Interview with a Wizard (Part 1)

Meet Don Farwell, owner of Earwig Studio

On a freezing night in February 2018, I stood outside in front of a corner store called Durn Good Grocery. It was 11pm. My bandmate and I were waiting next to what we hoped was the entrance to Earwig Studio in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. Fifteen minutes later, a random side door opened and a man invited us to enter. We walked into a small room surrounded by red curtains and a black and white checkered floor. Then through another door into what would soon become the birthplace of our first album. As we stood there taking it in, we watched the man who let us in walk across the studio to the control room in the back. Through the glass we saw him give someone a big hug. He came back out and as he walked by us he stopped and said, ‘He’s a wizard.’ Then he left.

He was of course referring to Don Farwell, the owner of Earwig Studio. Don has been called a ‘wizard’, a ‘stable genius’ and a ‘mastermind’ by his clients. If you don’t believe me, check out his reviews online. He is a producer, engineer, and musician. We sat down with him to learn more about his approach, the studio, and why he has become a sought-after architect behind some of Seattle’s best albums.

When did you first know you wanted to have a career in music?

The first time I went into a recording studio was early 1992. It was an 8-track studio at Fairhaven College in Bellingham. My friend was taking classes there and I would drive up and visit. I was hooked after the first session. I don’t know if I really intended to make a career out of it. I just did everything in my power to keep going back into the studio! I ended up studying audio at Shoreline C.C., The Evergreen State College and ended up getting my first paid position at Bear Creek Studio in 1995. Recording studios are sanctuaries where science and art combine. What’s not to like?

When was Earwig Studio born? What makes it different from other recording studios in the area?

I’ve been recording music for over 27 years, but it wasn’t until 2009 that I decided to start Earwig Studio with my friend, Eric Batt. We officially opened the studio in the fall of 2010. The first location was tiny! It was a humbling experience. It had been nearly 10 years since I had left my old job at Bear Creek Studio and I was out of the loop. So building a reputation took several years of dedication. To this day, it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to keep the studio healthy. We moved into our new location in 2016. The space we are in now has been a recording studio since the 1970’s. It’s been called various names over the years, and you can tell right away that it’s an excellent creative space. It’s a blast making records here!

Earwig has a great selection of equipment, a killer drum room and enough isolation booths to accommodate larger projects. But the primary difference between Earwig and other local studios is that I work at Earwig! With few exceptions, it’s the people that work at the studios that makes them unique.

That being said, I’ve strived to do more than just make records. I try my best to support the community of musicians that have recorded at Earwig. I do this in a number of ways including: an annual festival featuring “Earwig” bands, setting up “Earwig Presents” bills at local clubs and helping to market and cross promote, doing live in-studio performances for YouTube content and providing low cost audio workshops. I’ll give free recording advice to anyone who asks too!

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

The pandemic has slowed life down in many ways. I’ve had a chance to reflect on many things. I’ve been fortunate to be so busy over the years, at least, until the coronavirus outbreak. I think long-term emotional endurance is the most challenging part of my job.

Recording sessions are an emotional balancing act. I’m sort of the ringleader in that regard. Making great records isn’t so much about technology as it is about psychology and emotions. The more records I’ve made, the more I’ve paid attention to how people feel and what they may need at any given moment. I try to be keenly aware of how people relate to each other. Bands are comprised of intimate relationships. Any dysfunction that was bubbling up beneath the surface can easily boil over during a recording session! I try to get to the finish line without people feeling like they want to break up the band! I’m a naturally goofy dude. Humor is a big part of my process because it naturally breaks tension. When someone is paying hard-earned money and the day has finally come, things can get intense.

I’ve also found that I have to be emotionally honest and pour myself into the process right along with the band. So at the end of a 10-hour day, I’m usually pretty drained. Let’s say I have back to back sessions with different artists. I have to find a way to continually dig deep and hit that reset button. I’m also a husband and a dad. I have to make sure I’m not just an empty shell when I’m with them!

Are there certain genres you prefer producing or engineering and if so, why?

I’m a lucky bastard. I haven’t been pigeon-holed into recording one genre of music. It’s deeply satisfying to work on disparate styles week to week. But I do like styles that include electric guitar of any kind! Electric guitar, from the strings vibrating over a magnetic pickup to an amplifier blasting out sound, is one of my favorite sounds on the planet Earth! I can geek out forever about guitar stuff. It still feels like play to me, like a kid with legos.

Now my favorite process during a session is mixdown. That’s the most creative side of what I do. Painting with sound. It’s the best! And I don’t care if it’s indie-folk or punk-metal, getting a mix right is always a challenge and fun.

What are your top 5 albums of all time?

I will give you 5 that I love that have deeply influenced how I think about music and production. I think of these 5 records as one that shaped things for me early on in my life. But if you ask me tomorrow, I’d probably rattle off a different list.

1. Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

2. The Beatles - Revolver

3. Sparklehorse - Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot

4. R.E.M. - Green

5. Michael Jackson - Thriller

Runners up list in regards to music production would go on forever but...The Kinks, Built to Spill, Tricky, Guided by Voices, American Music Club, Fugazi, Iron Maiden, Camper Van Beethoven and The Cure. The rest of the list would be comprised of a bunch more 80s and 90s stuff for the most part!

To contact Don, please email don@earwigstudio.com