Virginia Beach, VA (March 21, 2019)—Recording/mixing engineer and event coordinator Josh Haddad has purchased Timothy ‘Timbaland’ Mosley’s Thomas Crown Studio complex, designed by WSDG Walters-Storyk Design Group, renaming it Virginia Beach Recording Arts.
“Timbaland’s long-standing collaboration with legendary engineer Jimmy Douglass, and their incredible track record with artists like Kanye West, Missy Elliott, Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake, coupled with the fact that the studio has a WSDG Walters-Storyk Design Group pedigree, convinced me that high-caliber artists would continue wanting to record in these great-sounding rooms,” says Haddad, who returned to Virginia Beach, his hometown, last July following a 10-year residence in Chicago.
“I called John Storyk before I completed the purchase negotiations; he provided me with schematics, and with insights into design innovations and other details that greatly informed our due diligence. John’s enthusiastic commitment to a studio he created over a decade ago confirmed my faith in its hit-making potential,” he adds.
Haddad connected with recording/mixing engineer Andrew Coleman who is now his mentor/gear guru and freelance engineer/co-pilot. “A longtime Neptunes/Pharrell Williams, engineer, and multi-Grammy winner, Andrew quickly brought in some initial dates that, number one, got us moving in the right direction and, number two, are helping us get the word out that the Virginia Beach Recording Arts vibe is the real deal,” Haddad says.
“We’ve already held successful sessions for Pusha T and his GOOD Music label artist, Cartel. Top producer/multi-instrumentalist, Chad Hugo had a photo session and interview here. And we’re working with local hip-hop artists Rich KRK, Backpack Johnny and Rozwell Fitzroy and with country artist Chase Payne.”
Virginia Beach Recording Arts is a 6,756-sq.-ft. two-story destination studio offering the Cavalier Studio live room and control room outfitted with a Neve VR 72 console. The Tangier Studio Block hosts mixing, mastering and overdubs and includes a writing/editing suite. A substantial collection of musical instruments, mics, outboard gear, a guest bedroom, kitchen and lounge complete the profile.
“I was very pleased to learn that Josh Haddad was committed to keeping this studio from being ‘re-purposed’ as a tattoo parlor,” says Storyk. “We’ve always been extremely proud of the terrific music that Timbaland created in those rooms. Virginia Beach attracts many musicians and recording artists, and we’re certain that Josh and his team will keep the music flowing from his new Virginia Beach Recording Arts studio.”
WSDG • www.wsdg.com
