Joey-Z from NYC-based Life of Agony/Stereomud has opened a recording studio called Method of Groove in Brooklyn, where he can do 32 tracks of Pro Tools recording. The legendary guitarist, best know for his metallic, melodic riffs, guitar tone and energetic stage presence, has decided to give something back to the fans and allow them the opportunity to have Joey produce their music and help create new sounds.

      Joey told me about the studio, and I had to find out more about his tone, live sound, and why he feels that he would make an awesome producer. What I found out is that a congenital gift, technically a defect, has afforded him better control of auditory perception and tone than the average person has, and he clearly uses it to his advantage.

     InsideCx: What made you decide to wear the producer hat?

     Joey-Z: I had some Pro Tools training in NYC with Taryn Darby at a school built within soundtrack studios. I really learned a lot from him. Obviously, I learned a lot over the years, recording albums and working with some great producers like Greg Fittleman, Don Gilmore, Rick Parisher and John Travis. Working alongside these producers, you gain unbelievable knowledge. I was always interested in the studio and the recording environment; it made me want to break into a different part of music.

     InsideCx: What is the initial startup cost to build your own studio?

     Joey-Z: I had a lot of help from a lot of companies through LOA and other connections: Yamaha, Personus, Samson, Hartke, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Digi-design. Without their help, easily over 50-60 grand, and I put at least 20 into it.

     InsideCx: What is your favorite piece of production equipment?

     Joey-Z: The ADL 600 by Personus. It's a brand new pre-amp. The great thing about it, using it in a digital format, is that it is all tube and it gives you the warmth and a lot of head room in the gain stages.

     InsideCx: Do you have any major acts slotted for studio time?

     Joey-Z: Yes. I just finished working with Brand New Sin, but I really wanted to start helping people that are not as fortunate to have had the ability to work with someone with a lot of experience, both playing and recording, or having been around other great producers. I have that experience, so I am able to offer that comfort, a ton of new ideas to put on the table, microphone techniques for the best sound. Offering that knowledge to local talent is really where I want to start with this place.

     InsideCx: What is the most frustrating thing about creating new sounds?

     Joey-Z: Maybe it's the wrong head and you need a particular sound, so you start messing around with the E.Q., throwing pedals on it, throwing outboard gear on top, like effects processors, a billion different mic positions. You improvise and that is frustrating, so for me it's not having the gear you need at the time you need it. It's really how you use the gear, not how expensive it is, that is important as well.

     InsideCx: Talk about your guitar tone. You once told me that it came from a birth defect.

     Joey-Z: I was born with the loss of an island of frequency in the higher frequencies of my left ear. That has actually helped me in a lot of ways; it made me unique as far as tone goes and it modeled my tone. Plus I recreate it live. Tone is also about feel, the way it makes you feel emotionally and the way it makes your body feel, the acoustics in a room, how the room is not affecting the tone but contributing to it. How the speaker is moving the air and the walls—everything comes into play.

      For more information, visit www.methodofgroovestudio.com.