Singing Serpent Takes Over

Tucked away in the heart of Kensington lies one of San Diego’s best kept secrets, Singing Serpent Studios.

Singing Serpent is a recording studio that doesn’t necessarily focus on making albums (though it does boast a very impressive list), but rather specializes in crafting original music and sound design for commercials. Their extensive list of clientele includes brands such as Google, Nike, SafeAuto, Jack Daniels, Volkswagen, and many others. In addition to the San Diego location, Singing Serpent also has branches in Manhattan, New York and Richmond, Virginia.

Whether it was during halftime at the Super Bowl, before watching the newest viral Youtube video or in between songs on your favorite Spotify playlist, odds are you’ve probably heard Singing Serpent’s work before. The team of composers at Singing Serpent (made up of local musicians) work day and night to create work that is original and authentic. The Singing Serpent team does not just view music as their nine-to-five––it’s just their life. Even when they're not on the clock, the staff at Singing Serpent are working on writing music and performing around the world. The crew at Singing Serpent consistently work hard to create music that they love, which is why they are so successful at their jobs. While many music houses opt to create a library of songs that companies can pick and choose from, Singing Serpent prefers to have a back-and-forth mentality with clients. This means that every track is unique, thought-out, and specifically crafted for clients’ wants.  

In the past few months, Singing Serpent has been especially busy. Outside of working on records for bands such as Hot Snakes and Tera Melos, Singing Serpent has taken ample action to expand as a company and brand.

They recently unveiled their brand new website, designed by Dizzy Spells Productions, which allows visitors to view Singing Serpent’s past work, learn about the team of composers, and take a virtual tour of the San Diego and New York studios. Following the website’s launch, Singing Serpent opened a brand new branch in Richmond, Virginia, headed by industry veteran, Jon Spencer.

Spencer has been playing music since he was a teenager and has fronted and recorded with renowned bands such as Spitfire and Scarlet. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University, Spencer served as the Executive Producer and Creative Director for 30th Century Masters, and later as the Executive Producer and Head of Sales for Black Iris Music. During his time at Black Iris, Spencer oversaw many successful ventures such as the Toyota’s “Swagger Wagon” and Geico’s “Hike” ad with Aaron Takahashi. Because of his extensive background and diligence, Spencer has the liberty to work on pieces that go beyond the expectation of a typical commercial. Whether he’s dabbling in comedic Kenny G-esque saxophone slow jams or writing parental raps about minivans, Spencer’s work is consistently striking and always well-received.

If you want to keep up to date with Singing Serpent’s always exciting timeline, follow them on Instagram, like them on Facebook, and check out their new website. Whether it be the debut of work, in-depth interviews with bands, or clips of staff members melodizing and jamming, there is something for everybody on Singing Serpent’s social medias.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Writer Tour: SXSW Day 1, Part 1

We drove from El Paso to Austin on Wednesday, got a late start and didn't make it there til 2:30AM. It is a 10 hour drive after all. We didn't have a set place to stay, but serendipitously, Max was at the tour kick-off show at Bar Pink and told me we might be able to stay at his friend Billy's house. Thankfully, Max was right and we can't thank Billy and Max enough for that, I'd owe them my first born, but that sounds like more of a burden, than a gift.

So after a friendly night of drinking at Billy's "modern cabin," and a "comfortable" floor's rest, we woke up to tackle our first day at SXSW. My good friend Riyadh works for Singing Serpent (SD based music company), and they were putting on a showcase with free food, drinks, and bands (including Rafter and Rob Crow). Sounded like a good place to start. It was noon, and people were already out-and-about, bands playing venues up and down the street. Click on Keep Reading for the full story Iron Gate, our first stop, was not in the chaos of the storm (6th St.) but in a more residential area which had two bars on every block, unlike 6th St. which had about 5 on every block. The first band, No Kids (Vancouver), didn't have all their drum gear so they asked to borrow ours. In return, Writer got added to the Singing Serpent showcase. Only an hour into SXSW and already got an extra gig, rad! No Kids are what I'd like to call indie-rock R&B. Electronic, dancy, groovy, and silky are my 4 favorites words to describe it. They were really good, but halfway through their set they had to compete with the free BBQ line. Writer performed after No Kids and it was great to see crowd support from local friends Team Abraham, Lights On, and The Fling (Long Beach).
After Writer we stuck around for a little bit, but eventually needed to roam the streets. Ms. Beas, which is 362 days out of the year a biker bar, was an awesome indie all- ages outdoor venue across the street. We stopped in for a bit, but had to keep roaming, our friends' Henry Clay People were playing an Aquarium Drunkard showcase on the main strip of 6th St.
Along with Lights On, we mobbed through the crowded, blocked off st., venue extravaganza called 6th St. On our way, we were inspired to stop at a beauty salon showcase, when the door girl said "Free Margaritas." Are You Kidding Me! Inside a small area was setup as a stage, and in the back of the salon a full bar serving tons of margaritas and free energy bars was in full swing. We quickly downed 2-3 margs and jammed up the street to the venue for Henry Clay People. There was a long line for the show, but somehow we kind of weaseled our way in. HCP was in full rock mode and it was great to see our friends getting some amazing attention. Last year at SXSW was their first time and they were hardly noticed. The bar was totally packed and everyone was getting into it. That's all I got for my write-up of SXSW day 1 for now. I will recap more soon.
Also I will post more photos on my personal myspace page. (www.myspace.com/dagart)