Monkeyclaus» Monkeyclaus

New Old RCA Mixing Board Coming Along

abel — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:29:19 +0000

Here are a few recent pictures from our tech Aaron Freed, who is building the Monkeyclaus RCA/API Old School mixing board. This thing is going to be fun !

Team Awesome ! – Monkeyclaus Interns 2009

abel — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:07:52 +0000

Robert Hoffman

To climb aboard the dreamers' magical boat ride for two weeks was a learning experience in both music and life. Monkeyclaus is a family where one is expected to grow their own claws. To do so is a process of self-determined learning. Basic skills are required in order to operate a recording studio, which one can either reluctantly perform or become one with. Once mastered, these skills become a field for creativity to operate within. Over our two week stay we digitized vinyl records and tapes, learned the basics of mastering, made sick beats, and assisted in many studio operations.

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.

The Honey Dew Drops – If the Sun Will Shine

abel — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:08:21 +0000

If the Sun Will Shine, The Honey Dew Drops' debut record, was just released May 2009. Recorded live and mixed in a 1920’s barn, the record means to pay homage to their live performances - full of the same energy and emotion the Honey Dewdrops bring to the stage. Local sound engineer, Abel Okugawa, mastered If the Sun Will Shine right here at Monkeyclaus in Nelson County, VA. A collection of songs written over the past two years, it features material that comes straight from the heart. Of eleven original tunes, some of which are award winners, and a few landed Laura and Kagey plane tickets to St. Paul, Minnesota where they appeared on A Prairie Home Companion’s “People in their Twenties Talent Show” and won first place in March 2008.

"This is a record capturing something haunting, melancholic and all-together charming.” -Jeff Royer, Fly Magazine.
The Honey Dewdrops are headed out on the road this summer traveling west to California and playing at all points in between. They’re looking forward to joining up with Anne and Pete Sibley, winners of A Prairie Home Companion’s 2009 talent show in their great state of Wyoming for a set or two toward the end of the summer.

Listen And Download HERE :

Bluest Blue Eyes - The Honey Dew Drops

Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
When Was the War - The Honey Dew Drops

Fly Away Free - The Honey Dew Drops

If the Sun Will Shine

Tracks On Repeat – Birdlips New Single

abel — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:56:13 +0000

Listen and download this beautiful single from Birdlips. 'Tracks On Repeat' was recorded at Monkeyclaus by Abel Okugawa and Birdlips. We think it is a great song and is true to our times. Listen and let us know what you think by leaving a comment. If you like it, buy it for $1 and help support Birdlips and Monkeyclaus.

Regime Change – Intl’ Party – Album Release

abel — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:49:53 +0000

Regime change keeps the Hip-Hop torch burning and leads the way to a new era. This is their debut full length album titled The Intl' party . You can download a FREE sampler of 6 songs from the album via the link below. The full album is available at iTunes music store.

FREE MUSIC sampler from Regime Change

This album includes 4 tracks produced by Abel Okugawa and was mixed at Monkeyclaus studio ,enjoy !

The kick off party was a great success! Thanks to everyone for coming through, and to all the people around the world who watched the party via the internet. France, Australia, Serbia, Canada and all throughout the USA were watching the party online.

Photography by Kimberly Mufferi

Tom Peloso – The Leaves and The Trees Music Video

abel — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:14:44 +0000

Check out the first cut of The Leaves and The Trees music video . Filmed by Aaron Farringon this is a nice video that was shot in the fall of 2008.

Download the song The Leaves and The Trees for FREE HERE

Tom Peloso - The Leves and The Trees

RCA/API – BC100 Console Parts

abel — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:56:14 +0000

Here are some pictures of our RCA BC100 console as it came to us. We did put all the modules and stuff back together , but had a hard time finding documentation , so the console waited for about a year until we finally decided to go ahead and re-model the whole thing and make it work for us at Monkeyclaus.

You can see all the modules something like this is made of , this is partly what has inspired our own studio layout (modularity), and sparks our imagination as to all the possibilities of signal paths and units that could be made.

Alex Schein – Acoustic Recording

abel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:24:02 +0000

Alex Schein

Alex Schein has once again blessed Monkeyclaus with his presence,this time recording acoustic. Schein recorded two songs , an acoustic version of the amazing Rise Up and a new song titled Breathe Out. You can check them out below or at AlexSchein.com. Once again it is time to rise up and make music and choices. Please enjoy these songs and let us know what you think.

Rise Up Acoustic

Breathe Out

We used a Sony C37 Mic and our Millenia TD1 for the guitars signal ran directly into Pro-Tools . The songs were recorded and mixed in 3 days.

Monkeyclaus Ventures Past Definition

peter — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:22:11 +0000

Monkeyclaus offers a gratifyingly unique endeavor. Monkeyclaus is a studio and production facility located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia. As a collective of musicians and artists, Monkeyclaus acts as a positive force. We aim to connect musicians with the social causes they support and improve the means by which these media connect with people.

Our studio features an adaptable live room, vintage gear, precious wire, and industry standard Pro Tools interface. The mountain environment is both relaxing and inspiring. We are working to create a new paradigm both in the musical industry as well as within global culture.

Plans are in the works for podcasting of live shows that we record, streaming video and radio, an mp3 download store, and our special showcase known as the Monkey Session. The Monkey Session is a daylong John Peel inspired in studio showcase which we augment with video and interviews. Check with our site regularly for new Monkeyclaus developments and watch and participate as we become increasingly interactive. Through your thoughts and participation you automatically become a Monkey. Cheers!

A Call for Monkeyclaus Allies

peter — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:20:45 +0000

Monkeyclaus seeks to connect music with people. We do this because music is a powerful tool for social change. We are looking to partner with forward-thinking artists, musicians, and social justice organizations to use the power of a worldwide, nonpartisan, non-corporate media to reverse current patterns of negativity propagated by mainstream media. The masses are becoming empowered with information and are becoming intolerant of the status quo.

We all realize that a human approach is what we need. The issues we see as highly important include but certainly are not limited to: Homelessness, poverty, hunger, militarism, media monopoly, clear cutting and mountain top removal, xenophobia, cars/oil dependency and alternative energy, domestic spying and declining civil liberties, urban sprawl, bicycle and pedestrian oriented development, funding for arts and culture, food purity, education, global warming and all environmental and health-related issues.

If you are a band, record label, organization or concerned individual please contact us so we can start a dialogue and initiate a plan of action.