Meadows, Platinum Sound find new downtown Albany home

ALBANY — Mario Meadows looks around his new digs at 523 W. Broad Ave., at the mixing board where he works his magic and the control room where artists from throughout the region come in search of their own little bit of musical glory.

“We’ve got the same equipment that we had at the old studio (at 500 N. Slappey Blvd.), the same treatments in the studio, and it’s roughly the same size,” Meadows says. “But somehow it seems more grown-up.”

“Grown-up” may be the perfect descriptor for Platinum Sound Studio and its owner, who started recording music while a student at Westover High School and turned his talent into a career that is well into its second decade. The newly-engaged and dapper Meadows, who turned his back on an opportunity to record music in Atlanta to return to his hometown and never looked back, says he is ready to expand the unique sound that has allowed Platinum Sound to secure its niche on the regional hip-hop scene.

“I went to Atlanta for a little while after I graduated high school, but I soon came back home to Albany,” Meadows, 37, said. “I figured, ‘Why take my talent to Atlanta, where there are a thousand studios, when I can record right here at home and be the only one?’ Besides, I loved Albany, and I wanted to record here.

“I think the producers — the Ole E’s — who grew up in Albany and the artists who are from here are responsible for creating a sound that is uniquely Albany. We have a drawl down here that doesn’t sound like anywhere else. That’s why I tell the artists I work with to be themselves, not to try and sound like they’re from Atlanta or anywhere else.”

Meadows has big plans for his new studio home, including enticing his Atlanta DJ sister Marsha to bring her talents home and help get a local station going in the Platinum Sound suite of offices. Meadows is also looking into multimedia opportunities and expanding the signature Platinum Sound sound to genres outside hip-hop.

“I’ve got a million ideas,” he said. “It’s always going to be about the budget, but I’d love for my sister to bring an in-house radio studio to Albany. We could have artists record here and do promotions in the radio studio. It’s a dream, but I’m putting my sister on notice that it’s something I’d love to see happen.

“I’m also excited about (The Albany Herald’s) local music competition (in which Meadows is a finalist in the Producer category). Seeing all those nominees and realizing there are so many talented artists out there in all genres has inspired me to reach out to the other nominees. I want to work with them, record rock, country, every kind of music.”

Moving and making improvements on his studio has long been on Meadows’ mind, but it took the purchase of the Slappey building he’d been leasing for 16 years to light the fire under him. He finished his final recording session at the old building (which has since been razed) on Jan. 23 and held his first recording session at the West Broad studio on Jan. 27.

“I looked in the downtown business district — especially along Front Street — but there was no place ready,” Meadows said of the move. “I kind of drove by this place and caught the ‘For Sale’ sign out of the corner of my eye. I came in , looked around and instantly felt like I was at home.

“I shut down for three days to move and set up all the equipment, but I was determined not to miss a beat.”

“Beat” is what has been primary to Meadows’ life for the last 16 years, as he’s recorded such artists as Field Mob, Lil Scrappy (work that garnered him a certified Gold album), Big Nod, Swishaman Slim and other area and regional artists. And even with fiance Jackie Howard’s personal interest in his work — her son, Semaj Brooklin, is currently working at Platinum Sound and recording his own music — it’s that same beat that will carry him forward.

“Man, I’ve been lucky enough to do what I love for a living,” Meadows said. “Ever since I made the switch from toys to music, my parents — Norma and Morris Meadows — have encouraged me to go after my dreams, taught me how to focus on customer service. I’ve taken that and made it into a career. Now it’s time to move to the next level.”

Now that’s a grown-up thing to say.