Realgrey Records

12/27/2024

Another masterpiece by Chris Laco and Summit Drums commissioned by . Stand by! 15 x 8 custom snare

12/23/2024

What a beautiful celebration of friendships realized at the studio over the years! Thanks to all who attended.

12/20/2024

Molly Kopan’s BYS inter and her scratch session went great tonight. She’s the featured artist January 13

12/09/2024

and have these day long organic marathon sessions that always feel so good. John’s all about committing on the way in. Gets us close to the mix right out the gate! James is a great player w/ an exceptional voice. So gratifying to track! Stayed in tune.

12/06/2024

My 103 year old mom is in her last hours. My brother David got the call from Hospice today. We’ve gathered here in Mt. Vernon to see how it goes. She’s rallied before. Tonight we’re just “standing by” … hoping that soon she can enter into well deserved peace.

12/02/2024

Andrea Nicole King has shown outrageous amounts of fortitude and diligence over the last 6 months. After this weekend’s sessions with And we counted 15 different musicians and engineers have poured themselves into every session. Last night was the last session. I’m a little sad about that, but at the same time I’m really honored to be invited into Andrea’s music. Thanks to all the session players who have shown up for her. Stay tuned.

11/27/2024

Jamie Brantley was in this week for a listening review of he’s solo work. He to moved here from Nashville. He’s been on the road w/ as musical director and road manager for quite a while. He was pleased w/ how his mixes translated on our PhantomFocus system

11/25/2024

How 'bout some Monday Morning Inspiriation ... Just killer ...

Experience the incredible talent of Jonah Nilsson from Dirty Loops as he delivers an electrifying keyboard-only performance of their hit song 'Hit Me.' With ...

11/17/2024

Josh Ge**er has racked up 3 drum sessions in 2 days. is about to drop a mother load of music in the next few months. Drum days are good days!! Much love Josh!

11/17/2024

When is a Song Really Finished?

Hi, I’m Ron Flack, partner at Realgrey Records. Every day, I talk with songwriters and recording artists who are wrestling with their music. And honestly, I’m one of them. Our stories, our songs—they matter. They have the power to heal, connect, and bring clarity to life’s chaos.

But let’s be real—finishing a song can feel impossible sometimes. You’ve got fragments of melodies, lyrics scribbled in notebooks, voice memos full of half-baked ideas. How do you know which ideas are worth shaping? How do you decide when a song is ready to be shared—or if you’ve worked it so much that you’ve lost what made it special in the first place?

Here’s what I’ve learned, for myself and from others:

Gather the Pieces: Take time to review your ideas. Spread them out like puzzle pieces on the table—old voice memos, lyrics, chord progressions. You might find that two ideas you thought were separate actually belong together. Or maybe you’ll rediscover something that hits differently today than when you first wrote it.

Ask “Why Does This Matter?” Not every idea needs to be finished. Focus on the ones that feel urgent—songs that won’t leave you alone until you get them out. Those are the ones worth the work.

Decide When It’s Done: A song is “done” when it feels true to the moment you created it for. Don’t overthink every word or note—perfection can strip away authenticity. Trust your gut. If it makes you feel something, it’s going to make someone else feel something, too.

Don’t Work Alone: Sharing unfinished ideas is scary, but it can make all the difference. Whether it’s a co-writer, a producer, or a trusted friend, other perspectives can help you hear things you can’t on your own.

I get it—taking that next step isn’t easy. Life’s challenges have a way of creeping into the process. Sometimes, they stop us in our tracks. But here’s the thing: music is therapy—not just for you, but for the people who will hear your song.

I’ve been through my share of struggles, and I’m still working through them. But I’ve seen firsthand how putting my thoughts and feelings into music helps me make sense of things. And when I share those songs, I realize I’m not alone—and neither are you.

Your story matters. Your music matters. Take the leap. Finish the song. You never know who needs to hear it—or how much you might need to write it.

Let’s keep creating. Let’s keep sharing.

-Ron

Pictured is Ryan Baker. You might only know him as the most dependable sound man on the planet. He's also a killer bass player and writer himself. Blessed to count him a friend.

11/17/2024

So you got that fancy ass capo! Here's a cheat sheet and some tips on how to use it! https://realgrey.com/index.php/home/post/realgrey-visits-porchrokr

11/16/2024

Drum session in progress. Josh, and Veno Xavier. To know these guys is to love these guys. will be mixing and mastering. Stoked to hear the outcome. .rsnaudio at the console.

11/15/2024

Today was a landmark session for the studio and for me as a human. Singer/songwriter Andrea Nicole King is working on the finishing touches of a full length. Today we worked on her final vocals. For the geeks among us, we used a U87 mic pointed at our Focusrite 428 pre > Warm Audio WA24 followed by the Warm Audio WA76. We also had a SM7b setup with the capsules aligned and repeated the same signal flow. 2 choices. VRS to CHS ... we'll see.

One thing is for certain, Andrea brought it home today. The depth of her lyric was poignant. We found ourselves laughing and crying in the same sentences.

The paradox of such beauty being the results of life's unpredictable journey. Andrea's masterful lyrical content presented through her beautiful spirit and voice ... packs a punch to say the least.

What a privilege to be trusted with her art, her story, her journey. We're so excited to share it with you as it becomes available later this fall.

In the mean time check out her last project recorded in LA prior to making her way home. This Akron native, as you will hear, is a true gift to our region. Please give it a listen.

Artist · 45 monthly listeners.