Pickled Egg Studio

Music Duo Opening New Recording Studio

“Some of the best studios are not the prettiest rooms” says Bernie Wolski, one half of the Pickled Egg Studio. You may know Wolski and his wife, Jennifer Swistun-Wolski, from The Thirsty Monks, but now the pair have teamed up for their newest musical venture: a fully functioning recording studio in the comfort of their home, complete with a giant jar of pickled eggs. Swistun-Wolski carried on her love of pickled eggs from her beloved times at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 5, a favourite spot for the couple to listen to music and see the community.

Recording, mixing, mastering, and engineering albums are no cheap endeavour, and the couple are fighting back industry standards with their affordable packages. According to Wolski, most studios will charge a band or artists upwards of $1,000 per song recorded, and a fully recorded album could run around $30,000. For any beginner artists, or an artist’s first album, $30,000 of debt impacts their ability to continue producing and releasing music.

“It’s about doing something to ensure the music community, wherever we’re living, is doing well and has product,” says Wolski. “We’ve played with multiple groups, and during university we met Mike Posthumus, who would record bands in his garage for cheap. It inadvertently made us better musicians.” Carrying on the tradition of encouraging artists to create and share their music inspired the couple to bring the passion project to Thunder Bay. “There’s a phenomenal array of artists in this city, people like Clay Breiland, Honest Heart Collective, Greenbank, and novice artists too,” explains Swistun-Wolski.

“We are starting out green as a studio, but we have the experience, and our engineer Chris Dorota,” says Swistun-Wolski. The couple renovated the basement of their new house, including sound proofing, insulation, and decor, and created a live room with hand-carved knotted pine imported from Wolski’s family resort in Germany. Using wood “gives a warm sound,” explains Wolski, and the space has been created to resemble a 1970s cottage. Fully equipped with a kitchenette, furniture, and a bathroom, the space is perfect for a weekend stint of living, breathing, and making music. After a year and a half of building, the studio hopes to open its doors at the end of May.

“Everyone thinks you need the fanciest studio and it’s not true” says Wolski, and so the Pickled Egg’s, lived-in, homey atmosphere is in full effect, in order for artists to focus on the time they’re spending recording. Although the duo does not offer mastering services, they are more than happy to share their musical connections with bands to take the next step. You can even expect to be fed during sessions, Swistun-Wolski jokes. Already lined up to record are The Bay Street Bastards and The Pint Smasher.

Wolski reminds us that Israel Kamakawiwo’ole recorded his massively popular version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” on a whim, in one take–a good reminder to musicians that sometimes all you need is one good take.

For booking or more information email pickledeggstudio@gmail.com and follow Pickled Egg Studio on Instagram and facebook.

“Everyone thinks you need the fanciest studio and it’s not true.“