When Q Division moved from Davis Square to Rindge Avenue in Cambridge in 2023, we wrote that the recording studio’s new digs represented “the most refined vision of Q Division to date.” Nearly two years later, the storied Boston-area institution is still polishing its third location into a fully-realized vision.
Last night (January 23), members of the region’s music community visited Q Division for a walkthrough and celebration of the studio’s completed Studio B and adjacent lounge. While the additional studio has been functional since last year — and has even welcomed artists like Dropkick Murphys to record — its lounge area was completed within the last few weeks, prompting the evening’s unveiling.
Studio B’s greatest strength is its incorporation of Dolby Atmos, surround sound technology that filters an immersive musical experience through the studio’s 13 speakers. According to Q Division staff engineer Terrance Reeves, the technology is exclusive to Studio B, while Studio A offers a more traditional recording experience.
Looking back at Q Division’s 39-year history and prior two locations, Reeves explains that the updates help the studio embody “what [Q Division] was always trying to be — it’s an actualization.”
The accompanying lounge area, located directly outside of the studio, currently displays over 50 black and white photos by Jon Strymish. The snaps showcase major players from the area’s music history, such as folk soloist Melissa Ferrick, Modern Lovers frontman Jonathan Richman, and blues and soul singer Toni Lynn Washington. (Look closely among the onstage shots to find a pic of pop culture archivist David Bieber at The Boston Phoenix offices on the publication’s final evening in business).
The lounge will partially serve as a gallery, rotating its art and similar exhibits every three to six months. See how many familiar faces you can spot below.
