‘My role is to help everyone make the most of their time in the studio and produce the best sound possible’

Producer, engineer and musician Chris Pepper talks to Julia Thorley about the satisfaction of helping recording artists bring their ambitions to life.

Chris Pepper. Annie Dressner image.

Chris Pepper started his musical journey as a drummer, but now uses his talents to help others record their music. He lives near Oundle and runs nearby Saltwell Studio, which clings to the edge of our county on the Northants/Cambridgeshire border. From there, he works with local, national and international clients.

The setup is what you might expect from a recording studio – all the tech in one room divided from the performance space by a glass screen – but there are more instruments to hand than is usual, as Chris explains.

“Yes, I’ve built up quite a collection, including a baby grand piano, a couple of dulcitones, a harmonium, a Hammond organ and several keyboards, as well as a drum kit and some guitars. Most people bring their instruments with them, but it’s useful to have some here, too. I work a lot with singer-songwriters, and sometimes a bit of something extra can make all the difference to a track.”