Midtown Sacramento has a New Music Studio: Impact Audio

By Aaris A. Schroeder
Editor-In-Chief

Impact Audio is a new studio in downtown Sacramento has the latest in sound design and located in the heart of midtown at 1714 28th Street.

Unofficially opening their doors on August 10, Gatten remembers the thrill of producing music for noteworthy Sacramento artists. Some of the artists Gatten has worked with in the past can be accumulated to Hip Hop, however, Gatten is much more widespread on the canopy of music.

Genres can spin around Hip Hop, rock, spoken word, jazz and even country music. Located behind the Sacramento Co-op and easy to find, a block from Hidden Dumpling and close to the popular late night spot, Ink. Gatten has placed his music studio in a prime location downtown.

“I grew up on all things 90s, so it’s a mix between grunge and Hip Hop; somewhere with a slice of junglist cake.” Gatten proudly explains his muse with music and the orientation of his studio.

“I opened my first studio at 25. Literally built it from the foundation up and in an old receiving bay at 13th and R Street. There were many things consumed and there and after, we moved to N 10th St. but the one problem was [always] alcohol,” Gatten remembers.

Thought Process Recordings, for Gatten, his first business and a local music studio, was treated more like a hobby than a serious venture. Local Hip Hop artists in his circles can attest to this and it is also where he has made his best work but now, he has a new studio with a new outlook on life.

“I would definitely say alcohol — directly or indirectly — led to the closure of Thought Process Recordings.” Gatten said.

Gatten has worked with the best, many winning awards and global acclamations such as Live Manikins (Still Life), Universal Project Recordings UK (Select Tracks), Random Abiladeze (Brutally Honest), The Great Other, Live Audible Soul, Butterscotch (beatbox queen), Another Rap Group (A.R.G.), Agustus thElephant (Pharoh) and Tribe of Levi (Mic Jordan, Non and Poor Majesty) .

Even though Gatten has been working hard to get back to recording and DJing, he went to a detox facility in 2016 in Santa Rosa where he was able to get back on track.

With nothing but a duffle bag and his life, Gatten was able to acquire a Small Business Association (SBA) loan which then led him to where he is now, opening Impact Audio, sober.

“I would like Impact Audio to be as much a home for the college educated jazz musician as I would a dirty gutter punk band. As long as they got soul.” says Gatten who wants to help bring music back to what it once was, instead of living in nostalgia.

“Where did the angst go from Rage Against The Machine, music can be something to bring us together. Something that can save people. Music, as I know it and for the better or worse, needs to have a purpose.” Gatten relents.

Multi-talented, Gatten is infamous for his keyboard and piano skills since the age of eight. Later, this young musician favored and excelled at guitar and orchestral instruments such as bass clarinet or cello at the young age of 12-years-old. Even better, Gatten taught himself how to DJ at the age of 16 with a “shitty old pair of Gemini” CD decks with nothing but an old KRS-One CD and a Metaheadz breakbeat.” Wow.

Live Manikins – Still Life

Universal Project Recordings UK – Select tracks

Random Abiladeze – Brutally Honest
Mr. Lingo – Building Blocks

The Great Other

Live Audible Soul
Butterscotch
ARG
Agustus thElephant (Pharoh)
Tribe of Levi

The studio itself has not really sunk in for Gatten so if you need to get some recordings, you may as well stop by to see if you can come in and utilize equipment. Gatten wants this studio to be accessible to those who need it. Period. It does not mean a free ride, yet at the same time, Gatten wants artists to find Impact Audio as a new, fresh breath of air.