Greg Snier - Bass player, intern, engineer
Line Crossing Stories
Realgrey quite literally started my journey into the music industry and beyond. When I stepped into the studio the first time, I could not stop looking around at all the equipment and just wanted to know more. Here I met Ron Flack and John King, two people that have mentored and taught me so much about life and music and technology and beyond. I could go on and on, but I will keep it simple. Realgrey and the experience I had at Realgrey sparked my passion for music and technology and I am forever grateful for that. Things I learned and heard and felt at Realgrey are things that influence me on a daily basis.
The ethos, experience, and purpose of Realgrey has always been about the people. Yes there is great music, yes there is amazing technology, yes there are wonderful vibes, but it's about the people. The way Ron greets you when you arrive, the stories that are told, the laughs shared, it's about the people and making everyone feel comfortable, happy, and excited to be there, for whatever purpose that may be. My greatest memories at Realgrey are of meeting artists, friends, engineers, and talking and sharing about life. Realgrey has created a community among creatives that goes much further than recording music.
The studio has greatly influenced my music and the way I listen to music. Ron is an incredible listener and taught me to listen with more focus and purpose. He taught me that the song comes first then capturing it in the best way possible to accurately represent that song. This blew my mind and now I always try to strip down everything else and focus on the song, not the effects, the drum tone, the compression the vocals, but the song it self.
There isn't enough space to truly answer this. The people of Realgrey, and the community surrounding it, have been truly impactful. John King showed me that being honest with who I am, and redefining success can lead to my most fulfilling art. Spencer Cindia showed me that there are no limits to creativity, and that when we dare to try something new, we often surprise ourselves. Anya Van Rose showed me the importance of organization, and that any creative can take their music farther with a little help from your friends. Lila Farris showed me that songs at their core, are stories. Josh Compton showed me that sometimes to understand your own story, you have to tell someone else's. Maddie Indre showed me that if you don't give up, the world begins to open up. John Yany showed me what it means to be a craftsman, and to love the labor. Joel Maze showed me that communities build art together, and sometimes the end result is the true payday. And most importantly, Ron Flack showed me how to love myself, despite my flaws and failures, to always put people first, and to just write that damn song!
