Still a place for music
Shoebox Studios takes up residence in former radio station building
“We put all the ducks in a row for making the purchase and then COVID hit.”
Ian Kamp Owner of Shoebox Studios
Ian Kamp had three choices: complete a thesis project, do an internship or create his own startup.
He was wrapping up his master’s program in technology entrepreneurship and innovation and needed to pick one.
In a way, Kamp said it was an easy choice for him because he was already doing some music production on the side. And so Shoebox Studios was formally begun.
“It was kind of the opportunity to do something I was doing on the side as far as writing music and producing music. I thought I would channel that into one thing and row in the same direction rather than two opposite directions.
“It all started from there,” he said.
Shoebox was started in Little Harbour, but this year Kamp moved the business into the former ECFM building in downtown New Glasgow. He’s transformed the upstairs of the building into a recording studio and production centre while the downstairs portion of the building is being renovated to become The Commune’s new home.
Looking back, Kamp believes it was in his childhood that the seeds of his interest in music were planted.
His mother was a piano player and he remembers many parties and singalongs in their home. Often he was called upon to sing.
Still, he didn't initially plan on going into the music industry. He first went to university to become an engineer, but he found himself lacking any motivation for anything that wasn't musicrelated.
“In all honesty, it was more fun to make and play and practice music than it was to go to class,” he said.
He began experimenting with recording software in 2009 and then seven years later began Shoebox Studio for his master's project.
Over the last five years, it grew to the point Kamp knew he needed a new location. He wanted something local and easy for people to access as opposed to his Little Harbour studio 15 minutes outside town.
“I had people spending almost as much on cab fees to get out as they were for the session,” he said. “I was always looking for something more central to town that would make things easier for everybody.”
The old radio station building is one that had been on his radar for a while. He and The Commune owner Derrick Pierre looked at the building two years ago but ended up passing at the chance.
But something drew Kamp came back to it.
“I saw two years later that the building still hadn't moved. It was still sitting vacant.”
So he started the whole process again.
“We put all the ducks in a row for making the purchase and then COVID hit.”
While it created uncertainty about the future, Kamp moved forward and took possession of the building on April 30, 2020.
Kamp then called his cousin who is in project management and construction.
“How do you feel about a project?” Kamp asked. “It might be a big one.”
They broke the building renovation into phases. The priority was to get the studio space up and running. That was also where the least work was needed. They put down new flooring, removed panelling and added some fresh paint.
Then they began work on the remaining portion of the upstairs.
“As the back section got bigger we brought in a team of contractors.”
Once they got into the downstairs it involved more structural work, like removing walls and setting up the space that will be home to The Commune.
While Kamp said he never planned to tackle the whole building in a year, that's what ended up happening.
“It's been a bit of a transformation,” he said.
Kamp said he’s excited about having The Commune located in the building
“It’s a onestop-shop for all your music and multimedia needs,” Ian Kamp
because it not only utilizes space in the building he wouldn’t have used, but also because he and Pierre share a similar vision for a hub that focuses on music.
Most bars people go to, the music is secondary; at The Commune, the music will be the focus.
“I know Derrick and I both share that passion for music and for producing it and letting it be seen the right way, instead of seeing it in the corner of a room.”
The stage is also wired into the studio, so Shoebox Studios can record live performances or broadcast them.
Kamp hopes this variety of services will help attract bands to perform at The Commune from inside and outside the region because they can take some time to record music upstairs, have it edited and also perform a couple of live shows.
“It’s a one-stop-shop for all your music and multimedia needs,” Kamp said.
Because he recognizes that those in the arts don’t always have lots of money to work with, he said they try to make everything affordable.
If someone can’t afford a full studio session, he said they’re happy to work with them to take files that they’ve produced at home and work to mix them.
“I think there are enough musicians around once they sort of see what we can do here and see how easy and accessible we’re trying to make it for everybody . ... Our goal is to bring the music that’s made in Pictou County to the forefront.”