Short Summary
My name is Jake Vanderham. I'm a 20 year old actor and musician. After the untimely death of my father this past spring, I've been left picking up the pieces of my old family farm and trying to figure out how to save it. That's where the inspiration for Realway Studios began.
First, I wanted to record an EP of my original music. My friend and colleague, Steafan Hannigan, offered to help with his expertise and recording equipment. Upon setting up the make shift studio in my living room, Steafan and I discovered the incredible potential that my farm possessed for recording music.
After several late night sessions recording my EP, Realway Studios began to expand beyond the DIY recording experience that it was. Word quickly spread about this up and coming studio and the quality of sound achieved garnered great acclaim from industry veterans. In Realway’s short history, it has provided recording services for 5 different projects; including one client from the UK.
In order to move to the next level, we need your help.
What We Need
Phase one of my campaign is securing the ownership of my family farm. The funding is required to pay off the mortgage and buy out the remaining shareholders . After these funds have been acquired, I can continue establishing Realway Studios as a business and destination recording studio.
If my entire $360'000.00 goal is achieved, I would have full ownership of my farm again, allowing the business to grow without a crippling overhead deficit. I need your help urgently as the farm is currently for sale. If it receives a decent offer, unfortunately, the farm would sell, something that is out of my control. If, however, I receive the funding in time, I can buy the remaining shares and continue with this dream.
The recording equipment has already been acquired, the space needs only minor adjustments to enhance its workability as a studio, and most importantly, musicians that have worked here want to come back. Julian Brown, bassist for Canadian musician "Feist" and Aubrey Dayle, one of Toronto’s most respected percussionists are a few that have fully experiecnced and enjoyed what Realway has to offer.
The farm is a truly unique place. Situated in the heart of an environmentally protected area, the 88 acre estate is a haven for wildlife and nature. After recording a session, musicians can go for a swim in the small lake in front of the house, walk through the forest, or simply watch the stars from the old, wrap around cedar porch. Things you just can't do in a basement studio in the heart of a busy city. Realway offers inspiration and serenity to up and coming bands looking for the perfect place to record their next major record.
Steafan Hannigan, recording engineer, has over 22 years of experience in acoustic music recording and is also a highly in demand session musician. He will be the resident studio engineer at Realway. He has recorded with the likes of: Bjork, Depeche Mode, Il Divo, Uriah Heep, and Loreena McKinnett to name a few.
This wonderful space is also perfect for hosting workshops, with outbuildings and camping space (and eventually, festivals), and house concerts. Steafan and his wife, Saskia have been running workshops, festivals and teaching for a combined 50 years, mostly in the roots music scene. In the greater scheme, Realway will be used to further peoples musical schooling and provide a destination for quality education and international teachers.
The Impact
If you support my project you will not only be supporting my dream, but also a community of artists trying bring their music to the world. After the expiration of his current contract, Steafan will be again, like many other talented Canadian musicians, out of work. Realway will offer employment to people like Steafan and other local session musicians, some of which are the most talented in the world.
In Cobourg and the surrounding area, there are countless musicians in need of work. The community itself is bubbling with up and coming musical talent. Located in close proximity with other major music cities such as Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Ottawa, Realway will become a hub for musical creation.
One question I've faced all along with this project is "With people making their own music at home with the amazing new technologies available today, why will anyone want to pay for studio time in this day and age?" The answer is that there will always be those artists who can't afford studio time and kudos to them for being able to do that on their own. However, any artists signed to a major label, or artists that can afford to make their first "professional album" will need the expertise and know how that a professional studio can offer. That on top of Realway's incredibly unique and inspirational setting is why we are confident that this project will fly.