We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Grant Meyer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Grant, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

As digital technology has developed over the last 20 years recording has become more accessible and democratized. This is easy to witness with the rise of “creators” and DIY home video and audio recording. You can also think of the “bedroom pop” aesthetic in music, which often features a restrained vocal style reminiscent of singing in a bedroom rather than on stage in front of an audience.

We have responded to these changes by embracing a DIY ethos and prioritizing adaptability. At various points we have found new ways of accomplishing a task or fulfilling a role “in-house” without needing to hire out work. Recently, for example, we started recording and producing videos ourselves for clients. We didn’t have much equipment or experience with video, but once you get started it’s easy to learn on the way. From our perspective, large recording studios with high overheads are obsolete, but there is still a need for smaller creative spaces that can produce professional quality material while accommodating a client’s needs and budget.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Peter and Grant meet as freshman at Brown University and shared a love for music and jazz. After earning bachelors and masters in music, they decided to start a recording studio in 2018. Short Stack started as a DIY operation as the team lived and worked out of a loft apartment. Those first years allowed them to build expertise and our low overhead enabled us to reinvest earnings in the business.

In 2021 we moved into our new space, which runs out of a 24/7 commercial building in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Our main live room features 12’ ceilings, hardwood floors, and plenty of space. We have multiple isolated spaces for overdubbing and live recording situations. Our main control room features a Neve 5106 console and a large assortment of recording equipment and instruments.

As musicians, we pride ourselves in having wide-ranging musical expertise. Clients may need post-production services or they might need a guitar player to help build out a song. We can also compose and arrange music for clients and are always open to new ideas. Outside of the studio, Peter and Grant gig as musicians and teach music.

Short Stack NY is a space for musicians to realize their creative visions. By providing a variety of recording services and wide-ranging musical expertise, we invite musicians of all backgrounds to work and collaborate in our studios. We’re available for long and short term projects of all types.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

In the first months of our studio, we wanted to grow our presence in the New York Music scene and build out our social media. We decided to produce some “in-studio” videos of artists we knew or at least sort of knew. These videos were free for the artists and branded as “Short Stack Sessions.” Especially in retrospect, we feel that this was a very successful venture. The videos spread and introduced us to new clients. The artists involved appreciated the free content and they connected us to their networks. It has been satisfying that they are nice pieces of media with replay value. The videos are able to stay on our online platforms long-term and serve as proof that we have been around the New York block.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Peter and Grant are very active in the New York music scene broadly. I think that in music, plurality is a strength, one’s different projects and accomplishments build on top of each other even if they might seem unrelated.

Importantly, Short Stack is a very social enterprise. There is a community surrounding the studio and we have made efforts to hold parties and other events that are just for fun. In June we held a formal “gala” that was certainly goofy but very entertaining. We are currently gearing up for a big 5-year anniversary party this fall.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shortstack.nyc/
• Instagram: @shortstackny
• Facebook: Short Stack NY
• Youtube: @shortstackny6861