Rohan Solomon, the Founder of the Synergy Group, in the Falcon room at the studio
Delhi-based musician and producer Rohan Solomon has, over the span of 20 years, steadily expanded his expertise to not just being a singer and songwriter in front of a mic, but an artist and entrepreneur who now runs a comprehensive music hub, Synergy Audio Productions.
Where he was previously aiding independent artists as a producer to shape rough demos into sprawling, radio-friendly pop songs, Solomon now has a full music company that expands his vision, giving artists a world-class platform to nurture their talent and explore their creative potential.
A Music Mix Session in the flagship Falcon room, in full Dolby Atmos
Inspired by his own experiences as a musician, Solomon thought of the company as a space where artists could feel comfortable and inspired, among other things. “As a musician, I remember feeling ‘at home’ and comfortable at certain studios back in my days,” Solomon explains. “I wanted to create a space like that on a larger scale.”
Originally started in New York City where Solomon had a stint as a producer and sound engineer behind the console, Synergy Audio Productions has grown into a go-to studio and learning center in Gurugram, Delhi NCR over the last year. Some of India’s top artists and eager new music students alike have gathered at the space, and along with it came acclaim.
Solomon was recently named Creative Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 at the ET Young Industry Leaders Awards for leading Synergy Group into a whole new space that looks beyond being just a recording studio. After all, it’s the culmination of the artist’s life savings and years of working towards a dream that he wanted to get just right.
That said, Solomon did enlist the help of Munro Acoustics, a renowned U.K.-based company that has worked on iconic studios like Abbey Road. Together, they helped get the acoustics of Solomon’s brainchild just right.
The vintage Neumann M149 Microphone is the centerpiece of the Synergy Microphone collection
At a time when the music industry in India is booming and basking in a post-pandemic glow, we’ve seen big strides in the ecosystem – more record labels, more studios, more music education, and of course, tons of new artists. The infrastructure that Solomon is offering adds to that a great deal, while also looking into the demand for music education through an audio institute and its courses, plus another music institute for instrument-focused classes.
Solomon believes that artist-backed studios offer a unique advantage over any other recording studios in India. “Most home studio owners work with consumer-grade interfaces/sound cards,” he notes. “This is enough to make recordings at home, but it usually lacks the flavor or audio that great analog equipment brings to the table.” He adds, “We aim to go the extra mile. We have a great acoustic treatment and a commercial-grade studio.”
The team having a creative discussion
Earning his chops as part of feted rock band Cyanide and assisting on a Grammy-winning record by American hip-hop artist Anderson Paak (as an audio engineer), Solomon’s approach to producing music is centered on understanding the artist’s vision and serving the story of the song. “There will always be a little spillover of your own artistic style into your productions,” he admitted. “But for the most part, I try to get in the artist’s shoes and try to understand their story.”
At the end of the day, Solomon says he doesn’t necessarily want to stamp another artist’s song with his own production style, but simply follow any stylistic choices that will, again, serve the story of the song.
Like any artist embarking on a project of this scale that’s rarely been attempted before, Solomon’s journey to making this hub a reality wasn’t without its challenges. The construction process, involving various teams and materials, proved to be time-consuming and demanding. From sourcing analog equipment to filling the void in India when it comes to analog preamps, EQs, and compressors to “dial in our sounds while recording,” Solomon says it’s all been worth it.
The Neumann M149 Tube Microphone, capturing drums in the Live Room
Part of the highlights for him is to see it all come to life in a studio setting with musicians and engineers in the room. Another humble brag Solomon can make is hiring sound engineers for internships, giving them access to rarely-seen recording gear, and seeing them grow in terms of mixing, mastering, and more. It’s tied into the work at Synergy Audio Institute, whereas the Synergy Institute of Music is more about shaping the fundamentals of all kinds of instrumentalists and vocalists.
As someone who went the do-it-yourself way with songwriting and production at the start with Cyanide’s music and later received guidance and mentorship in New York recording studios, Solomon understands the importance of a guiding hand. He along with a few seasoned industry professionals share insights and expertise to help artists refine their sound and develop their creative goals in an ever-changing ecosystem.
Artists enjoying a break, in between the takes, at Pool Table area at Synergy Studio
In arguably setting a new standard for the recording industry in the country, Solomon hopes that it can inspire others as well to maintain that level of high-quality access to studios. At the end of it, he still wants the space to feel like home, an idea that he clearly holds dear. He says, “I wanted to go the extra mile and create a home, where we can oversee a musician’s journey right from teaching them the basics, to providing a world-class recording studio, a store where we can sell them musical instruments at affordable rates, and also allow them to learn music production and audio engineering if their interest leads towards that,” concludes, the Grammy acknowledged (We Demand Change 2021) artist & Producer, who stands firm in his resolve to elevate music production and education standards in India.
Website: http://www.synergygroup.art/
Instagram Link: @SynergyAudioPro
Disclaimer: Content Produced by Grocket
