SOUND OF SOUL

The Sound of Soul (SOS) Recording Studio and Music Institute, a nonprofit music education center and recording studio, was explicitly created for the disadvantaged and disabled, enabling them to fan their creative spark despite physical limitations and education.

“If they cannot use their hands or legs, I will give them a place to use their voices.”
— Lama Tenzin Choegyal

Many years ago, Lama Tenzin Choegyal, founder of the CED (Children’s Educational Development) Society, a home for rescued Himalayan children nestled at the foothills of the Himalayas, first described the impetus for establishing a recording studio in Dehradun, India. He wanted to empower those who might not otherwise earn a living due to a disability or being disadvantaged in some other capacity. It seemed like a fantastic idea, but how could it ever come to fruition in such a remote location? While picturesque, Dehradun is not a traditional center for music like Los Angeles, New York, or Mumbai. Hopefully, through the generous efforts and ongoing support of many, SOS will continue to evolve into a premier professional music center and recording studio.

Halfway across the globe from the CED, a young man named Calvin McCormack had just spent two years apprenticing with renowned drummer and recording producer David “Daoud” Shaw at his Radio Active Productions recording studio in Austin, Texas. Daoud had played and recorded with Van Morrison, Jerry Garcia, Etta James, and was the original drummer for the Saturday Night Live Band, to name but a few. Sadly their relationship came to a sudden end in January 2018 when Daoud lost his battle with cancer. After spending years with Daoud to construct this incredible studio, he now had the heart-breaking and arduous task of disassembling and liquidating its contents. While dismantling Daoud’s studio, Calvin was propitiously introduced to Lama Tenzin Choegyal. On a phone call with Calvin, Lama Tenzin shared his extraordinary vision of starting a music program for the children at the CED and the women and children he supports throughout his community. In a flash, Calvin realized his friend and mentor, Daoud, could live on through what was most near and dear to his heart—music! Without hesitation, Calvin reached out to Daoud’s family to propose donating the recording equipment to Lama Tenzin and the children. And so, a sizeable portion of recording equipment was generously gifted to the CED by Daoud’s family, enough to establish a small but entirely functional recording studio.

Six months later, in June of 2018, Calvin arrived in India with three large suitcases filled to the brim with recording equipment. He wasted no time converting a spare 12′ x 12′ bedroom into a recording space. With Lama Tenzin and the CED kids’ help, Calvin constructed an operational recording studio within six weeks of his arrival. The studio was partitioned to include a control room, main recording room, two isolation booths complete with fiberglass insulation, double-paned glass, and an abundance of high-end recording equipment from Daoud’s studio. Calvin and his friends had also collected instruments so the children could begin their lessons in guitar, piano, and drums. As a multi-instrumentalist, Calvin enthusiastically provided the children’s musical instruction over the next month and a half. Additionally, each child at the CED was given the opportunity to record a song of their choosing. In the process, Calvin was able to work with the older children to teach them how to operate a recording studio to produce their music. 

In the following fall of 2019, Calvin returned to the CED to continue developing the Sound of Soul Recording Studio with Lama Tenzin. The children were also taught two new instruments, the flute and bass guitar. Word of this innovative endeavor reached Grammy-winning producer Neil Dorfsman, who graciously volunteered his time and recording expertise to the CED to produce new songs with the children. Dorfsman’s genius as a producer and sound engineer is linked with Paul McCartney, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits, and Bruce Hornsby. Additionally, the SOS studio experienced a significant upgrade thanks to Neil Dorfsman’s connections to the Apogee and Chameleon Labs, which provided additional high-tech sound equipment and hardware. By the year’s end, the children had recorded six new songs, all of which were collaborative efforts of singing and playing multiple instruments.

The Sound of Soul Recording Studio currently occupies a space within the CED. However, Lama Tenzin’s vision is to move and expand the SOS studio into a separate professional, full-fledged recording studio and establish a music education program to serve future generations. With donations, Lama Tenzin plans to break ground on the new state-of-the-art recording studio and music facility near Dehradun in 2022. The proposed new site is located in Sahastradhara, where the prophetically named Song River emerges.

Lama Tenzin Choegyal continues to hear the whispers of the Buddha to extend compassion without barriers to those who would not otherwise receive it.