A new nonprofit based at a Falmouth music studio aims to provide help in the form of studio time to up-and-coming recording artists who are looking to break into the music industry.
Sam Monaco, owner of Monaco Studios, is the nonprofit’s president. A New York native, he grew up in Portland, with fond memories of starting a rock band with his friends back in high school.
In those days, though, all Monaco had to record in was an amateur setup a friend had in his basement, but it was enough to inspire him.
“Even this guy’s crummy basement was amazing,” he said. “It was like, ‘Oh, my God, we’re recording!’”
Today, Monaco Studios is significantly more professional. Monaco opened it as a commercial studio about two years ago. He began working with artists who were also teachers at Portland Arts and Technology High School, along with their students.
Monaco said it became apparent that students and other up-and-coming artists, just like Monaco himself at that age, need the encouragement and support of a professional studio.
The new nonprofit raises funding to support scholarships for students in the form of access to the studio, something that is hard for a high school-aged musician to afford.
“We didn’t want to only be working with high school students who were lucky enough to have parents that were supportive of their musical exploration and had the resources to support their musical exploration,” Monaco said.
Victoria Stubbs, a teacher at the PATHS music program and board member of the new nonprofit, said artists get a unique form of feedback through a recording session.
“It’s just the best teacher in the world to be able to (say) ‘Oh, my gosh, I really sound like this,’” she said.
The studio, which is attached to Monaco’s home, is roomy but intimate. At a recording session on Tuesday, 19-year-old Adele Edelawit sat on a stool in front of sunny windows playing acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone. Nearby, engineers handled the recording while Monaco himself monitored, bobbing his head to the music.
During a break in recording, studio staff talked with Edelawit and offered her feedback on her work. The entire atmosphere was a relaxed, supportive vibe that Edelawit said she can’t get recording at home.
“You can always make music on your own with nobody, just a computer and a mic, and you can just make noises and there you go, but I think having a studio, especially a studio like this where it’s very low-key, it’s very beneficial if you’re just starting out,” she said.
Stubbs said access to a studio, particularly one that encourages creativity, can make all the difference for an artist that needs support.
“I think that barrier is giant, and it stops people from actually finishing their songs,” she said. “This environment is so much more welcoming.”
Monaco is seeking donations to support the new nonprofit. Right now, he said, he hopes the scholarships will be able to help artists produce at least one whole song per month throughout 2025.
There are expansion plans, too. Monaco said he is already working with other music education programs and even other studios to expand the scholarship offerings.
“People have been extremely supportive so far,” he said.
