Rohan Solomon at Synergy Audio Productions in Gurugram, Delhi NCR. Photo: Arya Jha
In the heat of Sector 114, Gurugram, you can’t tell which wall of Synergy Audio Productions studio you want to stare at – there’s one that’s got more than 20 quirky signatures of artists like King, Seedhe Maut, Chaar Diwaari, Raga and more. They’ve all been here to record and rave about it.
A few steps to the left, there’s a colorful mural commissioned by the studio’s co-partner, singer-songwriter and producer Rohan Solomon. It runs from floor to ceiling and takes you to Times Square in New York City, where Solomon first started Synergy Audio Productions after working at recording studio Engine Room Audio. But in this version of the mural, Times Square doesn’t have ads and billboards for musicals – there are artworks and visual references to Solomon’s past releases as well as his work with erstwhile New Delhi rock band Cyanide, Star Wars and DC Comics heroes Superman and more, plus his influences ranging from Michael Jackson to Hanson to Blink-182.
It’s all about flavor for Solomon, whether in the choice of gear rigged up in the recording rooms and stacked up in different cabinets or in the visual look and feel of Synergy Audio Productions. Under construction for two years, Solomon says he and his partner in the brand Jeet Suresh Paul took their time to make sure everything was just right before it was time to test it out, becoming accustomed to the rooms and its gear.
Solomon says, “I wanted to create a space for musicians that will create a sense of community. Other than probably the best equipment and engineers in NCR, it is a safe space for musicians to come and make music and feel creative. I believe that creating this vibe will significantly affect the quality of the music being created here and the outcome will reflect that. It is a one-stop-shop for all your recording and post-production needs.”
While there are quite a few recording studios in the Delhi NCR area, the allure of Synergy Audio Productions might be that it’s located a bit far away from the buzz of a sizable population, the smoking balcony overlooking a bit of greenery and an unobstructed horizon.
Then, there’s a relaxing space with gaming consoles, a pool table and yet, classes as part of the Synergy Institute of Music also take place amid these worthy distractions.
Within the studio rooms and around the space, there’s a Kawai upright piano, a Pearl reference drum kit (including snares from DW, Sakae & Pearl), several guitars including Les Pauls, Telecasters, an Orange Tube amplifier, several effect pedals and more than 30 microphones. “We even built our own SubKick Mic specifically for the Kick Drum! We call him Ranjeet. He likes bass,” Solomon says. The microphones, on their own, are the studio’s pride no doubt. There are vintage tube mics like the Neumann M149 and Manley Reference Cardioid. To make sure every recording goes smoothly, they have a full-time electrician on-site who makes sure every cable, every piece of equipment is ready to go when creativity perhaps strikes.
A studio this size and caliber not only draws the artists but also the aspiring sound engineers. Synergy Audio Productions has had a rolling internship program that brings in curious engineers to try their hands in a big studio setting.
Solomon sits in his studio engineer chair, which pulls up to a taped ‘X’ mark for the best sound from 12 monitors and two more in front. He may not reach the headrest of that comfy chair but he does run the place like a seasoned pro. Hearing songs in the now-hot Dolby Atmos mix and more, you can’t help but feel this is the best seat in the house, not that there’s anything wrong with kicking back anywhere else.
But Solomon has no time for that because Synergy Audio Productions is just one of three verticals for the artist and entrepreneur. There’s also the Synergy Institute of Music which teaches music in schools and also hosts in-person sessions at the studio space, plus Synergy Audio Institute where the internships come into play. “We would like to share our knowledge of everything we have learned and experiment with multiple ways of going about production, recording, mixing etc. in order to give our students a wholistic experience. Think of this program like an ‘externship’ where you will be spending a lot of time in the studio,” the Institute’s website says.
