Tenvolt co-founder Stephen K. Donnelly has been a "fixture" on the Ottawa music scene for years. Originally writing and recording for Ten Miles High (who played their debut show at One Step Beyond in the 80's), he then moved on to guitar, backing vocals and co-writing in seminal indie rockers Mystic Zealots, and spent 10 years (occasionally relapsing) doing electric bass, guitar, mandolin and some lead vocals in celtic-rock band Jimmy George.
Currently he is a member of The Kingmakers and
Ninety Pounds of Ugly, as well as sitting in on upright bass (mostly) with artists such as Ray Harris, Uncle Sean, Lynne Hanson, Trevor Alguire, Maxim Cossette and more.
Philosophy
Steve has recorded many places over the years including local studios Little Bullhorn, Raven Street, Sound of One Hand, as well as at historic SUN Studio in Memphis and Cowboy Jack Clement's Recording Arms and Spa in Nashville. This experience forms the Tenvolt Audio philosophy: while decent equipment certainly doesn't hurt (and there are obviously studios with much better equipment),
a recording is more about the song, the performer, and a bunch of intangibles including spontaneity, originality, energy, performance, atmosphere, skill and luck.
Albums such as Cowboy Junkies "Trinity Sessions" and early SUN Studio recordings prove that a great recording can be made with as little as one microphone, given the right material and performance. Please contact us to discuss your recording needs, we'll be the first to tell you if it sounds like your goals would be better realized somewhere else.
Recording Clients/Projects
• Lefty McRighty "Nashville Roadkille" CD - recording, mixing, mastering, co-production (with the support of the Ontario Arts Council) (April 2012 release)
• Sick Sick Sicks CD - recording, mixing, mastering, co-production (April 2012 release)
• Laguna "The Intro Is The Chorus" CD - recording, mixing, mastering, production (April 2012 release)
• Ray Harris "Poorly Kept Secrets" CD - recording, mixing, mastering, co-production)
• Huntley Slim "Make Work Project" EP - recording, mixing, mastering
• The Kingmakers "Last Night In Nashville" - overdubs, mixing, mastering - nominated for best roots/blues album of 2010 in Ottawa XPress
• Ray Harris "West Virginia Coal Mine" single (record/mix/master, upright bass, backing vox, percussion) as well as various demos
• Uncle Sean and the Shifty Drifters "Drinkin' Ramblin' Honky Tonkin'" CD - record/mix/master/upright bass/lap steel/harmony vox - 2010 - nominated best roots/blues album of 2010 in Ottawa XPress - 5 Star review in Country Music People (UK)
• Ninety Pounds of Ugly "Richmond Hotel Room #3" (winner of 2009 Best of Ottawa award, reached #3 on national folk/roots/blues chart) . Recorded, mixed, mastered, upright bass, backing vox, pedal steel, acoustic guitar, co-wrote)
• Friends of Steve "Staggering Work of Heartbroken Genius" CD (record/mix/master/artwork/all instruments/vocals)
• Slo' Tom - new material for demo/possible new album (record/mix/guitar/bass/drums/pedal steel)
• Lynne Hanson - demos for grant application (record/mix/master)
• Bible All-Stars Pretty Down There CD (remix/master)
• Ray Harris "East End West End North End South End" (mastering, recorded/mixed 3 songs, upright bass, pedal steel, harmonica)
• The Kingmakers "Tupelo To Memphis" (recording / mastering / upright bass / backing vox / co-writing) (runner-up for Best roots/blues album of 2009 in Ottawa XPress, reached #6 on national folk/roots/blues chart)
• The Kingmakers "Live at SUN Studio" (overdubs / mixing / mastering / upright bass / backing vox / co-writing)
• The Lowbellies CD (recorded except drums, mixed, mastered, electric bass, backing vox)
• Laguna "Looking Forward To Trying Your Stupid Idea" (mixed, mastered, co-engineered, songwriting, guitar, vox)
• Sawdogs CD (recording, mixing, mastering, mandolin)
• Jimmy George (2 CD's, bass, mandolin, co-writing, some vocals, recorded at Raven Street and Sound of One Hand)
• Plank "Checking for Nerve Damage" cassette (record, mix, master, artwork)
• Pigout demos (featuring Jim Bryson; record, mix, master)
For a list of sample equipment please click here
Contact us to discuss your audio recording, mixing or mastering needs.
For CD artwork design see our Design page
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TenVolt Audio > Recording and Mixing