Some days the studios just have that spark — the kind where everything falls perfectly into place. The music, the energy, the people, even the weather being on our side. One of those special days unfolded recently when The Caymans returned to Ayriel Studios to lay down fresh demos for their much-anticipated debut album. With Ayriel associate, producer Sonny Johns at the helm and cameras rolling for a two-part documentary by Mike Banks from RecordProduction.com, and cameraman Tony Parkin, we knew this wasn’t going to be just another session.

The morning kicked off in classic studio style — strong coffee, gear setup, a few notes tinkled on our Steinway, and plenty of laughs — but there was an undeniable buzz in the air. The Caymans, an indie band with serious momentum, were thrilled to be back, roaming the studio grounds like kids in a candy shop before easing into their warm-up.

Sonny started the morning filming with Mike, discussing exactly why he thought Ayriel is such a brilliant space for musicians and their teams. Then it was down to the task at hand — mic placements fine-tuned, amps dialled in, the drum kit locked into position. By mid-morning, the first takes were rolling.

With the documentary crew capturing it all — the high-energy jams, the deep-focus moments in the control room, the stunning natural light, and the sheer magic of a studio set within a National Park.

This was a moment where everything aligned. A band on the cusp, a producer in his element, and a creative atmosphere shaped by the music and the landscape around us. A day to remember then — and now, thanks to Mike and Tony behind the cameras, a moment captured forever.

Description
A combined studio tour / introduction feature of Ayriel Studios; see engineer Sonny Johns recording a band live in one take at the studio. The Caymans were recording some demos at the studio and this is a straight out of the desk live take featured to help showcase the studio. This is such a difficult feature to categorise, partially studio tour, session walkthrough and engineer feature - all rolled in to one! Check out the amazing recording space at Ayriel Studios, lovely accommodation in a beautiful location - SSL ORIGIN console, ATC monitoring, room acoustics by renowned acoustician Chris Walls. This is a lovely studio run by lovely people with lovely sounding recording spaces - highly recommended! Many thanks to Hannah, Simon and Jo at the studio for helping make this feature possible and to Sonny Johns. Big thanks also to Erik Blu2th Griggs for the drone footage and to Tony Parkin for his help with the band recording.

Feature brilliantly captured by Mike Banks: http://www.RecordProduction.com

Mics, Camera, Action!

Ayriel Buzz

Where The Magic Happens