dheshpadiachey]

Great video thank you so much guys. Paul is a legend 💪🏾

[kickbiker]

Brilliant clip .... just came across it now in 2019.

[oscarguzman]

Awesome studio. Love the no-control room; sometimes the glass is a wall to creativity.

[MELONenSURPRISE]

I guess it was 2002 I went to London . Had a little book with studio addresses and one day decided to visit this studio, that's just to look at the building from outside at Crouch Hill. I played music on streets, cut a vinyl single in Amsterdam and finished sound engineering college there. Anyway, came there .It looked scary and awesome already from outside . I rang a bell .After some confusion about who i was (obviously no one of importance) the guy opened the door . Hello can I talk to the manager of the studio . He's not here . Ehm can you give him this record . He politely took it and i went away. The other day i was playing Hang (a swiss percussion instrument ) in Denmark Street in front of the music store . Lots of people asking me whats that because it was new back then. I stopped playing, my hands hurting and than came a guy with a guitar asking me have I ever heard of Pink Floyd it was an ex a member of Dream Academy . The whole situation got a bit weird when he said that David Gilmour produced some of his music or that he was working on something with him and that he wanted me to come to Church studio for a payed session . So i went . We went to a back door to a smaller studio . I played Hang and electric bass guitar on that session . Afterwards Guys took me to a dinner, payed me 80 pounds . I left England and to this day i don't know what i was working on . Living currently in Croatia .

[icespittingfire]

having the desk in the live room is a funny one, i can see how it could work but i suppose ironically with a desk like that you really want to be making use of the EQ and effect sends etc during tracking, so arguably it's even more important to hear the tones clearly as they're going down than if it was just a 'clean channel' sort of setup.

[shadowmixx]

Bucket List = I want to record at The Church Studios once before I go.
Amen
:)

[trevorsmith]

worked in both rooms often in the 00s including Beth orton and culture club... thought both rooms were mint...
brave to rip them out.
also desk in the live room? each to his own lol. so glad it's still a studio though... one of my favourites.

[davidjonathan]

nice! amazing space... What's up with big shot engineers and skulls? what's the common thread or connection? I wonder

[eph_kni]

I want this man's life so fucking badly...

[dmurr]

Did you know there is ready a Church studio in Tulsa, ok originally owned by Leon Russell. Musician's such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, BB King, Freddie King, the GAP band, JJ Cale, and the list goes on with souls that have recorded in the Churc studio in Tulsa, ok. This Church sound pretty cool as well.

[m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

i wanna know how the sound doesnt travel through those windows when the muswell hill bus goes past! seems to be no soundproofing over them. i have the possibility of moving my studio into a ex-church sideroom but it's also near a road and that's why i came to check this studio out. anyone know?

[icespittingfire]

i cycle past it twice a day, hope i have a reason to go in one day!

[sw]

this guy sounds like he never sleeps. best wishes

[nicholasosczypko]

Wow great interview...Thanks for not opening up at all,

[moralpaniken]

Sweet place, i'd love to record there.