Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Producer and owner of Cedar Hill, David Kennedy, inside his studio. - Krista Henry Photo

Far into the fog, mist and towering forms of Red Hills, in St. Andrew, lies a haven of inspiration to many local performers at Cedar Hill Digital. This week, Echo Chambers explores the small, yet quaint studio of producer, David Kennedy, a bit out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary.

Designed and operated by David Kennedy, who has worked with monster acts such as Mary J Blige, Mos Def and Keith Richards, Cedar Hill is the dream of the multi-platinum winning engineer/producer.

A returned resident, Kennedy began his dream back in 2004 with the equipment he had been collecting for 15 years. However, Kennedy could not bother with the hustle and bustle of life in the city and the clamour of artistes coming to the studio for demo time; he decided Lower Rockway in Red Hills was ideal for his new project.

"After having worked in some of the best recording studios around the world in the past 20 years I knew when I returned to Jamaica I would need to build a solid, acoustically accurate and comfortable room," Kennedy commented.

Up-to-date equipment

Kennedy certainly achieved just that with his two-room, cut stone and wood studio with a view clear over the hills to the city. The two rooms host a variety of up-to-date equipment with a fairly large voicing room that can hold a live band if necessary.

Cedar Hill Digital was designed as a multi-functional studio, boasting 5.1 surround capabilities, ready to work not only with the music industry but with Jamaica's burgeoning video and film industries. The doors are heavy and filled with sand to keep the outside world out and the music in. The ceiling is hung on chains, giving the roof a dreamy, floating quality. "I figured if I built a decent room people who have projects will enjoy it. It is also more attractive to a foreign clientele. It's been difficult, but I've accomplished a lot on my own," Kennedy said.

World music

Leaning towards urban music, Kennedy has had many persons trek all the way up the winding roads of Red Hills to his studio to record. Not an easy studio to find, artistes show their appreciation for the ambience just by making the journey. Acts such as Fredlocks, Sarah Couch, Katherine Williams, Stevie G of Rootz Underground, Airplay (a soul and jazz group) and Kemar, among others, record there. The studio is also home to Kennedy's label Intelek Entertainment and the distributor Beat Logic.

Cedar Hill is well on its way to exploring new areas of Jamaican musical talent, acts who are more into rock and world music rather than dancehall.

While most studios are stuck in the city, slaving away, Kennedy commented, "When it's clear up here it's a beautiful view. It's inspirational; people don't know this side of Jamaica".