Music Union : Live Your Music

L.A. indie band, Cheetahsaurus, plays a set at Studio 1444.

Story and Photos by Alexis Hawkins

Jimi Hendrix. The Doors. Frank Zappa. The Velvet Underground. What do they have in common? Besides me wanting Val Kilmer to star in a feature film based on the life stories of all of them, and besides being some of the most influential artists in music history, they all recorded at what is now Studio 1444, a Hollywood photo studio, and an inevitably rockin’ one at that.

The studio itself might be still have its baby teeth with not yet two years of operation under its belt, but there’s nothing new about the kinetic creative energy that fills this space.

In the 60s and 70s this building housed the recording sessions of all these legendary artists before fading into the background of the Hollywood scene for decades. The studio lost its way after the 70s like a Hippie that had lost his relevance in the world, aimlessly trying on a slue of unsuccessful business ventures from clothing stores to pot farms.

The now resurrected studio is primarily used for still photography, video productions, castings, art shows and special events (it’s available for rentals and therefore available to become most anything), and the studio has been brought back from limbo in style.

This space has seen some great art, the history alone gives the owners some pretty sweet bragging rights, plus the studio’s nooks and crannies blaze with the ghost of Hendrix past still lighting doobies, but 1444 is hardly a pretentious Hollywood working studio.

On the inside it feels more like someone’s house, complete with a kitchen, a living room and a lofted crawl space sprinkled with brightly colored pillows in an otherwise white washed studio.

Owners Matt and Kim Beard, the exceptionally talented photographers, created so much more than a studio – an important space within a city, an outlet for expression, and a refuge for art of all flavors.

Having gone to a couple shows at 1444 myself, I decided to contact Matt, whose family I currently stalk on Facebook, to get his take on what exactly he and Kim have built and rebuilt in this space.

Drug Wars’ frenzied set @ Studio 1444

Cambell Scarborough of psychedelic rock band, Black Apples, plays the studio.

MU: What drew you to this building?

Matt: The Vibe, The Location, The History, and the Potential we saw in it.

MU: What does the studio represent to you?

Matt: It allows us the freedom to create anything we want…and to allow others to have an outlet to express themselves. It’s a big part of our lives at this point. It’s also our first serious business venture outside of just photography…so we are learning to play by the rules to a certain extent…but still have fun.

MU: What is the goal of this space?

Matt: To become a landmark spot, where people love hosting events, producing photo shoots, and showing their art.

MU: Why did you decide to have music still be a part of the space?

Matt: Music has always been a part of my life, even before photography. I played in a few bands way back in the day, and the music has never left my blood. It’s where I feel most comfortable, and it’s one of my MOST favorite subjects to photograph. So, it just felt appropriate that the history of the studio, and the fact that there is still a functioning recording studio next to us in the same building. I think that cutting the music aspect out of this space would be doing the space itself a disservice.

MU: What do you hope for people to take away from visiting the studio?

Matt: A little bit of the history…a little Jim, a Little Jimi, a little Frank…but mostly the love that we give to our clients and friend who visit the space.