Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Tolley.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Clarity officially started in 2012 when I moved into my current space with a handful of musicians and bandmates. I’d been recording demos for my own music since high school and loved it, so it always felt like something I could gravitate to as a job. After high school, I toured with a handful of bands for about ten years, and over that decade accumulated a fair amount of musical gear. Once I realized it was something I wanted to do seriously, I began investing every spare dollar I had into recording gear and noise-making toys, and Clarity kind of took on a life of its own to eventually become what it is today.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As pretty much any musician will tell you, life in the industry is not easy. It’s not intensely rewarding financially without a lot of hardship and patience, and I’d already had a ton of experience with that on the road for several years before Clarity kicked off.
I’ve worked as an independent web developer and graphic designer alongside my music career for my entire life and have been lucky enough to make enough to keep doing what I love. The biggest obstacle when actually starting to do the studio thing was finding and convincing artists to want to come and bring their music to life with me over and over. There are a ton of studios in San Diego, so you have to be able to help develop artists and bring their vision to life while pushing them to new places they may not have known they were capable of. I can honestly say that my favorite part of running Clarity has been the opportunity to play and write music with so many people every day of my life.
Please tell us about Clarity Recordings. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I guess I’ve always had a reputation as the band guy who was meticulous about every possible detail. Touring for years tends to turn you into a well-oiled machine of a musician, and by the time I started Clarity, I knew what my standards for myself and my bandmates were, so applying that to my studio was second nature. I like to keep a pretty loose atmosphere while still encouraging the best performance possible. You can usually expect a baseball game on TV, video games in the distance, and non-stop jokes or jabs about life proficiency in the most sarcastic way possible.
Clarity specializes in offering any band the opportunity to record a commercial-grade record with high-quality industry-standard gear without the pressure of a commercial facility and the day rates that come with it. Everything is flat-rate and quotes rarely ever get adjusted after the fact. I’d like to think that I offer some of the best pricing in town to go with a ton of personal investment and heart in every project I take on.
Our gear selection is absurd. We’re probably known for that as well, and it’s absolutely something I’m the most proud of. Tons of amps and cabs, an entire couch worth of pedals, a dozen synths and drum machines, and more guitars and basses than anyone could ever need. I’m constantly adding to the collection, and it has long since taken over the entire house. Come see it for yourself.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Related to Clarity: I would wake up every morning with my mom rehearsing piano for a performance or teaching lessons to any one of a couple of dozen students. I’d also (try to) fall asleep to a giant three-step Rodgers organ against my bedroom wall as my mom entertained friends.
Unrelated to Clarity: My aunt and uncle both worked for KFMB and I spent 3-4 years straight at Qualcomm Stadium taking in as much baseball as possible. I played as a kid, and it was my life for the longest time.
Considering the baseball paraphernalia also scattered around the gear collection here, I guess they’re both related to Clarity after all.
Pricing:
- Full-production recording from $500/song with discounted rates given for three, seven, and ten songs.
- Day-rates are $250/day for eight hours, discounted slightly for three or more consecutive days.
- Complete live performance tracking with 1080p video and production for $300/song or $600/three.
- Drum tracking starting at $100/song complete with edits and production.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.clarityrecordings.com
- Phone: 619-961-7342
- Email: studio@clarityrecordings.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/clarityrecordings
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarityrecordings
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