A wise woman once told me that coincidences are the universe\u2019s way of telling you that things are as they should be. So, any time you think something is kismet or you have a sense of deja vu, you should take it as a sign that you’re doing something right.<\/p>\n
For Normal Heights singer-songwriter Thea Searcy, that reminder came just as she was starting to build a new business with her husband, Jeffrey.<\/p>\n The North Park rehearsal space where the couple practiced with their former band, Cameo Kid, unexpectedly became available to lease along with its neighboring unit; the couple formed an idea to re-invent the space on El Cajon Boulevard for a multitude of creative endeavors.<\/p>\n Merging their shared passion for music, Thea\u2019s enthusiasm for community building and Jeffrey\u2019s knowledge of sound design, they came up with the plan for SRCY.CO \u2014 a music production studio and more.<\/p>\n \u201cInitially, we were aiming to supplement the band we were in at the time and build a space to be able to record on our own time and dime,\u201d Thea Searcy said. \u201cAs life would have it, [Cameo Kid] broke up shortly after signing the lease. It wasn\u2019t till we were knocking down walls Jeffrey mentioned it was the same place I had recorded my first songs after coming to San Diego [from Denver, Colorado].\u201d<\/p>\n Thea was stunned to remember that the space \u2014 known then as Archival Sound \u2014 had actually been the birthplace of her early music and was now the focal point of such a large undertaking in her life. She recognized it as a sign.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helped me feel like we were on the right path,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In less than a year, the newly wedded Searcys have transformed the location into three distinct areas: a sound\/control room, a \u201clive\u201d room for performances and practices, and a lounge area that features an ornate antique bar.<\/p>\n All the pieces are in place for a mountain of music making.<\/p>\n Jeffrey \u2014 who also works frequently with Pretzel Logic Sound doing sound design for TV and films \u2014 had to build, and re-build, the control room to be ideal for sound quality. To put it in simple terms, that is. He explained that the shape of a room affects sound (commonly referred to as \u201cacoustics\u201d) and thus months of physical labor went into making the room exactly as it should be. Thea says the other areas are also designed to be \u201crecording-ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWherever magic strikes, the vibe will not be disturbed and magic can be captured,\u201d Thea explained.<\/p>\n But Thea and Jeffrey don’t want to limit the uses of SRCY.CO to musical ventures.<\/p>\n In addition to putting on small, underground shows and having bands record in the space, Thea said she envisions it as being home to fundraisers, women\u2019s meet-ups, pop-up art shows and other events.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to start a monthly [industry] happy hour for artists and creatives to come together and just get to know one another,\u201d she said. \u201c[They can] talk shop, have a good time, and potentially get involved with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n She\u2019s also open to renting the space to anyone interested and letting them bring in their own vision. As was the case recently when a group of women booked the venue for a bachelorette party with Thea and a friend serving as bartenders.<\/p>\n So far, word-of-mouth has been an ideal way for their business to ramp up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has all been fairly organic,\u201d Thea said of people finding out about SRCY.CO. \u201c[We] build as we go, learn as we go, and are open to opportunities as they arise. [We want to] spread the love and excitement we have for our passions by helping others do the same, and providing a space that inspires that.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that they have hosted small events and let the attendees lead the way on how the space is used.<\/p>\n \u201cLuckily, each one has gone better than expected or planned,\u201d Thea said. \u201cAnd folks have been very impressed with the space.\u201d<\/p>\n One of those \u201csmall\u201d events was also a special day for the couple who have given the location a new life as they started theirs as man and wife.<\/p>\n \u201cWe christened the spot by having our wedding reception there,\u201d Thea said. \u201c[There was] insulation still revealed in some corners and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Of course, she couldn\u2019t give a tour of SRCY.CO without turning on some tunes. With Jeffrey at the controls, we listened to a track entitled \u201cMerry Go Round,\u201d which the two crafted together. As Jeffrey\u2019s production handiwork came to life, the electro-pop song engulfed us with an ethereal ambience in the cave-like control room.<\/p>\n In a serendipitous moment, Thea\u2019s lyrics on the song mirrored her thoughts on the happy accident of SRCY.CO’s location.<\/p>\n \u201cLife\u2019s like a merry-go-round, same things coming around,\u201d she sang over looped beats.<\/p>\n The place Thea recorded her fledgling songs came back into her life and gave Jeffrey and her the chance to build a sanctuary for artistic creativity in its many forms.<\/p>\n![\"Coming](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/WomensMeetup_TheaSecondFromRight.jpg\")
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