Alan Jarvis---Recording Studio

Alan is Canadian but was born in London, England.  Like a million other teenagers, he started playing acoustic guitar and singing Beatles songs when he was sixteen.  He began writing songs around the same time and he has now written more than 300.   

He started performing at solo gigs with just an acoustic guitar, then for many years was a member of a folk trio called "Breakaway" tackling 3-part harmonies on songs by the Eagles, America, Poco and Simon & Garfunkel.  After taking a break to focus on his business career, and a young family, he sang and played lead guitar for seven years in a very successful rock and roll cover band called "Platinum".

For more than 30 years, Alan has written and recorded music, starting on the kitchen table with a cheap condensor microphone and a portable cassette tape player.  Over the years he has steadily upgraded his home studio equipment and he now records everything on a MacPro using Logic Pro software.  He plays acoustic and electric guitars, piano and keyboards. 

He has built a custom-designed recording studio in Guelph, Ontario where he lives.  He writes and records his own CDs as well as producing music for singer/songwriters and duos who want to record just one song, backing tracks for live performances or a whole CD.

To learn more about using the studio for your own recording, contact Alan at alan@squishymusic.com.

August 2015

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? 

I was born in London, England but my family emigrated to South Africa when I was a teenager.  I lived there for many years before emigrating to Canada in 1988 with my wife and two daughters.  Canada has been our home ever since.

 WHAT MADE YOU REALIZE THAT MUSIC WAS YOUR PATH?  

When I was 11 years old, I started singing along with 45rpm singles on our record player.  I got an acoustic guitar when I turned 16 and I've been singing, performing, writing and recording ever since.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MUSIC THAT YOU TYPICALLY CREATE? 

Easy listening pop, including ballads, rock and roll, folk, instrumentals and theme music.  I focus a lot on melody as I believe that is the heart and soul of any song.

WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES? 

Dan Fogelberg, Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, Bryan Adams, Barry Manilow, Eagles, Simon & Garfunkel, Beatles, Beth Nielsen Chapman.  They are all great songwriters and excellent musicians.  

WHAT MAKES YOUR MUSIC UNIQUE? 

I try not to copy any artist or style which I hope makes my music unique.  I am sure there are influences in there somewhere but I just let it flow - with the emphasis on writing a strong melody.

HAS THERE BEEN A PARTICULAR MOMENT IN YOUR MUSICAL CAREER THAT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF? 

With each new CD I make, I try to improve my skills in arranging, recording and mixing.  With that in mind, I think my new CD, "Endless Summer", is my best project so far.

WHAT'S NEXT?  

I never stop writing songs, so that's one of my regular activities.  I am hoping to generate interest in my recording studio from solo artists or duos.  I now have the equipment, and the experience, to be able to produce a high quality product for other musicians.