Axl Rose of Te Puke offers his studio expertise to musos

Mention a recording studio, and it conjures up images of musicians in places like Abbey Rd, Muscle Shoals and Hitsville USA.

These are the places the elite would go to record their music, creating an almost mythical aura around the process, beyond the reach of the person on the street.

Today, technology and the Internet have made recording music accessible to everyone.

Te Puke musician Axl Rose has the recording technology at his fingertips and he’s ready to share his expertise.

“It’s crazy what you can actually achieve now in terms of music and the internet has helped a lot too,” he says.

Axl is opening up his home studio for a day to those interested in seeing what’s possible.

“My goal and what I would like to achieve with this studio day is to be able to give back to the music community and at the same time give the next generation of musicians a chance to be in a studio and learn the skills they need to make music.

“When I started, I was offered to be in a big professional studio and I didn’t know at all about being in a recording studio. I’m with these professionals who are there to work and I went in there with the wrong mindset and that’s what I’m trying to give to this next generation – the mindset for when you’re in a studio.”

He says the day will also be a good opportunity for like-minded people to network and make new connections in the world of music.

Axl’s music is mostly hip hop, but he says the principles are the same regardless of style.

He has been making music for over 10 years and although he comes from a musical family, he took a path less travelled.

“My little brothers play rock and my uncles are musicians too, but not so much me, because they all played guitar, of different genres.”

He says he is largely self-taught and his motivation came from elsewhere.

“I was bullied at school,” he says. “I didn’t really have a voice, but the music was a good therapy session, if you will, a good outlet and a good way to express myself without getting into trouble.

“I used to try to fit in with the crowd a lot and jump from group to group and not always find my place, but in the studio I feel like I can say no. whatever and if I don’t want to take it out, I don’t. I don’t have to, but it takes my chest off – it’s a good way to let things out.”

Axl Rose is his birth name – and yes, his family are Guns N’ Roses fans – but he records as Mr Ridl and has plenty of content on various streaming platforms.

“Mr Ridl was a nickname I’ve been given over the years.

“At the time, to fit in, I got into graffiti – and that was my name – Ridl. Obviously I got caught and that changed my perspective on what I wanted to do.”

The music was an outlet that did no damage, he says.

He also started a label – G7 – with a friend from Christchurch.

“We hired a few artists, then I took them over myself and managed those artists, organized events.

“You pretty much get what you put in, so I’m not chasing these artists to come in and record. They own their royalties, I don’t make anything from them, I’m just here to help them get on the Platform.”

Axl has been involved in youth work in the district through the Ngā Kākano Foundation and because of this he knows there are talented young people in the area.

“But again, they don’t have the opportunity to find out how to make music. That’s another reason why I’m doing this day in the studio.”

The studio day will take place on July 16 and anyone interested can contact Axl via Facebook or by email at [email protected]