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A note from Silverthorn Studio's co-founder and manager, Bryn Scott-Grimes.

The dream that became Silverthorn studio's was planted in me when I was 13, when I had my first chance to record in a pro studio as an electric guitarist. It was Fred Smith Studios in Kitchener, and was run by the father of the lead singer of the band I was in at the time called Fatal Coincidence. The studio was mesmerizing. It spanned half of the basement and was a blend of class, technology, comfort and coolness. I had never seen a workplace so inviting--quiet, equipped, private, calm--it was perfect. Despite my fascination with the studio, I had no idea I would one day have my own gorgeous, professional space at my finger tips. Even when the idea first occurred to me to build a studio, I had not even the faintest clue what it would take to make it all come true.

Between the age of 13 and 26 I did all of my own recording in my bedrooms, using whatever happened to be available to me at the time. I recorded my first album sitting at a variety of computer desks. My second album was done in an apartment closet. For my 3rd and most ambitious album, I recorded all of the instruments over a year and a half in an ex-washer room that measured no bigger than 4 by 5 feet, just big enough to fit a full drum set with the kick drum virtually kissing the wall. After that release, I had a mild thought that it would be nice to live in a place with a "real" studio setup--something more spacious, more functional. I didn't know what that meant--I just knew I wanted to build and own what people call "a studio" so I could make the music I was born to make.

Well, it finally happened. Two years of preparation, living, loss, scheduling, rescheduling, revision, thought, blood, sweat, and tears… and we have the recording studio of our dreams to show for it. How did we get here? What's the story, morning glory?

Well, you could say this really started back in 2009 in a dorm room at York University, when Bryn and I first met and casually fell into what would be one of many deep discussions on music, life & philosophy. It didn’t take long before blazing and talking about ideas didn’t quite seem like a worthy use of our time – so, we started to look for ways we could bring those ideas to life, make an impact on the world with our creativity, and connect others to their own. As a result, over the seven/eight years so far of our friendship, our lives have taken a markedly different trajectory.

We started with simpler creative victories – made some CD’s of original music, printed 100 copies and placed them unlabelled around campus for anyone to take and enjoy. We both made lots of other music during this time, and dabbled with volunteerism. Soon after, we graduated with B.A’s in music from York University. We found love with ladies, and we found heartbreak, and love, and lust, heartbreak, and etc. I went to hell and back to rediscover my love for music after a long battle with depression, and stumbled into a career I love in voice acting at the same time. We started playing gigs and winning music contests – we ran Airbnb together. Later on, while taking a rigorous leadership program with the intention of getting trained to make a great living in the arts, I booked a part acting nonstop on a sitcom, then booked another show, then another.

The projects we took on simultaneously started to feel countless, and always like a little more than we could handle. Bryn ran a thriving harmonica school, surpassed me in guitar skill, became a personal trainer, released a highly ambitious album. I created a leadership program for children – ran multiple songwriting workshops. Wrote music for film & TV. We played music in small-town Ontario venues till our fingers bled on the weekends. Then, unexpectedly, we even became art dealers!

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A Message From Bryn

A note from Silverthorn Studio's co-founder and manager, Bryn Scott-Grimes.

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