Rain pelts the roof above the Brandon-based Polysound Recording Studios, and an occasional thunderclap reminds everyone we are lucky to be indoors.
Inside, studio owner Wes Price is at command central, furiously working on what seems like hundreds of vocal tracks. Six members of Plant City’s youth pop singing group, NRG, have been slugging it out, take after take. Price is a meticulous, perfectionist of an engineer, and he’s after the best, cleanest raw tracks he can get.
Make no mistake: There’s no artificial auto-tuning anywhere here. These kids can really sing.
As Price works his magic, the eighth-graders collapse into chairs, and even onto the floor. NRG Producer Yvonne Fry instructs them to eat a snack. It’s been a long, long day.
Fry tells me she was up before 4 a.m. — excited and ready to start the day. NRG began its June 21 with an intense photo shoot with Stephanie Humphrey. There, the band got various group shots, as well as individual headshots for their upcoming trip to New York City. Following the shoot, the kids booked it to Polysound to immediately begin tracking two of their original tunes.
As they pile into the studio, NRG Director Andrew Rafalski is already waiting. Price and Sarasota-based Eternal Sound Studios owner Steve Fayette give the kids a quick tutorial on singing in the studio.
“These mics are extremely sensitive,” Fayette says. “They’ll pick up everything — if you rub your pant leg, a water bottle, anything.”
With that, Fry collects all the kids’ cell phones, and within five minutes, they’re in the isolation booth, putting their voices onto their first track, “Crazy Baby.”
As the session stretches into hours, the grueling reality of the recording studio blankets the room. And any musician who has spent time under the scrutiny of the mics knows that pressure — when only perfection will do. It’s a seemingly impossible task: Capture an emotion-filled, honest moment in the most structured, planned way possible. Every note is scrutinized for its pitch, length and quality. This is not glitz and glam; this is work.
But, for these future stars, it’s the best work imaginable.
Earlier this year, the group stood at a crossroads. With many of the singers entering high school next fall, Fry had asked each member to spend 10 days thinking about where they wanted to take NRG in the future. Some of the original members bowed out, wanting to free up some time to play sports, cheer or participate in any number of “normal” high school activities. However, six members — Marlee Arn, Arie Fry, Bryson Keel, Emily Menia, Benji Padgett and Ashtyn Steele — returned with a renewed determination and focus.
They want to take this as far as they can.
And now, just a few months later, they’re making their first professional recording just days before their performances in “Feather” during the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Also while in New York, NRG hopes to perform several times outside of “Feather,” including a visit to the hospital where Plant City’s Morgan Pierce currently is receiving cancer treatment. Fry will have packets and music samples at the ready for each and every performer — just in case a producer or scout catches a glimpse of one her stars.
“We want to go the distance,” Fry says.
As a musician and lifelong music fan, I want that for NRG, too. Their professionalism and determination in the studio proves they can handle the best show business can throw at them. So, from all of us at the Plant City Observer, we wish you the best of luck in New York and beyond!
HELP NRG GET TO NYC
NRG currently is raising money for its upcoming trip to New York. To donate, visit fundly.com/help-nrg-get-to-nyc.
CORRECTION
The story, “WLCA to revisit gate options,” contained two errors.
The Walden Lake Community Association has not yet decided what option it will use to curb non-resident parking at the community park. The WLCA is seeking more information on both a keycard gate and towing options.
Furthermore, the WLCA does not offer stickers to non-residents for parking. The lot is for Walden Lake residents only.
We regret the errors.Related Stories
