FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Acclaimed indie rock act Multi Ultra chosen as featured artist for METalliance® “In Session” event at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, May 18 & 19
Indie rock act Multi Ultra, recent winners of the Music City Mayhem contest, thrown yearly by Nashville’s Lightning 100 (100.1 FM WRLT), will serve as the recording subjects for the two-day event, allowing attendees to learn firsthand from award-winning engineers/producers George Massenburg, Jimmy Douglass, Sylvia Massy and Niko Bolas
NASHVILLE, TN, April 9, 2024 – The METalliance (Music Engineering and Technology Alliance), the preeminent association of award-winning audio engineers/producers, recently announced that Nashville-based indie rock act Multi Ultra will serve as the recording subjects at the upcoming “In Session” event on May 18-19 at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, TN. The acclaimed band were the 2023 winners of the Music City Mayhem contest, thrown yearly by Nashville’s Lightning 100 (100.1 FM WRLT). Attendees to the two-day event will get the chance to learn firsthand from award-winning engineers/producers George Massenburg, Jimmy Douglass, Sylvia Massy and Niko Bolas as Multi Ultra serves as a real-life, real-time case study in tracking and mixing a talented rock band.
Influenced by bands like Arctic Monkeys, Cage the Elephant, The Killers, and Blink 182, Multi Ultra crafts a captivating fusion of rock thrills and pop swagger that takes audiences on a jubilant journey. Founded in 2021 by Derrick Wesley (vocals) and Nolan Brown (guitar), the duo quickly found their stride with Chris Bevacqua (bass) and Chrystian Kaplan (drums). Collaborating with producer Tim Craven in Nashville, they've honed their craft and continued to evolve into a well-oiled machine. Multi Ultra’s journey has been marked by remarkable achievements, including triumph in Lightning 100's Music City Mayhem Competition and earning the coveted title of Lightning 100's DJ Pick of the Week for their single “Switch It Up.” Voted into the top 3 Best Bands in Nashville Scene's Best Of Nashville two years in a row, Multi Ultra's melodic prowess has earned them regional airplay and features in esteemed publications like The Tennessee Tribune, solidifying their reputation as a promising musical force.
This weekend event features two days of sessions, including Tracking in Studio D with Sylvia Massy and Niko Bolas, and Mixing in the facility’s famous Dolby Atmos® 9.1.6 mix/reference room (Studio C) with George Massenburg and Jimmy Douglass. Chuck Ainlay will serve as the host for the weekend’s events. Additionally, throughout the two-day “In Session” event, Massenburg, Douglass, Massy and Bolas will share their insights on the latest in music recording and immersive techniques. Attendees will gain close-up experience and insights into essential tracking and microphone techniques, deeply engaging themselves in the intricate recording session process, and also actively participating in mixing, critical listening and evaluation exercises with some of the greatest engineers/producers of all time.
The METalliance “In Session” events present a distinctive chance to explore living history while acquiring invaluable skills from esteemed master craftsmen – members of the METalliance. Each participant engages in four sessions, tailored to offer distinct experiences in the recording process and facilitated by METalliance’s esteemed members. As an added bonus, those participants who sign up for VIP attendance will get a chance to have a review of one of their mixes by either George Massenburg, Jimmy Douglass, Sylvia Massy or Niko Bolas. This will occur after the normal session hours on Saturday. This opportunity will be strictly limited to eight people. Admittance to all four sessions is restricted to ensure an intimate, personalized interaction.
“Those who have spent any quality time in a recording studio know that there is no learning experience like doing, so for the forthcoming event at Blackbird Studio we are creating a real-life tracking session with a super-talented rock band, Multi Ultra,” stated METalliance co-founder Chuck Ainlay. “They will serve as the test subjects as we explore all manner of studio processes and techniques and share all that priceless information with the weekend’s participants. Guests will have the unique chance to witness and engage with our acclaimed METalliance engineers/producers George Massenburg, Jimmy Douglass, Sylvia Massy and Niko Bolas as they demonstrate their individual recording and mixing approaches live. Our ‘In Session’ gatherings offer an incomparable opportunity to delve into the realms of recording, mixing, and session lore, while learning invaluable techniques from our esteemed team of master producers and engineers.”
The 2024 series of METalliance “In Session” events also includes upcoming stops at EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, CA, and The Hideout, Las Vegas, NV (dates for both to be announced).
About Blackbird Studio
Founded by legendary sound engineer John McBride and his country superstar wife, Martina McBride, in 2002, Blackbird Studio is known for its state-of-the-art production facilities and unparalleled collection of vintage and modern recording equipment.
Blackbird is one of the world’s most successful and renowned recording complexes. The studio’s complex covers nearly a city block in the Berry Hill Neighborhood of Nashville, with nine different recording studios, The Blackbird Academy, a post-secondary audio engineering school, Blackbird Audio Rentals, and Inside Blackbird – a new online learning platform.
Blackbird offers the highest-quality recording experience. It’s the first choice of many accomplished artists, including Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Dolly Parton, Beck, Rush, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Keith Urban, Kings of Leon, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Blake Shelton, Kesha, The White Stripes, Snoop Dogg, Pearl Jam, Neil Young, and countless others.
To secure your spot for a unique and enriching experience with the METalliance, or for more information on the upcoming METalliance “In Session” events, visit https://metalliance.com.
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Photo caption 1: Multi Ultra, the recording subjects for the upcoming METalliance “In Session” event at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, May 18 & 19
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Photo caption 2: The METalliance team who will be hosting the “In Session” event at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, May 18 & 19
About The METalliance
Established in 2005, The METalliance (Music Engineering & Technology Alliance) is composed of globally-recognized, award-winning audio engineers/producers Chuck Ainlay, Niko Bolas, Jimmy Douglass, Frank Filipetti, George Massenburg, Sylvia Massy and Elliot Scheiner, who have been deeply involved in establishing techniques and technical standards that are the foundation of modern music recording. The METalliance works with producers, engineers, educators and manufacturers to further the best practices and technology developed in modern recording and to help ensure the skills and techniques that have developed through the history of recording are carried forward.
