Dom Martin on Running a 24/7 Recording Studio

Running a true 24/7 recording studio demands more than just being open for sessions. It requires a resilient system capable of managing client turnover, diverse workflows, and unique clientele. The studio and staff must be prepared to seamlessly handle any genre, from a drill record to a singer-songwriter pop session, whether it's 9 a.m. or 3 a.m. The 3,000 square foot studio runs between 250 to 350 sessions per month, with roughly 60 percent happening between 10 pm and 6 am. Each of the three rooms caters to a different vibe and energy, from intimate and peaceful to high energy and intense. The diversity of the city is reflected in the physical space that its artists occupy.

Success relies on a dedicated team: a roster of driven engineers, plus assistants and interns eager to master every facet of the process. Beyond technical skill, it's essential to have the right mindset - a willingness to genuinely connect with and listen to the artist. This allows an engineer's technical ability to shine while maintaining a positive and engaging presence, going far beyond simply "pressing the button."

Late-night sessions bring a different kind of energy. Artists take more risks, sessions run longer, and decisions happen faster. At Mansion Studios, the role of the studio is not just to record, but to harness that momentum and turn it into something lasting.

Founder and head engineer Dom Martin, alongside business partner Lyrical Young Lo (also an incredible engineer in his own right), take an active but intentional approach to every session, ensuring the space is dialed in from the moment an artist walks through the door. “We’re as involved as we need to be, and invisible when we don’t,” says Martin. “Our job is to run the room so the artist doesn’t have to think about anything outside of the performance.”

That balance between guidance and creative freedom is central to the Mansion Studios experience. Whether working with emerging artists or established clients, sessions are shaped in real time to fit the needs of the room.

“We’ve built Mansion Studios to be adaptable,” Martin adds. “Not every artist works the same way, and not every session should feel the same. Some people need structure, others need space. We meet artists wherever they are at and help them get the most out of it.”

This approach extends to how the studio operates day to day. With flexible booking models, engineer-supported sessions, and self-engineered options. For artists, the expectation is simple. Walk into a space that is prepared, responsive, and built to support the session at any level, so the only focus is capturing the best possible performance.

Mansion Studios is a place where independent artists find the ideal environment to create genuine magic with engineers artists can place their trust in. Capturing these moments of creation and ensuring they are heard as clearly as possible is what Dom and his team consider truly worthwhile.

What distinguishes an excellent studio from merely a good one eventually becomes evident: the quality is not in the equipment, but in the talent and expertise of the engineers present. This roster of skilled Engineer/Producers includes: Benji Socrate$ (known for Mach-Hommy, Pete Rosenburg), LOne Sword (worked with AKAI SOLO, Bizzy Banks, Homeboy Sandman), Isidro “Dro” Soto (credits include Jay Critch, Jenn Carter, Desiigner), Thomas Lopez (Genshin Impact, Brec Bassinger), and Conor “Vata” Gosain (Doechii, Mo P, Justin Rarri, Go Yayo, Gogol Bordelo).