7A West was established in 1993 as a partnership between musicians and friends Chris Burleson and Mike Caglianone. Tired of paying ridiculous prices for rehearsal space and recording, they went on a search to find a large cheap loft space. After a 1 year search of about 60 different buildings, they found the Charlestown Commerce Center and 7A West Studio was born.
Originally 7A West was designed to function on several different levels. Primarily a private rehearsal space for several projects including Sloe Poke Joe and the Road Hogs, Amelia White's Iguana Poets and The Zen Bastards, a stage was built and a full PA installed to allow the bands to showcase for small live audiences. A room was built off of the stage to be used to record rehearsals and
performances and served as a composers room with the installation of a midi sequencing set-up.
We bought our first ADAT in 1995 along with a Mackie 1604, some basic dynamic processing and a few good mics. Since the space was basically functioning as a collective, other members contributed personal gear and the studio slowly grew. At it's height 7A West was producing shows and parties at the rate of about 1 every 6 weeks. Several memorable performances by the Zen Bastards and Iguana Poets attracted even more musicians to the scene and 7A became a hangout, experimental scene and private recording studio for composers, word artists and improvisationalists.
By late 1996 many of the original players had moved on and Chris and Mike settled into writing and recording their own work using the pool of talent that had developed. Mike continued to purchase gear (sometimes at an alarming rate!) and 7A West grew into a 16 track studio with the addition of a 2nd ADAT and BRC, the Mackie 24X8 buss board, more mics, and a mastering suite. In late 1997 Mike was approached by Ben Schwendener about recording his new CD and a piano was added to the mix to accomodate Ben's project. Ben's CD Witness of the Sun was released to much critical acclaim and 7A West was suddenly in demand as a recording facility.
Chris and Mike dissolved their partnership in the studio at the end of 1997 and Mike is currently the engineer in residence. Chris moved on to establish Left Hand Right Ear Records.
In January of 1998 we made the full conversion to a professional recording studio. Our most recent upgrade was completed in January of 2001 and includes upgrading our recording decks to the fabulous ADAT XT20's (24 tracks worth) the addition of a 144 square foot wood floor area complete with our vintage keyboard collection, (Jupiter 6, minimoog, Farfisa VIP600, Fender Rhodes and Hammond Pota B with leslie) the addition of high end mic pres by API, Calrec and Audix, Gear from NEVE, Keepex and much more. Make sure to drop by our Equipment Page to check out the full story!
Since 1998 we have recorded over 750 sessions (and counting). Many have been released as Cd's and on Vinyl. The following is a partial list of commercially available recordings from 7A West.....
Ben Schwendener Witness of the Sun GravityArts Records-GRV1900-3
Daisuke Fujiwara Voodoo Fish
Joe Deveau Photograph of Nothing
Ergin Ozler Self-Titled
Nmperign 44'38"/5 Twisted Village Records
PULSE Sessions at 7A MHZ-002-2
Fat Dragon Self-Titled
Mike Bullock there the eye goes not Tautology Records
The Falsies XOXOEspo Record e-09
The August Spies Self-Titled Espo Records e-08
Philip Tomasic Solo CD Sachimay Records
Photon Torpedos It Came From Outer Space Signed by Raucous Records, London, UK. Torpedos have also signed a management and a publishing deal in Nahville.
Distant Relatives Self Titled
Auto 66 PRO*motion mastered at 7A West
Ben Schwendener Roadtrips recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Elio DeLuca Module Green Upright Piano recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Jon Wasserman Pour it On recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Best Friend Josh Chelsea and Washington recorded mixed and mastered at 7A West
Sarin Self-Titled Produced by Reggie Lofton and Sarin, recorded mixed and mastered at 7A West
The Zips 7" on Espo Records mastered at 7A West
John Haydon and Ten Worlds Resolved recorded at 7A West
The Kings of Nuthin Livin' or Dyin' recorded and mixed at 7A West
Waver Self Titled Debut recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
David Gross and Fetish recorded at 7A West
Stephanie Earp and the Ex-boyfriends chasing down dignity mixed at 7A West
New Singles From The Dimestore Haloes, The Photon Torpedoes, and The Kings of Nuthin recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Hyptonic Self titled CD recorded and mixed at 7A West, Mastered by Dave Locke
Rose of Sharon even the air is out of tune; Espo Records Release mastered at 7A West
The Lot Six Espo Records Release mastered at 7A West
Pulse Moody Street recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
The Warren Commission Espo Records Release mastered at 7A West
The Effword debut CD recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Winterboy Enormodome recorded and mixed at 7A West
Steve Stanley Left Here Al Alone recorded at 7A West
sunshine boy over under sideways down mastered at 7A West
Jack's Smirking Revenge debut CD mastered at 7A West
Ultra Jones Debut CD recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
danielle geihs band hiding places, Telepathy Records release mixed and mastered at 7A West
pheeroan akLaff / Michael Cain Brooklyn Waters , Telepathy Records release mastered at 7A West
Enuma Elish when above , Lithiq Records release mastered at 7A West
James Coleman Zinhistu, Sedimental Records Release recorded and mixed at 7A West
Ragwagon Debut CD recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Ed Rashed Big Book of Love recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Ed Rashed What is This Thing Called Love recorded, mixed and mastered at 7A West
Ben Schwendener Road Trips remixed and mastered at 7A West
Want to know more about 7A West's Producer/Engineer in residence Mike Caglianone (alias Mike Cags)? Just click HERE to view a current resume. For a full list of past clients including links visit our Past Clients Page
Selected Discography
Coming in 2002
Check our PAST CLIENTS PAGES for a more complete listing of what we've done!
