Lucky Dog Studios

Recording studios in Atlanta are many in number to say the least. What we don’t find too often is a studio that is passionate about teaching the art of production to students of all ages.

We found that studio and it is run by Brian Johnson through the Peggy Still School of Music. Brian and I talked earlier this year and he mentioned making the studio and making it accessible to the students as well as the public. He did what he said and they made a gorgeous studio in Alpharetta.

Listen here as Brian talks about the studio and more and then join us on September 29th for the grand opening!

All artists are students at PSSM. All songs recorded, mixed and mastered in studio by Joe Kay, with producers Heber Pampillon on A Dying Breed and Courtney Rinehart on Home.

Home by Maddie Fornaris. 16 year old singer/songwriter. The song that inspired the studio and it’s name. Bouncy, New Orleans-name dropping charmer with a bumping tuba line written by PSSM teacher/producer Courtney Rinehart. Working on an EP in Lucky Dog set for release later this fall. Part of PSSM’s Artist Development program.

Misconception by Jordan Keim. Another 16 year old singer/songwriter with huge promise. Finalist in a recent Topblip.com contest. Nashville-ready pop song with great lyrics. Former student of local Atlanta music boss Diane Durrett.

Gravity by Sarah Barielles, vocal cover by Elyse Bell. 9 year old singer. Recent finalist of Atlanta Parent magazine’s summer talent show. Huge vocals from a beautiful young lady. The sustained note in this clip kills everyone, every single time. Working on other vocal covers over pre-recorded backing tracks in Lucky Dog for her personal talent portfolio.

A Dying Breed by Starting Fires – More teen girls, this time a band of four. Mature, thoughtful lyrics over layers of dreamy coolness. A very distinctive sound and fresh style.

Studio manager and lead engineer

Joe Kay has learned the art of music production through 15 years of experience on “both sides of the glass”.  As a songwriter and artist, Joe has recorded and performed extensively as both a solo artist and as a member of bands such as Fiksate, Narc, Monte Casino, and Summer Dare.  Joe attended San Francisco State University and learned the skills of production through the well-respected MRI (Music Recording Industry) Program.  He went on to work in various Bay Area recording studios, including a 5- year stint co-founding, operating, and producing out of Faultline Studios. Currently Joe enjoys working at Ionian Sound (North Atlanta), Gasworks (Midtown) and Lucky Dog Studios (Alpharetta).

Joe also enjoyed 7 years as an employee of Digidesign (now Avid), creator of the industry-standard production platform Pro Tools.  He was involved in the development of Pro Tools HD and ICON, both game-changing products in the industry.  Later on, Joe became a Digidesign Certified Training Instructor and educated hundreds of Pro Tools users from around the globe.  

Joe is a certified Avid Pro Tools Expert, Avid ICON Expert, and participating member of the Audio Engineers Society (AES).