Sound City

Starting from Sunset Square and heading north, driving for about half an hour, you can find a musician's holy place on the west side of Universal Studios: Sound City.

Sound City is the name of a recording studio, and this studio located on Cabrito Road symbolizes the most glorious music dreams in Los Angeles since the 1970s. Established in 1969, Sound City, amidst the backdrop of the Vietnam War, had a humble origin that didn't match the spirit of the hippie movement at the time, which advocated the beauty of flowers and freedom. Even unknown singers back then were reluctant to record their voices in that "dirty and terrifying" place.

However, with the emergence of albums like "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" by the band Spirit in 1970 and "After the Gold Rush" by Neil Young, Sound City began to attract more and more attention. Countless great names can be found in this recording studio, including albums from renowned musicians who solidified their supreme status, such as Metallica, Elton John, Guns N' Roses, Santana, Nirvana, and more.

This made Sound City one of the most famous recording studios in Los Angeles, attracting a swarm of people who came here on a pilgrimage.

After entering the 1990s, the music industry underwent rapid changes in its mediums, from vinyl records to cassette tapes and then to CDs. Naturally, the status of recording studios also underwent significant changes. The excellence of a recording studio's equipment became crucial, and technological advancements forced studios to continuously update their equipment to keep up with the times and maintain the favor of singers.

In this regard, Sound City has always maintained a good synchronization rate. The album "Nevermind" by Nirvana, which emerged in 1991, was recorded here. So when Hugo was notified that he would be recording at Sound City, the excitement in his heart overwhelmed him to the point of losing control. Being able to come so close to the music holy land for countless rock music fans and even record in this studio made Hugo feel suffocatingly happy.

The filming of "A Few Good Men" continued until late May. The two-plus months of filming greatly benefited Hugo, and the breakthrough in his acting skills was undoubtedly the most pleasing outcome. However, the opportunity to be in contact with music also made Hugo ecstatic. He couldn't say which news made him happier. He could only say that life after crossing over was truly wonderful!

During the filming, Hugo used his free time to truly settle down and work on the adaptation of "Next Time You See Me", He then made a simple recording on a tape recorder and handed it to Rob. Rob gave it to the film's composer, Marc Shyman, for a listen. After discussions, they ultimately decided to use Hugo's reinterpreted version as the film's theme song, which would play when the credits rolled at the end.

Although almost all the viewers would leave by the time the credits rolled, and there would be very few who would hear Hugo's rendition of the song, it still made Hugo extremely happy. It was not just about getting a musical opportunity; it also indicated that Hugo's talent in music had received a certain level of recognition.

Joseph looked at Hugo, who was excited beyond control sitting in the passenger seat, feeling somewhat amused and exasperated. Even when they received news of Hugo's success in the auditions for "Scent of a Woman" or "A Few Good Men", Hugo's emotions were not as high as they were now. This made Joseph find it quite remarkable. "I never knew you would be so enthusiastic about recording songs and becoming a singer," he said.

Upon hearing this, Hugo also realized that he was getting a bit too excited. The ten years of pursuing music had deeply imprinted in his bones. Even within Glory or Death, they used to jokingly say, "Will we die nameless on some unknown stage?" So today, he was indeed exhilarated, in a state he couldn't control.

But Hugo had gradually become familiar with Joseph, and he didn't panic. "It's because I've never tried it before that everything feels so fresh, isn't it?" Hugo calmly said, "If I were given the opportunity to attempt a breakthrough in a completely new role, I would feel just as happy."

Joseph couldn't help but nod slightly, acknowledging Hugo's words. "That makes sense. But aren't you nervous? The recording studio is a completely different field."

Hugo took a deep breath and replied, "Nervous? Of course, I'm nervous." Then he let out that breath long and drawn-out.

Before crossing over, Glory or Death had been in recording studios several times, both in professional studios and rudimentary private studios. However, most of the time, they didn't have professional recording engineers to help them, and they had to start from scratch and figure things out themselves. Today, Hugo was facing a professional recording engineer and the industry's top-level recording studio. How could he not be nervous? The only thing that somewhat comforted Hugo was that Marc had just started his career a year ago, and he was only thirty-three years old this year. Compared to those seasoned recording engineers, he should be easier to communicate with.

Upon arriving at the parking lot behind the recording studio, each parking space was clearly labeled with names, indicating a well-organized parking arrangement. Joseph found the name "International Creative Management, Inc. - Gibbs" and parked the car. He and Hugo then walked into the exquisite building before them.

Upon entering the gate, they saw a front desk made of three old oil drums, creatively presenting a unique and eye-catching sight despite its worn-out appearance. Joseph approached the desk and mentioned the name Marc Shaiman, followed by confirming Hugo Lancaster's identity. The staff then led the two of them towards the designated recording studio.

Sound City Studios was quite spacious, with various-sized recording rooms. The largest one could accommodate an entire symphony orchestra, while the smallest one was designed for solo artists. However, the recording studios at that time were not as advanced as they would become. The walls were made of wooden soundproofing materials. Hugo had been to a recording studio in 2011 where each room had walls made of different materials like metal, fabric, or wood, allowing for customized sound adjustments. But considering it was the early 1990s, the simplicity of the studios was expected.

Outside the recording studio, there was a communal area for resting and meals, equipped with a coffee machine, microwave, refrigerator, and other facilities. It was an important area for people who often spent weeks or even longer residing inside the studio while working. Thus, the existence of such a rest area was crucial.

However, professional recording studios required reservations, especially popular ones like Sound City. Once the time was scheduled, it was necessary to arrive on time. If one arrived late, the studio wouldn't extend the recording time because the next scheduled session would already be waiting.

As they walked inside, regardless of whether they knew Hugo or not, the staff warmly greeted him. It wasn't because Hugo was a somewhat famous actor, but because he was about to embark on work here. Who knew if a classic would be born in one of the studios at this very moment?

After reaching their destination, Hugo and Joseph rang the doorbell at the entrance of the recording studio. The soundproof door of the studio quickly opened, revealing a friendly and simple smile. "Hey, you're here! Come on in." This was Marc Shaiman.

Hugo didn't know much about composers, and Marc wasn't as well-known as Hans Zimmer, John Williams, or James Horner. However, "Sister Act", which was about to be released, was Mark's work, a movie that Hugo was very familiar with.

"Sorry, I still need a bit of time to wrap up my work. You can sit here and get familiar with the guitar, Hugo. I'll be with you shortly." Marc always had a smile on his face and was courteous. Without waiting for self-introductions, he quickly said a lot, even proactively pointing out the nearby instruments, showing his sincerity without the typical attitude of a film composer.

"You can go ahead and focus on your work! We'll talk later!" Hugo straightforwardly interrupted, gesturing for Marc to attend to his own tasks. Then Hugo stood in place, observing the surroundings and the equipment.

The simple and unpretentious decoration reminded Hugo of the style of recording studios from the black-and-white film era he remembered. The decor here wasn't luxurious; in fact, it seemed somewhat dilapidated. One could even imagine the initial rejection music professionals and singers had for this place. However, it was precisely this simplicity that highlighted the incredible music created by artists in this place. More than the luxurious decoration, the music was the soul of this recording studio.

This ignited Hugo's passion.

"Hey, sorry, I got carried away earlier," Marc's voice interrupted Hugo's contemplation. He had finally finished his busy work and stood up again, extending his hand to Joseph and Hugo. "I'm Marc Shaiman. It's great to have this collaboration."

After Joseph and Hugo introduced themselves, Marc greeted Hugo with a radiant smile and said, "Your voice has more stories than your appearance suggests. As a sound engineer, it's rare to come across something like that. Perhaps you will be an outstanding singer."

Upon hearing this, Hugo couldn't help but burst into laughter. It wasn't because his ten years as an underground rocker had made his voice story-filled, but because Mark's words reminded him of the global phenomenon, the music talent show "American Idol". He felt as if Marc was one of the judges, praising his audition.

Hugo's smile made Mark a bit embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I got carried away with my professional habits. I didn't mean to say your appearance isn't good..." Marc's words were open to interpretation, and they could be understood as either him sarcastically implying that Hugo's appearance was just a pretty face while his voice was excellent, or simply praising Hugo's voice.

"No, no," Hugo quickly waved his hands, smiling brightly. "I understand what you meant. If my expression didn't convey it clearly, let me explain. I was actually happy about your praise and surprised because you're the first person who didn't compliment my appearance." Hugo's serious explanation left Marc slightly stunned, unable to distinguish whether it was genuine or not.