Sounds Like These Unveils Completed Studios Based in Shoreditch
Creative audio company Sounds Like These have unveiled their completed studios, based in Strongroom Studios, Shoreditch. They provide music composition, sound design and audio post-production services to clients including Passion Pictures, SPCSHP and BUCK, for brands including TikTok, Google, HBOMax and Pepsi.
Having spent three years at Ten87 Studios in Tottenham, the team decided they needed one space to suit all of their needs and turned empty office space into several adaptable recording, production and mixing suites. Designed by Tim Coombes at Lucid Studio Design, built by Mark Barlow at ISIMA Construction and project managed by Recording Rooms, the creative spaces and office are connected to encourage maximum collaboration and interaction.
The company was started by four friends who met at the University of Surrey over 15 years ago. Joe Connor and Oli Slack head up the creative department as head of music and head of audio respectively. Sam Heath is the creative producer, overseeing creative direction and client liaison, whilst Theo Krish is director of culture focussing on community engagement and public facing events.
“As we are a small team, we try to make the most of working collaboratively as much as possible”, said Joe. “We can all play a range of instruments and have different production styles, so can cover a lot of bases between us when writing for varied briefs.”
Luih Tuckwell of Rhizome Audio also joined the team in 2022, working on music and sound design. “We work with a small team of freelancers as required, including Lucy Kitto, Chris Banks, Giovanni Dubinni and Rebekkah Fitch”, explained Oli. “And recently Angela Allen has been covering Sam’s parental leave, supporting us with business development and production.”
The flexible studio spaces allow multiple producers to work individually or together as projects dictate. There are two main studios, and a smaller writing room, all connected to enable the recording of musicians in any other space. Studios A and B have an adjoining window, linking them for a traditional live studio and control room setup if required. Even the office can be used as an additional recording space, should the need arise!
The studio contains the kind of high-end equipment you would expect: Amphion and Barefoot monitoring, Lynx audio interfaces, Neve preamps, along with a selection of outboard, vintage and modern synthesisers, and a range of mics including Neumanns, Coles and AKGs.
Theo said that although building the studio was a huge commitment: “It has already positively impacted our work in lots of different ways. We have enough space for everyone to be working alongside each other, and the capacity for collaborators to come in if we need to record voice overs, strings and drums etc.”
He also suggested that the quality of the work itself has improved in their new environment: “The rooms sound amazing and are great for both recording and mixing. Plus we have the benefit of natural light - not always easy to find in a studio - which definitely strengthens our creativity.”
They have already created a broad range of work in the new space, soundtracking Figma’s flagship ‘Config’ event for a second year running, writing wistful piano for Suchard’s 2023 Christmas campaign, and producing high octane breakbeats for the launch of Nothing’s new headphone range. Sounds Like These are also the audio post team for the Alan Partridge podcast, now in its third series on Audible.
In addition to commercial work, the studio has also been used for their own musical projects. Oli has recently been writing with the UK electronic artist Mumdance and Brazilian performer Benét Monteiro. Last year, Theo released his debut single with rapper Natty Wylah.
The team places huge importance on supporting artists and using their experience to help those at the start of their careers, offering subsidised studio time to local independent musicians and producers. “Currently this includes recording artists Caleb Kunle and Tusks, as well as Common Sound; a Black-led music collective and record label that hosts a regular jam night for up-and-coming musicians to get together and collaborate in a safe environment,” said Theo. “All of them are doing inspiring things which we're proud to support!”
They also run monthly Club WIP nights, held at the Strongroom Bar. These free music production workshops are aimed at supporting both new and established artists and composers, providing a relaxed networking space for creatives to learn from each other and receive feedback on their work (in progress!). They collectively credit: “Jake, Ella and everyone at Strongroom Studios for making them feel so welcome and part of the community!”
In a bid to support their team’s creativity, in 2022 Sounds Like These joined 70 companies across the UK in the world's largest trial of the 4-Day Week. The trial was organised by 4-Day-Week Global, a campaign that uses the 100-80-100 model: 100% of productivity, 80% of the hours, 100% of the pay.
The trial was a resounding success, and the company has since moved to a permanent four-day week, with their studios closed on Wednesdays. Theo said, “We're super grateful to our amazing clients who have been really receptive to this switch, with many expressing a desire to try it themselves.” He continued: “It has helped our team with a better work-life balance, giving us more space to be our best creative selves, both in and out of work. If our people are in a better place, the work will take care of itself.”
In terms of other future plans, the team have started working on video game projects, as well as stepping away from the screens and developing their work in experiential marketing. Their engagement work is expanding, with a new series of free panel discussions for experts in the music and media industries to break down how they create their work.
Overall, they feel that the studio has inspired them: “To make work we are truly proud of, growing our community in a space in which our creatives, collaborators and clients enjoy spending time.”
