Meet Gabriella Zepeda and Guillermo ‘Billy syn’ Zepeda of Valley of the Kings Music

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Zepeda and Guillermo ‘Billy syn’ Zepeda.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In some way or another, we have been operating in the Dallas Music Industry for the better part of a decade. (11 years actually) Valley of the Kings started as a boutique studio in Deep Ellum by Mario Trevino ‘Mario syn’ and Guillermo Zepeda ‘Billy Syn’. Both started their music journey as Artist themselves but just couldn’t find a place to record where their needs were met. They were looking for a place that provided them with an environment that promoted their creativity and to give them with guidance.

After visiting many studios, it wasn’t till a trip to Atlanta that Billy was able to see the type of care for the clients that he wanted desperately to being home. He went to Audio Engineering school here in Dallas at MediaTech. Then started offering his services to all of their friends and their friends friends. Before they knew it they had outgrown the small Vocal studio and set their sites on something bigger, The Carrolton location, where they took the 2 man team and turned it into a family business.

This is the point of the story where I come in. Creatives are very very good at creating so let them. Someone else can fuss over the paperwork and management, ie Gabriella. I learned everything there is to know about admin from my grandmother Patricia she is a powerhouse in the project management field and I’m very grateful for everything she has taught me over the years. After a while, more people knew who VK was and showed us, mad love. Vk has and always be a family and we treat others like family, keeps people coming back.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Has it been a smooth road? never. Better yet when is anything worth doing, easy. In 2014 our studio was taken by the state in a process called eminent domain… basically, that means when 35 expanded it ate us up. Today as you drive over the old belt line exit there is a massive concrete pillar in the middle of our old control room.

So in a way, everyone who has ever driven through there has been to VK. It took a few years, lots of learning about sound sciences and design, and one very very dusty rebuild but here we are. 4th floor of 9550 Skillman St. and this is our baby. We piece together these walls from nothing; actually, this used to be a telecoms office so the original layout is nothing like what you see today. North Dallas has been very good to us, we are located right off of 635 so convinces is great for clients.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We record projects, mix, master and do music production. And by projects, I mean anything and everything! From radio ads to hip-hop albums to folk rock. we even did a kids birthday party! Kids bop style. We are now offering Podcast services along with the standard slew of studio services. We want our clients to be on the forefront of whats next for the industry.

What really sets us apart from anyone else is we are 100% client-centric. We have dealt with it all, from the newbies that have no idea what they are walking into. to the hyper OCD clients who want everything to be just the way they want it. The real magic happens when you let Billy do his thing. ‘The wizard behind the board’ is what I like to call him. he is the real deal. Finger on the pulse, know whats new but what can never die. He is a real genius and a lot of artists have come to realize that.

What were you like growing up?
Billy and I we very creative children. My strong suits were more in the visual mediums. I can not carry a tune so don’t ask me to be on your next album and instruments? Just no. Billy, on the other hand, has the chops to be featured. He cycled through every genre falling in love with it in one way or another, Salsa to gangster rap. Didn’t matter to him he sees inspiration everywhere.

Both of us were trendsetters at least that’s what those old report cards say. Billy is actually my Uncle but we are only 8 years apart so I consider him more my brother than anything. Growing up with him was non stop fun. He always pushed me to test the limits of my own mind and to trust my talent.

Contact Info:

• Address: 9550 Skillman St suit 410
• Website: www.VOTKmusic.com
• Phone: 4696931664
• Email: gzepeda1@me.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VKStudiosDFW

Image Credit:
Andrew Sherman, Shawn Mathis

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