Picture this: a dynamic creative hub in West London. This is SARM Music Village. It’s a place with a history as rich and vibrant as the music created within its walls.
SARM Music Village stands on Ladbroke Grove. It is just off the famous Portobello Road. This location is no accident. It places the studios at the heart of London’s creative energy.
Originally, SARM began in 1973 in East London. Gary Lyons and Barry Ainsworth founded it. They used an acronym of their business name. In 1982, it expanded. Jill Sinclair and Trevor Horn bought Basing Street Studios. They renamed it SARM West Studios. The original became SARM East Studios.
Trevor Horn is a Grammy-winning producer. In 2022, his company sold SARM Music Village to Three Six Zero. Three Six Zero is a global artist management company.
The studios have undergone extensive refurbishment. Three Six Zero invested heavily in transforming the facility. The goal was to create a modern, dynamic space. It honors the studio’s legendary past.
SARM Music Village boasts five boutique pop studios. They have a mix of vintage and modern gear. There is also a luxurious listening lounge and exclusive office suites. Natural daylight floods each studio.
The Red Studio is perfect for mixing and vocal tracking. It features a large Genelec 2.2 system. John Flynn designed the acoustics. It also includes vintage outboard gear. The iconic Neve 1073 preamp stands out. A Yamaha U1A upright piano completes the space.
The Blue Studio houses an SSL AWS console. Custom speakers designed by Roger Quested fill the room. Again, John Flynn handled the acoustics. A vintage Bechstein upright piano adds character. It dates back to 1893.
The Yellow Studio has a vocal booth. An upright piano sits ready for songwriters. The Green Studio is ideal for writing and vocal tracking.
A standout feature is the bespoke listening lounge. It seats 20 people. It’s outfitted with a high-end AV system. This includes Focal Trio 11 monitors and Pioneer CDJ300s. It is perfect for album playbacks and events.
SARM’s history includes hosting sessions for superstar artists. One Direction, Dua Lipa and Kylie Minogue have all recorded here. Stormzy and many more have graced these studios.
SARM West played a vital role in music history. In 1984, Band Aid recorded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” there. Boy George even flew in from New York. He arrived straight from the Concorde flight to record his vocals.
Today, SARM Music Village continues this legacy. It provides a space where artists can create. It’s a place where music history continues to be written. It’s not just a studio. It’s a village where music comes to life.