My Studio: Getting the Record Straight

• 03 Aug 2015
• Maria John
• Features

Three musketeers of melody set up a special place in Kochi 
Text: Maria John     Photo: Jinson Abraham     Styling: Lakshmi Babu
Makeup: Tobin       Location: My Studio, Panampilly Nagar

You don’t get around Kochi, nay anywhere, without bumping into the creations from this little place with a big heart called My Studio. From the peppy beats of Bangalore Days without which no wedding will happen in Kerala to the heartwarming melodies of Premam, this recording studio is home to the some serious super hits. Shabareesh Varma told us in the last issue that friendship is a proven formula for success. The moment you walk into My Studio in the peaceful neighborhood of Girinagar, you can sense the camaraderie between the three exceptional individuals who have created this home for music. My Studio is also a tribute to the fact that Kochi is indeed the place to be.

Setting up
Vishnu, Murali and Ranjith hail from the north of Kerala and moved to Kochi to fulfill their dream. The moment we start prepping for the shoot, the laughter starts with Ranjith wondering if his wife will recognize him with all the makeup. The teasing had just begun, and we knew that this was going to be a great day.­ Murali and Ranjith were working in Dubai for a radio when the idea to start a studio struck in 2012. They roped in Murali’s college friend and now brother-in-law Vishnu and moved to Kochi. Ranjith is the musical genius, Vishnu the businessman and Murali the administrator who is a stickler for schedules. “Gopi Sundar gave us our break and opened us up to the market,” says Ranjith as Murali nods in agreement while booking sessions over the phone. They remember days when there used to be no calls or work, but now they are swamped. What is great about these guys, is that they take it in all in stride, and their positive vibe is infectious. Their friend Brijith Madhavan, a designer and acoustic engineer, designed the studio which goes beyond international technical standards. “We wanted to establish a studio with a difference. It is not just all about the world-class equipment and acoustics.  A recording studio has to have a great ambiance and positive energy where artists can feel at home and will surely return. Hence, it’s called My Studio. A space of your own, where you can express your talents without any hindrances” continues Ranjith “we were very adamant that the studio had to be in a great neighborhood”.  For them, the artists are not just clients but friends who can drop in any time they want.

Working it out
So what does a studio do? This is the place where music, background scores, and dubbing happens. My Studio at the moment is focused on the musical aspects. They record, mix, master and distribute the tracks with the help of two technicians Hari and Sai. These guys work day in and out to put out great music with technical perfection. Vishnu is worried if they get enough sleep some days. But no one seems to mind as this is their passion. The three say that they know if a song is going to be a hit when they see the face of the artists after a recording session. My Studio is making obvious tracks in the music landscape. Bands like Agam and Thaikudam Bridge are clients as well as friends. They have worked with Ousepachan, Ratheesh Vega, Deepak Dev, Rajesh Murukesh, Rahul Raj, Mejo Joseph, Bijibal, etc. Basically, all the biggies of the Malayalam music industry have worked here. But the big dream of the team is to bring AR Rahman to Kochi.

Going Forward
“We want to be a premium studio,” says Vishnu. People have started to understand what quality is, and My Studio delivers. He is giving posing tips to his colleagues,“ like Backstreet Boys ok?” It’s hard to keep a straight face around these guys with a thumping Tomorrowland playlist in the background. Hari and Sai ascertain that there is never a dull moment at My Studio and that they are very professional when it comes to work. My Studio has recorded tracks in multiple languages and is active on Facebook. Our colleague gets into a discussion with Ranjith about the composer Yiruma, and you can see his face light up. Ranjith, the creative genius in the trio, dissolves into the music and talked about his experience at a Yani concert with Murali. Their passion for music is evident. My Studio is the result of that passion. A technically brilliant space, open any time of day with a small garden where they conduct impromptu sessions. Their artist of the month program has proven to be extremely popular and has brought out great talents to the forefront.  Their production called Dinam was also featured in BBC. Upcoming ventures are a new album from Thaikudam Bridge, Sachin Warrier and more. My Studio is exactly what it is meant to be, a home for music.