Bring the Project Together 

Production is at the heart of What Studio. Whether developing a song from an initial demo, refining arrangements, shaping performances or overseeing an entire album project, producer Stephen Cole works closely with artists to help realise their ideas. Every project is different, and the production process is tailored to the needs of the music rather than following a fixed formula. It is always a collabration on some level.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a writer, performer and producer, Stephen offers practical and creative support at every stage of development. This may involve arrangement guidance, instrumentation, performance coaching, recording techniques and sound development, or simply helping artists make confident decisions about the direction of a project.

Sometimes the most valuable thing a producer brings isn't another musical idea—it's clarity. Knowing how to approach a project, what to work on first, and how to keep moving forward is often all that's needed to unlock the best version of the music.

Particular experience has been developed working with alternative, independent and adventurous music, although the studio regularly welcomes artists from a wide range of backgrounds and genres.Good production comes from understanding the person behind the music, whatever style they make, and creating an environment where they can do their best work.

The goal is always to create recordings that feel authentic to the artist while making the most of the studio and the time.

Selected Productions

Dyasono -  Walk Away (2020)

Written and Performed by Dyasono

Produced, mixed mastered by Ste Cole.

This was a remote collaboraion over many months between the incrediblely talented Dyasono and myself.

Of several songs we worked on together this was the one that finished first. 

Dyasono is the alias of Anindya Kartika (Nindy), an alternative, electronic, pop songwriter and artist based in Los Angeles, California.
We still havn't met yet!

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Ex-Easter Island Head - Mallet Guitars One (2010) Mallet Guitars Two (2012) 

Written and performed by Jacob Chabeaux, Benjamin D. Duvall, Jonathan Hering, Nicholas Hunt, George Maund

"Mallet Guitars One". "Mallet Guitars Two" and "Music for Moai Hava" recorded, mixed and mastered by Stephen Cole

ONE Recorded live at St Bride's Church, Liverpool 11th August 2010.

TWO Recorded at the Kazimier Club (R.I.P), Liverpool, February 2010 

Also recorded live before an audience of several hundred people, 'Music for Moai Hava' was commissioned for performance around the statue itself in the cavernous atrium of the World Museum, Liverpool. The piece sees Ex-Easter Island Head collaborating with members of the a.P.A.t.T Orchestra

Two records close to my heart, 1 as it loads of fwends, 2 a very early successful flurray and 3 mind-bendingly, Mallet One was recorded in this very studio space in 2010 (9 years before i opened the studio?? saywahh?)