Today we’d like to introduce you to John Painter.
Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started as many kids in a band in junior high. After finding the joy in music I wanted to create my own and started recording in my bedroom with my brother. My father would record our little band on his reel to reel while my mother made the costumes. we were lucky enough to be picked as the band in Ron Howards first directorial movie “Cotton Candy”. I played in many bands at that time (QUAD PI, ROTE and others) after that the urge to have my own studio was ever present in my mind so in 1990 I opened The Kitchen Studios. We started in a four car converted garage and business picked up (The rap game was just starting to bloom and I was right there. Legends like Willie Hutch,( famous for the mock soundtrack) were coming in. I was doing all the local rap records at the time. Then we moved to deep Ellum and opened 3 rooms and started doing more live bands.
At this point, I meet Erykah Badu. She has been a great ally to me turning on countless big stars on to me. I was doing PimpC ( read about it in his book and sing about his night in the kitchen) Devin the dude, Too Short, DSR, and many more. After a few years in deep Ellum we moved to our final destination on Garland rd. Here we have done Wiz Kalifa, Andre 3000, Badu, plus many cool bands. We have now been in business over 30 years and still love every minute of it. In 2021 we launched “Live at The Kitchen” a Tiny desk type live show that showcases local talent in a live setting. It’s been great seeing people perform again. We love all kinds of music and love seeing someone new develops as much as working with an established artist. Life is good. I now perform with The Mike Haskins Experience, The telephones. The Dalíwood Squares, Sparrowbox, the Trees and have my own project about to come out JPs Rocktopus, which will feature several of my Dallas musician friends> I love music and will put everything into helping someone go to the next level.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We have had many obstacles while trying to create what we have. From Landlords who didn’t understand music and its culture. To roofs falling in, windows exploding and water flooding the studio were just a few things we have been through. But we always pull through.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a full featured commercial recording studio. we have 2 rooms. Our B room is a great vocal and editing studio with top notch gear and great positive employees to work it. The A room is where I lay my hat and it is a little larger with both Pro tools and 2 inch tape, tons of our board gear . a drum room with Kit, 2 other booths for guitar, vocals, etc. A Steinway grand is the center point of our “Live at the Kitchen” set. Along with a second drum kit and a Rhodes and guitar amps all ready to record a live session. We have some of the rarest and nicest guitars and basses anywhere ( all available to use) we will make your experience special. We do recording, editing, mixing, mastering and Live video for the series. We think music is the greatest equalizer in the world and want to help you make it great.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The biggest shift since COVID is more people are recording at home and bring their files here to have mixed and mastered. The music industry is always evolving and we always adapt so I look forward to the future and what it holds for the music industry.
Contact Info:
- Email: thekitchenstudio@sbcglobal.net
- Website: thekitchenstudios.net
- Instagram: thekitchenstudiosdallas
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thekitchenstudios
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC6HpTna1KqptUjpRjiA80Bw
