Illinois Entertainer June 2014 | Page 52

ESU: STUDIO AND LABEL HYBRID ESU Studios E SU RECORDING in Chicago took over the space of a former blues studio on the Northside and gave it a modern touch while keeping its grassroots karma. IE spoke with studio producer/engineer and founder Adam Cozzini about his blueprint for his space. "The studio blends an old school vibe with a modern spin and this carries forth to the label (ESU Records) as well." Cozzini's knowledge of music lent itself to creating a facility that can record a vintage blues or rockabilly, a modern rock band, and every genre in 52 illinoisentertainer.com june 2014 between. "I personally enjoy music from the '50s through the '70s and developed my interest in music by picking up guitar when I was younger and playing along to old recordings. It has been a joy to work with the artists that I am currently working with because we all share similar musical tastes. ESU Studios (not the original name of the studio; it was an anonymous project facility) was previously a blues recording studio that I took over from a previous owner. We specialize in blues, rock and soul music, but we will be working with artists in other genres as well." Combining an independent music label (launched in in 2008) with the studio is band consists of John Checuga, Jim giving Cozzini a chance to release music Bashaw and Phil Armato. Checuga and from bands he finds commercially viable Bashaw are former co-fouding and origiand sonically fulfilling. "The label was nal members of Chicago's Mind always the goal; I was lucky to find a suit- Bomb/Daisy Chain, (Polygram). The EP of penned original hard able