Recording Studio and Music Production Company Opens

With experience on his side, Sebastian Haimerl, a music producer and sound engineer, has set up shop in Santa Barbara under the name of Anacapa Music Productions. He is the founder of Malibu Sound, and a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles music industry.

Without severing his ties to Los Angeles, Haimerl made the bold move of relocating to Santa Barbara from hectic Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. He said that in Santa Barbara, the three “feel already more at peace.” When asked how he thinks the clientèle will differ in Santa Barbara versus in L.A., Haimerl responded that he thinks Santa Barbara music artists hold strong identities of both themselves and their music, without being hindered by the industry.

“As an artist you have to discover your own voice; copying someone else’s most likely will not take you far,” said Haimerl. He spoke of his experience working with Jackson Browne for six years in Santa Monica. He credits Browne with having taught him “about the recording process, arranging and producing, but also how to follow your vision and not to let go.”

Haimerl knew he wanted to work in music after he started a band with friends at the age of 14. He played the drums. “It was all experimenting and discovery for us,” he said. Later, he decided he would not pursue being a professional musician, but was enthralled by recording engineering.

“[I] learned the old-school, analog way of recording, using 24-track tape machines, editing two inch tapes with razor blades,” said Haimerl. He also said that he learned recording engineering from some pretty hefty figures in the industry, including aforementioned Browne. It seems as though Haimerl is very in-tune with his decisions and life’s work. “I love working with fun, strong-headed and creative people who have lots of stories to tell” he said.