INSIDE BLACK ROCK STUDIOS
42 Headliner
Kostas Kalimeris is a true musical multitasker. A&R, engineer, producer, mixer, and proud owner of one of the world’s premier recording facilities, Black Rock Studios, located on the stunning Greek Island of Santorini. We sit down for a chat about taking Black Rock international, the issues with the Greek music scene, and speccing out high-end studios. Our conversation with Kostas begins with a brief chat about the songwriting camps that Black Rock Studios host. The brainchild of his business partner, Leo Chantzaras, it brings an eclectic mix of budding composers together to collaborate in a series of workshops to create that bit of musical magic. “The songwriting camps are going very well; we do them twice a year, and we try to keep the level of writers as high as possible - and we are always full,” Kostas explains. “There are 25-27 writers involved for three to four days of writing together, and we set up eight rooms in total, each of which is equipped with high quality gear.” Kostas is a true advocate of Genelec monitors, and has a pair of 8040s or 8050s set up in each room. It’s the perfect choice for these types of gathering, especially considering the type of music that tends to come to the surface during the week. “Both these [Genelec] monitors have a very nice bass sound, and our songwriting
camps bring out a lot of pop and EDM, so they tend to love their low end,” he smiles. “Sometimes they push them a lot... you know how these EDM guys are! [laughs] Actually, it’s funny; I realised that even on my main SSL [console], the main monitor control goes up to 11... I found that out two years after I got it!” I can’t really picture him head-bopping to electronic beats at his SSL, but that did make me laugh. The SSL in question, by the way, is the impressive centrepiece of Black Rock Studios control room, the world class facility that Kostas built seven years ago. “We opened Black Rock back in 2009, and it’s been quite a journey; I started out as an engineer, and now this is my main job,” he continues. “I am mostly producing, but also engineering and mixing the projects that I am producing, too.” Kostas’ career got a serious kickstart way before Black Rock, of course – as a teenager, he was working with some very established Greek acts in some serious facilities.
