Ben Hargett, one of the folks I work with at K, dug up this Tape Op article on the Dub Narcotic recording studio of Olympia, WA from back in the day (if 2002 could so-called).
The interview happened while K was at its previous home a few blocks away from where we currently are. The studio was in “The Big Room”, an old Olympia High School gymnasium peppered with graffiti, the legacy of students attending during the late 30s and early 40s. Maroon velour drapes split the room into 3 smaller sections, the studio occupied the center section and the racks of musical instruments were in the backmost space. True to its moniker, the room really was quite big and was lined most of the way around with single paned windows which presented little resistance to any noise or coldness that might have been happening outside. The ever-raucous seagulls loved to congregate on the rooftop just outside the Big Room and the only heat was from two big gas blowers which only a rock band could drown out; takes would happen between the moments when the heaters were running.
I’ll leave my commentary at this and let the article do the rest of the talking. It’s split into two parts, the first is with Calvin Johnson and the second with Phil Elverum. Enjoy!
