Meet Jeremy Daniel: Owner of Cosmic Soup Recording

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeremy Daniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeremy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I made the decision that since I couldn’t work at a commercial recording studio, I was going to create my own recording studio and I was going to make Cosmic Soup Recording a household name. I went to school for audio recording in 2006 and I had every intention of working as an intern at a successful commercial recording studio. I assumed I would work up the ladder into a role as a full time audio engineer / producer. I just figured that this would be the necessary path for my career. Unfortunately it was harder than I thought to get an internship. I didn’t really want to move to Los Angeles or New York and Seattle wasn’t calling be back so I stayed in Phoenix. After trolling around town for years and making contacts, I eventually began working freelance more often. I had a small setup in my mom’s garage that I would record my own projects and record friends as well. Finally one of my best friends suggested I start offering my services online and record new artists from my home. I was a little hesitant to have “strangers” come to my house and I wasn’t sure if they would want to record in a “non traditional” home studio. But I underestimated myself. I’m glad I took in his advice because it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It took awhile to grow my clientele but all my experiences were positive. After a few years, I was able to quit my “day job” and record full time. I didn’t have any training on starting or running a successful business but luckily I was able to learn as I went and was blessed with several great resources. I am still continuing to learn every day.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am not familiar with some of the other recording studios in Phoenix but I am sure they are all unique in their own way. There is definitely plenty of work for everyone, so I never felt a sense of competition. But hopefully what sets me apart from them is me!! I have always enjoyed a sense of community. My goal was to always create an environment that the artist could feel comfortable in. If I really connect with an artist or band, I want to help them all the way through the project. Sometimes that is helping with production, artwork, distribution, marketing, videos, booking and performance. Sometimes it’s just creating a vibe. I just like to help people. It hasn’t been easy to get to where I am. Only a handful of clients are really dedicated and take their music seriously. Some of them need more coaching then others and most of them are unprepared. But even though there are challenges, the clients that are dedicated and prepared, make it all worth it. When I first started, I struggled with knowing how much to charge and when to raise my rates and for who to raise my rates. As a matter of fact, I still struggle with it. I continue to work with artists that have been recording with me since the garage days. That’s over 6 years!! That loyalty means so much to me that regardless of what place I am in, I still want to offer the best quality for the most affordable price. That has been my mission statement since I started.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Well the first place we would go would be Cosmic Soup Recording. Then I would let them know that we would be doing a lot of driving. I love Phoenix because it is so beautiful and spread out. I would love to spend a day driving through Sedona and Jerome. Amazing scenery and fun little stops along the way. Plus when we get there, we could enjoy the little shops and places to eat. Next we would spend a day going through Scottsdale and Tempe. I think they are both hip and vibrant and the people are fascinating to watch. There are plenty of bars and breweries so I’m sure we would have a few drinks and Uber around. Hopefully one of the nights my friend is in town one of my bands would have a show. No Composure and Torn at the Seam play out at least once a month and always love playing with friends. If not, I’m sure one of my favorite local bands would have a show somewhere. Local music is definitely a huge part of my life so I would want my friend to experience it as well. Yucca Taproom, Rips and Rebel Lounge are all huge part of the culture and music scene. Finally, West Gate or Desert Ridge are both nice outdoor shopping centers with plenty of things to do around them. I’m pretty certain my friend would love visiting Phoenix.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my Mother and my Wife and my greats Friends!! Without them, there wouldn’t be a Cosmic Soup Recording. My Mother for her patience and tolerance. My Wife for her ideas, wisdom and encouragement. My Friends for the passion and motivation. I was able to take Cosmic Soup from a garage to a commercial facility without any employees, just the support of my family and friends.