For almost three years now I've been on a quest for a soundproof place to call home (literally). I have a fully written album I finished just over a year ago. I'm supposed to practice and record it next.

In these days of albums earning virtually nothing in streaming revenue, tours becoming more and more expensive and AI threatening the less-than-fun side-gigs, I'm planning long-term. I'm trying to put together a space that will truly allow me to work on a zero budget. Self-sufficient and rent-free for life.

First, a £15,000 soundproofing budget knocked me on my ass and out of my apartment (the worst I do is sing, so this was an option for me. No drums). Now I'm fixing up a whole beat-up old house hoping to get what I need.

But while I've been having this perfectionist's quest for a soundproof and final place to work out of... and here's the point of my post... I've been to more than one studio that isn't soundproof! At all. Not one corner. And I can't for the life of me imagine how they or their neighbors can put up with that. You'll capture their noise and they'll be bothered by yours. It's a nightmare of ruined takes and noise complaints.

Anyway, I wrote all this cause I never miss an opportunity to talk about the pragmatic elements of arts. Most non-musician folks I've met seem to think that writing is the most challenging aspect, and that couldn't be farther from the truth, really, at least for me. I'd rather have to write 5 songs a day for the rest of my life than experience this bizarre limbo of having to keep quiet, practically on forced vacation.