Inside the Rappers Studio

That’s me, recording some rapping

Earlier this week I had a studio recording session. Because I’m moving to Amsterdam. The last time I moved to Amsterdam, See Spot Rhyme recorded our now legendary epoch-defining underground hip hop magnum opus ‘Ready, Set, Rap!’

Ten years on, I’m moving to Amsterdam again. In between these Amsterdam moves I’ve been writing, creating, tweaking and collaborating on a whole sheaf of songs. Of course, a whole lot fo other stuff has also been happening, but in between, some raps have been put into notebooks and occasionally honed into verses. For years now I’ve been wanting to take those lyrics and make them into actual songs.

And on Tuesday, that process took some huge strides when the project was taken to studio level. Like a real music studio. I went with longtime pals and co-conspirators Dave Waller and Rob Grundel.

I’ve been friends with those guys for a long time now bonding over a shared love of hip hop and comedy. That expanded into working together as Marbles, then doing Beats, Rhymes and Mirth, and now guesting with them at Excursions.

Rob Grundel on bass

We spent a half day at Fossil Studios, hanging out, making jokes, eating jerk chicken, rapping, improvising, watching Rob play instruments, and just generally having an awesome day. What’s the result going to be?

Well, at best it could be a few tracks that form the basis for an entire album, or it might end up being just a few standalone tracks, or just a research adventure into how studio recording could work best in the future. But regardless of the product-based outcome, it was a pretty kick-ass way to spend a day.

Me on bass holding, Rob on keys

I don’t know what the next steps are, or how long it will all take, but there are rap songs – with live instrumentation – in process.

By Liesbeth Smit|2017-09-14T08:43:44+00:00December 22 2012|

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Serena, Amsterdam

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Samora, Amsterdam

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Marton, Budapest

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Derek, Amsterdam,

“Ryan is an incredible teacher. He took a straggling group of beginners and turned us into a viable company of improvisational actors who regularly perform together – in front of actual, paying, repeat customers.”

Carrie, Brussels

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Anonymous, Switzerland

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Simon, Amsterdam

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Jeremy, Brussels

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Imaan, Amsterdam

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Shauna, Tunbridge Wells

“Your Taking It Easy session helped me relax more into the truth of a scene and let it grow more organically instead of pushing too hard to make it funny or dramatic. I loved that you were really clear about what you wanted us to get and how the exercises played into the scene work we did later. I really got a lot from one short session.”

Andrew, Brighton

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Laura, Amsterdam

“Ryan is the most enthusiastic, positive workshop leader I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I’ve been to several of his workshops and after each session I came away with a sense of achievement and feeling that I had learnt something new.”

Chris, London

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Pedro, Lisbon

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Anonymous, Impro Hotel

“Thank you so much for passing your writing knowledge onto me. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun too.”

Larissa, Amsterdam,

“I especially enjoyed the clarity in all of what you were doing – I always understood what it was that you were teaching. I never felt lost. That was really awesome.”

Martin, Tampere

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Andy, Brussels

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Natasha, Amsterdam,

“Ryan is a great teacher, very serious (and very funny!) gives great coaching during scenes! I had a great time studying with him!!”

Alon, Tel Aviv

Inside the Rappers Studio

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Inside the Rappers Studio

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How was working with Ryan?

Contact Ryan Millar