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Recording studio in Joshua Tree, California, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rancho De La Luna is a recording studio in Joshua Tree, California that was founded in 1993 by Fred Drake and David Catching. After Drake's death in 2002, the studio was operated by David Catching and Drake's collaborators Tony Mason, Ted Quinn, Dean Chamberlain, Billy Bizeau and Fred Burke until 2004.[1] It has since doubled as Catching's home, where he serves as engineer, producer, joins as guest musician and cooks for bands.
The studio is cited as everything in it being "weird and wonderful but functional",[2] filled with vintage and new idiosyncratic recording gear and a raw desert vibe curated by studio founders Fred Drake and David Catching .[3]
It is most well known for being the home of the Desert Sessions. (including sessions with Josh Homme, Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider, Dean Ween, Twiggy Ramirez, Joey Castillo, Pete Stahl, Mario Lalli, Troy van Leeuwen, Nick Oliveri, Brant Bjork, Chris Goss, Ben Shepherd, Alfredo Hernandez, David Catching, Brian O'Connor, Jesse Hughes)[4][5][6][7]
According to Catching: "There is something about this studio. Everyone that's been here and recorded here, including me, feels it, so there is something to it. Maybe it's just all the love that's accumulated here from over the years. People do freak out about the drum room: many say it's the best drum sound they have ever gotten—even the engineers."[8]
Catching has talked about the special nature of the studio in multiple sources.[9][10] and due to the pastoral and unique location it is a favorite spot for tech gear spotlights. Many artists have talked about the relaxed and easy nature of the studio, citing the lack of distraction and easy availability of uncommon and interesting instruments as welcoming and unique.[11][12]
Alain Johannes explains: "Everything is the opposite of a, quote-unquote, professional studio: 'What is this – are you sure it's a mic? It looks like a grenade…' You plug it in… find out if it goes off." [13]
In 2016, David Catching and Bingo Richey released a signature brand of Mezcal named after the studio. Built, in part, off of the "consumption" of liquor at the studio for sessions.[15][16][17]
The studio was also the focus of the fifth episode of the Foo Fighters Sonic Highways series [18]
Anthony Bourdain filmed an episode of No Reservations at the Rancho De La Luna.
The studio is also featured heavily in the documentary American Valhalla, which chronicles the creation of the Post Pop Depression record by Iggy Pop and ensuing tour.[19][20]
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