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OUR STORY

OUR STORY

BEGINNINGS

Woodley Moss Studios was a pipeline dream for us, Connor Haggarty & Josh Follows as we are musicians first & foremost. We started playing in bedrooms using any old speaker, amp or microphone we could get our hands on. We never thought we would be running a recording studio.

It’s taken a long time to get to this point with a lot of pitfalls, learning and help from some incredible people. We want to share our story with you so you can get an insight of why we created Woodley Moss Studios and understand what it means to us, why it matters and what sets us apart.

In 2016 we met for the first time at an open mic night, then a few months later formed our band.

HOLLOW DOORS

On New Years day 2017 we formed Hollow Doors. We put all our money together and bought our first PA system, with absolutely no idea of what we were doing, we managed to rope in a man with a van; Nigel Moss to help us get our gear to our first gig. 

NIGE

Since then, Nige has never missed a gig. He’s our family and a bigger part of the band than us. A joiner by trade, he would constantly create incredible gizmos for us that would make our lives easier and gigs even better. He did not have to do anything, but he chose to help us and without him we simply would not have reached this point.

GROWTH

We played in pubs and venues across our home town, Scunthorpe. As we continued to grow as musicians and friends, we eventually decided to write our own music.

We stayed busy playing shows in our hometown, building an incredible following, subsequently travelling further afield. Constantly practicing, we figured we needed a space which we could use for practice (and save our families poor ears). Somewhere which preferably did not double-up as a bedroom… or living room.

DIY

Previously, we went to studios to record however, our expectations did not meet reality. Our sessions in these studios often had us feeling like a number instead of a name as we got the impression they did not truly care about our music but our money. Therefore, we were left with an end result which we were not happy with and our pockets feeling a lot lighter for the whole experience.

We used what we had, which was an old horses stable; it was 4 walls, no electric, no heating and no floor. It was just an empty room, but it was ours and we saw the potential it held. Personally, we had no idea where to start but we knew someone who did… Mr Nigel Moss! Therefore, every spare second and penny went into developing this space.

Coincidingly we still wanted to make music, but with feeling discouraged by our early experiences and with a lack of funds, we felt inspired by the DIY attitude of other artists who we admire which drove us to turn our hands to recording at home. 

FIRST RELEASE

With the help of some amazingly talented friends, sound engineers Tom Sennitt & Eddie Vessey, we learnt about miking techniques, equipment, setup, recording software and DAWs. We managed to record our first 4 singles from home on a shoestring budget – it wasn’t ideal – but we were lucky our families were supportive and let us hijack the living room for our recording space. 

Tom & Eddie mixed & mastered the songs for us. They listened to what we wanted, asked us for reference tracks (which we didn’t even know was a thing), gave us advice, talked us through their decisions, asked us for our feedback, revised the tracks and – most importantly – made us feel like we were a part of the whole experience. 

We released our first single in August of 2019, proud of what we had accomplished, it made us realise that this is how making music should feel.

FOUNDATIONS

In 2020 our rehearsal space had a floor, electricity and was soundproofed (the idea of heating was a novelty). That was enough for us to move in and take up permanent residence. We recorded our next collections of singles in there – with no acoustic treatment (the closest we came was recording vocals with towels draped around us).

MORE RELEASES

This time we decided we’d like to try mixing the songs ourselves. Once again we called up Tom & Eddie, badgered them and picked their brains over every minor detail, found out everything we could about mixing and went through a lot of trial and error. In March of 2020 we released our very own mixed & mastered songs. 

THE VISION

We don’t need to mention what else occurred in 2020 but, needless to say, we had a lot more time on our hands. With the singles finished and being unable to plan ahead for the future, we concentrated on what we could do. The rehearsal space. 

We hammered away throughout the lockdown periods and by the end of 2020 we had a completed rehearsal space. Knowing that we wanted to continue writing and recording, we looked at this space and said to ourselves “if we put a bit more work in we could turn this into a proper recording space’’. We could make use of the bare rooms beside it to make a booth and convert the attic into a place for mixing & mastering. So with a new goal in mind, we went back to Nigel, explained our idea and gave him an even bigger headache. 

Having a blank canvas meant we could turn this space into exactly how we pictured it. Because we made it for ourselves, we didn’t cut corners and we did not skimp out on materials or equipment. Otherwise we’d only be cheating ourselves.

PREPARATION

We learnt everything we could about room-treatment and acoustics. We built bespoke sound panels and diffusers, researched professional recording equipment and put everything we had into creating our studio. 

In the middle of 2021 it was time to add the final touches, over 2 years since we initially began working on what we thought would be a practice space. We had our very own studio. All we needed was a name. 

Woodley Moss studios takes its namesake from the one & only Nigel Woodley Moss; without his selflessness and expertise, the band and the studio would be a distant dream.

We finally had the space, knowledge and equipment to help us create music that would sound just as incredible as we envisioned. However, we had also learnt during our renovations that our story was not an uncommon one. There are an immeasurable number of independent artists in the same shoes as us, who have not had the same opportunities as us. 

WOODLEY MOSS STUDIOS

Not just artists though. Sound engineers, session musicians, producers, mix and mastering engineers all of whom would love to record and work with artists but are unable to because they don’t have the space nor resources. 

Every year, an increase of newcomers enter the music industry but cannot get their foot in the door. This is due to not having the space or the expenditure hire and we wanted to change that as we knew we had the potential to provide our space and resources to others.

We could let them choose exactly what they require and assist them in making informed choices, developing a stronger understanding of the processes involved in turning an idea into a finalised song that could stand its own against commercial music and label-backed projects. 

We could use our own skills that we have gained from years of experience to provide services to help people create the music they want to make. We could reach out to the same people (Tom & Eddie) that helped us in the beginning and make them apart of our dream. So that music makers who wanted experienced engineers could breathe easy knowing their projects were in good hands.

And we could do all of this at a cost that was accessible and justifiable to independent artists/music makers. In return we would be able to pay the bills, keep the lights on, cover the costs of equipment, work full-time on something we were passionate about and continue to focus on our own music.

Our first-ever gig, with original bandmates Brad (Bass) & Hen (Drums), back in April 2017
Our last line-up with Corey (Bass) & Callum (Drums) before we became a gruesome twosome
The one & only Nigel Moss
Life as we knew it back then

The first song we ever released

More progress & our early recording/rehearsal setup

1 of the 6 songs we released during the first lockdown in 2020

Josh & former bandmate Corey getting down & dirty clearing the attic
The bare bones our control room
The very same control room further down the line
Our recording booth pre-renovation
Here's when we started to see a light at the end of the tunnel

The first song recorded, mixed & mastered in the finished stages of Woodley Moss Studios and our latest release!

We hope reading this has helped you gain a better insight of what Woodley Moss Studios is and who we are. We are musicians at heart and we care about music as well as the people who make it. We know you can make great music in bedrooms within your own home and we understand firsthand how resourceful musicians can be, because 9/10 times we have to be. We just want to level the playing field. 

Being an independent artist means being your own manager, agent, PR and marketing team, videographer, recording engineer, producer and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the plates you have to spin. It’s all time that takes you away from the one thing you love; playing and making music.

Everyone could do with a helping hand and we have been lucky to have such amazing support from people who we are blessed to call friends, to help us get to where we are now. We want to pay that forward so that anyone can create amazing music the way they want to. That’s our story so far and we are looking forward to this new exciting chapter in our lives. We hope we can be a part of your story too.

Thanks for reading!

Connor & Josh

Take a look at our Appreciation Page to see just how many people helped build this space!

Connor
Connor
Josh
Josh

CHECK OUT

APPRECIATION

THE STUDIO

THE TEAM

A small way we could show our gratitude and bring credit to the people who helped us create this incredible space.

Based in Normanby, Scunthorpe, Woodley Moss is situated in a quiet, picturesque location away from noise, hustle and distractions. Learn more about our space and our facilities.

The people behind the studio. Learn about our in-house team and experienced engineers to see if we are the right match for your project.

Learn more
Learn more
Learn more

OUR STORY

BEGINNINGS

Woodley Moss Studios was a pipeline dream for us, Connor Haggarty & Josh Follows as we are musicians first & foremost. We started playing in bedrooms using any old speaker, amp or microphone we could get our hands on. We never thought we would be running a recording studio.

It’s taken a long time to get to this point with a lot of pitfalls, learning and help from some incredible people. We want to share our story with you so you can get an insight of why we created Woodley Moss Studios and understand what it means to us, why it matters and what sets us apart.

In 2016 we met for the first time at an open mic night, then a few months later formed our band.

HOLLOW DOORS

On New Years day 2017 we formed Hollow Doors. We put all our money together and bought our first PA system, with absolutely no idea of what we were doing, we managed to rope in a man with a van; Nigel Moss to help us get our gear to our first gig. 

NIGE

Since then, Nige has never missed a gig. He’s our family and a bigger part of the band than us. A joiner by trade, he would constantly create incredible gizmos for us that would make our lives easier and gigs even better. He did not have to do anything, but he chose to help us and without him we simply would not have reached this point.

GROWTH

We played in pubs and venues across our home town, Scunthorpe. As we continued to grow as musicians and friends, we eventually decided to write our own music.

We stayed busy playing shows in our hometown, building an incredible following, subsequently travelling further afield. Constantly practicing, we figured we needed a space which we could use for practice (and save our families poor ears). Somewhere which preferably did not double-up as a bedroom… or living room.

DIY

Previously, we went to studios to record however, our expectations did not meet reality. Our sessions in these studios often had us feeling like a number instead of a name as we got the impression they did not truly care about our music but our money. Therefore, we were left with an end result which we were not happy with and our pockets feeling a lot lighter for the whole experience.

We used what we had, which was an old horses stable; it was 4 walls, no electric, no heating and no floor. It was just an empty room, but it was ours and we saw the potential it held. Personally, we had no idea where to start but we knew someone who did… Mr Nigel Moss! Therefore, every spare second and penny went into developing this space.

Coincidingly we still wanted to make music, but with feeling discouraged by our early experiences and with a lack of funds, we felt inspired by the DIY attitude of other artists who we admire which drove us to turn our hands to recording at home. 

FIRST RELEASE

With the help of some amazingly talented friends, sound engineers Tom Sennitt & Eddie Vessey, we learnt about miking techniques, equipment, setup, recording software and DAW’s. We managed to record our first 4 singles from home on a shoestring budget – it wasn’t ideal – but we were lucky our families were supportive and let us hijack the living room for our recording space. 

Tom & Eddie mixed & mastered the songs for us. They listened to what we wanted, asked us for reference tracks (which we didn’t even know was a thing), gave us advice, talked us through their decisions, asked us for our feedback, revised the tracks and – most importantly – made us feel like we were a part of the whole experience. 

We released our first single in August of 2019, proud of what we had accomplished, it made us realise that this is how making music should feel.

FOUNDATIONS

In 2020 our rehearsal space had a floor, electricity and was soundproofed (the idea of heating was a novelty). That was enough for us to move in and take up permanent residence. We recorded our next collections of singles in there – with no acoustic treatment (the closest we came was recording vocals with towels draped around us).

MORE RELEASES

This time we decided we’d like to try mixing the songs ourselves. Once again we called up Tom & Eddie, badgered them and picked their brains over every minor detail, found out everything we could about mixing and went through a lot of trial and error. In March of 2020 we released our very own mixed & mastered songs. 

THE VISION

We don’t need to mention what else occurred in 2020 but, needless to say, we had a lot more time on our hands. With the singles finished and being unable to plan ahead for the future, we concentrated on what we could do. The rehearsal space. 

We hammered away throughout the lockdown periods and by the end of 2020 we had a completed rehearsal space. Knowing that we wanted to continue writing and recording, we looked at this space and said to ourselves “if we put a bit more work in we could turn this into a proper recording space’’. We could make use of the bare rooms beside it to make a booth and convert the attic into a place for mixing & mastering. So with a new goal in mind, we went back to Nigel, explained our idea and gave him an even bigger headache. 

Having a blank canvas meant we could turn this space into exactly how we pictured it. Because we made it for ourselves, we didn’t cut corners and we did not skimp out on materials or equipment. Otherwise we’d only be cheating ourselves.

PREPARATION

We learnt everything we could about room-treatment and acoustics. We built bespoke sound panels and diffusers, researched professional recording equipment and put everything we had into creating our studio. 

In the middle of 2021 it was time to add the final touches, over 2 years since we initially began working on what we thought would be a practice space. We had our very own studio. All we needed was a name. 

Woodley Moss studios takes its namesake from the one & only Nigel Woodley Moss; without his selflessness and expertise, the band and the studio would be a distant dream.

We finally had the space, knowledge and equipment to help us create music that would sound just as incredible as we envisioned. However, we had also learnt during our renovations that our story was not an uncommon one. There are an immeasurable number of independent artists in the same shoes as us, who have not had the same opportunities as us. 

WOODLEY MOSS STUDIOS

Not just artists though. Sound engineers, session musicians, producers, mix and mastering engineers all of whom would love to record and work with artists but are unable to because they don’t have the space nor resources. 

Every year, an increase of newcomers enter the music industry but cannot get their foot in the door. This is due to not having the space or the expenditure hire and we wanted to change that as we knew we had the potential to provide our space and resources to others.

We could let them choose exactly what they require and assist them in making informed choices, developing a stronger understanding of the processes involved in turning an idea into a finalised song that could stand its own against commercial music and label-backed projects. 

We could use our own skills that we have gained from years of experience to provide services to help people create the music they want to make. We could reach out to the same people (Tom & Eddie) that helped us in the beginning and make them apart of our dream. So that music makers who wanted experienced engineers could breathe easy knowing their projects were in good hands.

And we could do all of this at a cost that was accessible and justifiable to independent artists/music makers. In return we would be able to pay the bills, keep the lights on, cover the costs of equipment, work full-time on something we were passionate about and continue to focus on our own music.

IMAGES

We hope reading this has helped you gain a better insight of what Woodley Moss Studios is and who we are. We are musicians at heart and we care about music as well as the people who make it. We know you can make great music in bedrooms within your own home and we understand firsthand how resourceful musicians can be, because 9/10 times we have to be. We just want to level the playing field. 

Being an independent artist means being your own manager, agent, PR and marketing team, videographer, recording engineer, producer and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the plates you have to spin. It’s all time that takes you away from the one thing you love; playing and making music.

Everyone could do with a helping hand and we have been lucky to have such amazing support from people who we are blessed to call friends, to help us get to where we are now. We want to pay that forward so that anyone can create amazing music the way they want to. That’s our story so far and we are looking forward to this new exciting chapter in our lives. We hope we can be a part of your story too.

Thanks for reading!

Connor & Josh

Take a look at our Appreciation Page to see just how many people helped build this space!

Connor
Connor
Josh
Josh

CHECK OUT

APPRECIATION

A small way we could show our gratitude and bring credit to the people who helped us create this incredible space.

Learn more

THE STUDIO

Based in Normanby, Scunthorpe, Woodley Moss is situated in a quiet, picturesque location away from noise, hustle and distractions. Learn more about our space and our facilities.

Learn more

THE TEAM

The people behind the studio. Learn about our in-house team and experienced engineers to see if we are the right match for your project.

Learn more
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