Located deep in the heart of downtown Cleveland, Ohio, Sunbird Studios & Technologies is a top-of-the-line recording facility with an unwavering commitment to its community. We sat down with the facility’s owner, Jael Sunbird, to discuss his vision of the studio, its place in Cleveland’s local-music culture, and his ongoing relationship with Sweetwater.
Fulfilling a Vision
Sunbird Studios & Technologies was founded for one specific purpose: to bolster Cleveland’s music scene. A lifelong Cleveland native, Jael laments that the city has never really enjoyed a strong local-music culture — especially for its inner-city residents. “Atlanta has a culture, New York has a culture, the West Coast — LA — has a culture, Detroit has Motown,” he explains. “Cleveland, Ohio, never had one,” he continues. “And we’re so talented!” According to Jael, a high-end recording studio is exactly what the city needed to inject life into its local-music culture.
Building His Team
To realize his vision, Jael knew he needed to surround himself with the best talent he could get. That’s why he brought on Sincere Sonince to manage the studio. Sincere, who has extensive industry contacts, then tapped veteran producer Kalam Ali, a.k.a. Killah Kalam, to be Sunbird Studios’ lead engineer. Kalam has more than two decades of experience under his belt with credits including Future, Machine Gun Kelly, and DJ E-V, among others. For second engineer, Sincere snatched up Jameel Miller, a.k.a. JahGotTheJuice — a young, up-and-coming engineer/producer whose work with Riah B, PartyNextDoor, K-ST3RG, and many others has achieved a steady stream of positive buzz.
Entering the Studio
To say that Sunbird Studios & Technologies is impressive is an understatement. Laden with custom lighting, sleek color patterns, and an endless array of guest amenities, the 5,000-plus-square-foot facility is first-class all the way. The facility’s three professionally designed studios, affectionately named Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumble Bee, are jam-packed with an impressive range of gear. Sunbird’s equipment list was cultivated with input from Sweetwater’s Robby Resnick and includes Pro Tools–equipped workstations with Universal Audio Apollo interfaces, Slate RAVEN MTi2 control surfaces, and industry-leading software from Antares, FabFilter, iZotope, Soundtoys, Waves, and Universal Audio.
The studio’s mic locker is replete with tried-and-true — and modern-day — classics, including a Neumann U 87 Ai, a Lauten Audio Atlantis, a Miktek CV3, a Royer R-10, an Audix DP7 Plus drum bundle, and a Shure SM57. Sunbird’s racks are drool-worthy, boasting an Avalon VT-737sp, a Black Lion Audio Eighteen, and a Heritage Audio HA73EQ ELITE. A Dangerous Music D-BOX+ is on hand for summing. ADAM Audio A7X studio monitors and a Sub10 Mk2 subwoofer provide top-shelf monitoring.
More Than a Mere Studio
The list of benefits at Sunbird Studios & Technologies is mind-blowing, enabling it to host A-list talent. The 100% handicap-accessible facility includes private parking, a private elevator, private restrooms, a private bar, a full-service kitchen with a chef, a lounge with multiple televisions, and a locker room with showers. An art gallery displays works by local artists and photographers. There are even armored vehicles available to accommodate celebrity-level clients in addition to a certified security guard and a state-of-the-art security system.
Sweetwater – Sunbird’s Industry Partner
Jael is a loyal Sweetwater customer. When asked why he has remained such a staunch Sweetwater devotee, he’s very emphatic. “Y’all are limitless — you have the best equipment,” he exclaims. “And Robby Resnick has shown us great love — we won’t be going anywhere else.”
