From brain to speaker, Michael Kolar has been guiding the vision of talented artists for over thirty years. Raised in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, he developed an ear for music at the age of seven, landed an internship at Bzipp Studios at fifteen, and had set up his own home studio by seventeen. At twenty two, Michael was on the road with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, learning artist relations, tour logistics and live sound. After some time on the road, he returned to his hometown to hone his craft and complete his bachelor’s degree at Columbia College Chicago. Upon graduation, his focus switched fully to his studio, and he began recording albums for some of the world’s most distinct artists for decades to come.
While always called Soundscape Studios, what began as a small production studio in the corner of the garage of his family home eventually grew into a large multi-room commercial studio. Michael Kolar has worked on albums for artists including Action Bronson, FKA Twigs, Raekwon, Jamila Woods, Zayn Malik, M.I.A, Chance The Rapper, Curren$y, Ludacris, 2 Chainz, Naked Raygun, Wyclef Jean, Talib Kweli, Chingy and many others. He formerly served as vice president of the Engineering & Recording Society, is currently a voting member of The Grammy’s, as well as a NAMM and AES member. Michael’s work boasts a combined total of over one billion streams with 7 RIAA certified gold & platinum albums to his credit. In addition to running his studio, Michael co-founded Closed Sessions in 2009, a Chicago-based incubator, record label, and artist management company, and has toured internationally managing an array of marquee artists.
Never one to be content with business-as-usual, and feeling ready to step back, reflect and re-align, Michael sold his stake in Closed Sessions in 2023 – and after twenty-six years, sold his entire studio facility on Chicago Ave.
After taking a sabbatical & relocating to Palm Springs, California Michael was presented with an opportunity a bit out of his wheelhouse. The assignment was to be part of the team that would bring a dilapidated 1930’s atmospheric theatre back to life. 34 million dollars later and whole lot of blood, sweat & tears we ushered The Plaza Theatre back into the limelight with an opening night performance by Cynthia Erivo and the Palm Springs Symphony. Variety magazine called it the concert of the year and ever since Michael can be found most nights at front of house mixing for a diverse group of acts as The Monkees, Aloe Blacc, The New York Philharmonic & Kathy Griffin.
Don’t call it a career change insists Michael, he still loves mixing records from his personal mix suite in the desert. “Live Sound always reminds my brain to focus on the big picture and not sweat the small stuff. Sometimes in mixing one can lose the forest for the trees.”
From studio to stage, Michael stands ready to help you with any or all your audio needs.
Reach out at get@michaelgkolar.com
