Some studios are rooms with gear. Others are destinations. Spice House Sound, tucked into the heart of Fishtown, was intentionally built to be the latter. Once an old brick carriage house, now a world-class studio, designed from the ground up, this is a place where music isn’t just recorded, it’s lived in. Paired with a full residence next door, this studio was created to remove friction from the creative process and give artists, producers, and engineers the freedom to fully immerse themselves in making records.
What inspired you to build this studio?
My mission was to use my technical understanding to build a temple of sonic production and reproduction where the sky is the limit. To me, this space is a kind of dream spaceship - every possible technical optimization is integrated - but it still feels relaxed, like an old home. You’re flying through the stars, but you’re just on the couch. The end goal was simple: whatever you create here, there isn’t a limit to it. This studio should never be the thing holding the music back.
What makes Spice House Sound truly unique?
This is a fully sound-isolated recording studio near the heart of the city, designed by Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG), famous for creating iconic sound enviornments, including Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios. Each room sits on its own split-slab foundation, isolated so completely that even the sound from construction happening across the street disappears once you step inside.
I’ve personally spent more than a decade redesigning every audio system in this building. Quite simply, it’s one of the best-optimized recording studios, located in a great neighborhood, and it’s ready to make new music.
What stands out most about the control room?
I asked WSDG to design the largest RFZ control room possible that would still be acoustically ideal, and they delivered. We have full acoustic treatment on every part of the control room. We have a cloud, anti-resonance absorption, quadratic residue diffusers and more. This is the cleanest and clearest you’ll ever hear music played back.
At the heart of the room is a vintage Auditronics console from Memphis - one of only three in existence - fully retrofitted by me. It’s surrounded by years’ worth of carefully curated outboard gear that I’ve collected and optimized specifically for this room.
Who does this studio work best for?
This space thrives with artists who prize high fidelity, warmth, and really damn good sound. The expansive live room is ideal for real instruments with adjustable wood panels that open to reveal absorption and a movable overhead cloud that allows the room’s acoustic signature to change depending on the session. Multiple isolation rooms make it easy to track simultaneously without compromise. You can hear the difference the moment you walk in. It’s in the air.
What gear do artists get most excited about?
We’ve got all the classic vintage gear musicians grew up reading about - microphones, instruments, and outboard equipment that people are genuinely excited to record through. There’s a grand piano, Hammond organ, Rhodes keyboard, drum kits, and a deep mic collection, all included with the studio. All signal chains are ready to go, so whatever creative spark hits, you’re able to capture it immediately.
Why connect the studio to a full residence?
From the beginning, I wanted a house next door to make it easy for bands and producers to fully immerse themselves in the recording process. The attached three-bedroom residence allows artists or owner-operators to stay on site, work long hours, and stay focused on the music. It’s totally sound-isolated, which means sessions can run late without disturbing anyone. And honestly, one of my favorite features is the garage. Never having to look for parking in Fishtown for the last 15 years has added a lot of time back to my life.
What do you hope a future owner appreciates most?
I hope the next owner appreciates what a strong foundation this is - not just structurally, but creatively. All of the construction, acoustic design, and technical optimization has already been done. This is a world-class base for a producer, label, or creative operator to step in and take it to the next level. Philadelphia has an incredible music scene, and I felt the city deserved a truly world-class place to record. This space is ready for its next chapter… and its next record.
