Deepak Ram

The international recording star works with Ursa Minor to facilitate his creativity.

When international recording artist Deepak Ram, and world music label Goldenhorn Records needed a studio to meet their unique recording requirements, they relied on word-of-mouth recommendations and reputation to align themselves with the best recording partner.

Ursa Minor was chosen and not only lived up to its creative reputation, but just as importantly, its much-acclaimed customer service philosophy and ability to work effectively with recording artists.

Since the initial recording in 2002 a long-term relationship has developed with a continuous flow of projects that include recording, mixing and mastering of Deepak Ram’s music. The most recent project, a North Indian Classical Album to be released in 2006 was fulfilled with the same ease and professionalism as the past four albums.

“When you discover a recording studio that works for and with you then you don’t let it go. A company that has an affinity with the kind of music you produce is hard to find. The thing I love most about Ursa Minor is the creative music team. They are not tense and anxious and they make me feel comfortable,” explains Deepak. “I can just pick up the phone anytime and call them which is especially important during remixing.”

Deepak Ram is an international artist known for his excellence in North Indian classical music. Since 1975 he has been studying, performing and recording evocative music that is unmatched in this genre. His music is described as ‘mysterious and haunting’ and he is widely sought after to collaborate with musicians on a variety of music compositions.

“It is a privilege to work with a musician of Deepak’s caliber,” exclaims Benjamin De Pauw, CEO of Ursa Minor. “We are proud that he finds Ursa Minor’s studios to be the ideal recording base. We are sensitive to the fact that Deepak flies in from far away to record in our studio and we aim to provide the most comfortable and creative environment for crafting his music.”

No one can define ‘creative’ but we all know it when it's present.

For the latest album, Deepak flew in from Boston and was joined by guest musicians. These guests are also world famous and there is an enormous level of prestige surrounding them. They are the dominant players in this genre, and the facilities and environment provide them with the opportunity to excel in their playing. Ursa Minor, mindful of the creative atmosphere required by these musicians, paid particular attention to the set up of the studio.

“We concentrated on the lighting and the décor to enhance the vibe of the recording experience. The studio was primed with candles and a kind of altar to assist the musicians in feeling at ease and to aid them in attaining the trance like state they desire when playing,” details Robin Livingston, Ursa Minor’s Operations Manager.

“In addition, we set up the studio and the microphones prior to the arrival of the musicians unlike other studios which tend to set up from the billing time. This is important to us as we believe it should be about the quality of the entire experience, not just about ‘billing time’.”

During the recording Ursa Minor maximized the time spent in the studio by multitasking. The music was recorded to multiple sources and mixed during the session to give the musicians an instant sense of what the take would sound like when completed.

Special consideration was paid to mixing the music in the headphones. The musicians are familiar with performing in the same space and once in the studio they have glass walls between them. To overcome this sensation Ursa Minor mixed the multiple music channels via headphones to simulate the live experience.

“Quality equipment is one thing and we provide a high end ProTools environment. The difference Ursa Minor presents is the combination of the equipment and the skill of musical ears,” explains De Pauw. “Our producers are also accomplished musicians and able to provide not only flawless technical engineering but are also able to discuss the music fluently with the musicians.”

Deepak reflects on this combination, “I love the studio, it is a nice environment to record in. Compared to other spaces I have experienced or visited, this is the one I find the most attuned to my work. But mostly I like working with the people. This is really important to me.”

Continuing Success

With the music industry in rapid transformation and a steady stream of companies coming and going, to stand tall amongst the maze is a great achievement. Ursa Minor’s unique qualities that have ensured their success include their broad capabilities and their ability to cater to the upper echelon of artists.

Most recording labels use different suppliers for recording, mixing and mastering. Ursa Minor can provide all of these, enabling a comprehensive service to clients. In addition, as a media company Ursa Minor’s capabilities extend past audio, to include print, video, CGI, web and marketing expertise. This combination of skills is rare and very effective for managing full-service projects.

Ursa Minor embraces the mentality that every client deserves a ‘fine dining’ experience. “We provide a premium service, going above and beyond the project requirements to anticipate what the needs of the client are and then we aim to exceed them,” explains Livingston. “We apply extreme care, diplomacy and thought to each client relationship.”

It is testimony to the quality of Ursa Minor that long-term return clients of Deepak Ram’s caliber should continue to develop their artistry with the media company.