Beginning in 2018, childhood friends Nick Holmes and Kyle Hickey – both 33 -- combined their experience in recording, mixing and mastering with providing opportunities for up-and-coming local musicians to create Occupy Studio, an incubator of dreams, ideas and sound. Recently, Newark Life caught up with them between sessions to hear about their work, their industry and the local music scene.

Newark Life: How did the two of you first meet?

Kyle: We first met in the second grade when we were growing up in Elkton. We played on the same football team football together and gained a passion for working together early on. We eventually became best friends to the point where my mom would drop me off at Nick’s house and his mom would take us to the bus stop in the mornings. We were like brothers.

How did your friendship lead you to eventually getting into the studio recording industry?

Nick: In high school, Kyle became interested in recording both of us playing music with our friends in his mother’s basement, using the Rock Band microphone through his computer. We had a lot of fun, and then Kyle began to get more curious about recording and became more immersed in it through the use of additional software. Kyle then moved to Florida, where he attended the Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology in Orlando. Eventually, I attended the school, as well. Once we had finished school and moved back to Elkton in 2017, we both thought, “Why don’t we open up a music recording studio in Newark?”

Nick: At that time Kyle was expecting this first child and I said “Are you sure man? You’re about to have a baby,” and Kyle said, “Let’s put on a parachute and take the leap!”

Kyle: My daughter was born in December 2017.

Nick: We signed a lease in January 2018, and we opened Occupy Studio in May 2018.

You arrived at Occupy Studio with nearly two decades of collective audio engineering experience. Who did you learn from, and what did they teach you about the recording industry?

Kyle: As far as formal education, the teacher we learned the most from was John LaRosa at the Florida Institute of Recording Sound and Technology. He was an incredible teacher and full of life. He believed in the power of ambition, and he was also extremely talented, and in addition to teaching, he was involved in a lot of projects. We were proud to be under his wing and excelled in his class and he leaned on us. Nick and I have a lot of belief in our abilities, and a lot of that first came when we were learning from John.

Nick: I learned from John that this is a hospitality industry, and the way you treat people and the mood you bring are as equally important – sometimes more important – than the technical aspects of the industry. You are expected to know how to record a vocal, but you’re also expected to treat people well and communicate with them, and if they’re in the studio with you, to take care of their needs. That’s what we bring to Occupy Studio.

When this edition of Newark Life comes out in May, there will be at least one young musician who will read this who believes he or she has musical talent, and moreover, harbors the dream of wanting to lay down tracks of his or her songs. How does Occupy Studio make that dream happen?

Nick: I try to be active in the community, so sometimes we find them and sometimes they find us. We will give a listen to their demos and tell them, ‘This is what we can do for you here at Occupy Studio.’ Once they’re here, we will record, mix, master and collaborate. Collaboration is the best part of a studio like this – being able to work with different people on different kinds of music. Once the recording is complete, we give distribution tips in helping them get their music out into the world.

Kyle: Many times, it comes down to us being able to ask the right questions, and that in turn creates a domino effect that illuminates how we can work proactively to create that person’s art. Asking the right questions comes with experience and we’ve been doing this for a while, so we know what questions to ask, whether it is to a new artist or someone who has been recording for some time.

Who comes to Occupy Studio?

Nick: We have had the pleasure to work with so many people in the music industry -- from Toronto to Los Angeles to Miami. Locally, we work with bands and solo artists that include singer-songwriters, rap musicians and pop singers. We also record audio books and a variety of other projects.

What is the best advice you can give that young musician who is anxious to get out of his or her bedroom and share their music with the world?

Nick: I would encourage them to create through whatever means they have. If they have a big budget and are willing to spend money on the recording of an album at a professional studio like Occupy Studio, then do it. If they only have a $40 microphone and free software at home to work with, then record their songs at home and put them out there for the world, and hopefully begin to make some money and put that money back into your life as an artist.

There was a period in Newark during the 1970s and early 1980s when Newark was a hotbed for emerging musical talent, and much of it was showcased at the Stone Balloon, the Deer Park Tavern and other venues. You are located right on Main Street. Are you seeing any signs of a reemergence of that era in Newark nowadays?

Nick: Just before COVID-19 arrived in 2020, I got the sense that a lot of Newark venues were gatekeeping in terms of their using the same artists over and over again, in order to draw a regular crowd of customers. Now that COVID-19 is over, things are starting to blossom again. I will open up Occupy Studio in the morning and see a flyer promoting an upcoming show under the door, and that is an indicator that there is a grassroots network of musicians doing small shows around town, and I think these businesses are beginning to learn that there is money to be made by showcasing these young artists. I am very optimistic about where the local music scene is headed.

Dr. Dre. Brian Eno. George Martin. Rick Rubin. Don Was. Brian Wilson. Every creative person learns from the masters that work in their same field. What does the best in the music recording and producing industry teach you?

Kyle: Oddly enough, I don’t really draw inspiration from others in the music recording industry. I’ve never been the type to draw inspiration from others, but my inspiration tends to come from just doing it and determining if it works or doesn’t work.

Nick: Philosophically, I respect Rick Rubin’s outlook on the process of making music, which is to get two or three musicians in the room with two or three producers in the room, that works from the framework of ‘Let’s just try this.’ I like keeping an open mind, so if a musician tells me to ‘Can you turn that reverb up?’ I may be reluctant to do so in my mind, but I submit to the artist as if to say, “Let’s just try it,” because something really cool could come out that may change the whole sound of a recording.

What do you both enjoy most about what you do at Occupy Studio?

Kyle: I am so proud to have a place right here on Main Street that people who are looking to further their musical careers don’t have to go off the beaten path to find. I love the fact that we are able to touch so many people in the music community. Some of the people we have employed have gone on to bigger and better things and they have told us that they would not have been able to get to that level without us. Hearing that gratitude and seeing how we’ve changed their lives and career paths for the better is my favorite aspect of this studio.

Nick: I love the fact that we built this studio ourselves with the help of our families. I love that we get to design our own merchandise, design the space, and I love that we have an outlet to express ourselves in a creative way.

What is your favorite spot in Newark?

Nick: I like walking on The Green at the University of Delaware. I also like Little Goat Coffee. Sometimes I am in the studio for as many as 14 hours, so it’s nice to stop in, grab a tea and take a quick mental break.

Kyle: I enjoy walking up and down Main Street and do some people watching.

This is a question for each of you. You throw a dinner party and can invite anyone, living or not, famous or not. Who would you like to see around that table?

Nick: I would want to have a good time and I love comedians, so my idea would be to invite Robin Williams and Jim Carrey. I’m also a big fan of sci-fi, so I’d also like to invite Chewbacca and Yoda.

Kyle: I would invite Jesus and his 12 Disciples. I would like to sit and learn from them and ask questions.

What food or beverage can always be found in your refrigerator?

Kyle: Yogurts and applesauce and homemade lemonade and sweet tea.

Nick: I am a leftovers guy. My girlfriend will bring me leftovers from the dinners she has with her family, so that’s what you will always see in my refrigerator.

Occupy Studio is located at 170 East Main Street in Newark, Del. To learn more, visit www.occupystudio.com, contact (302) 223-4441, or visit them on Facebook and Instagram.

• Richard L. Gaw