Mike Roche

Owner/Engineer/Producer/Musician

EARLY DAYS

I’m a self-taught guitar player, drummer and bass player. I started playing drums around age 10, switched to guitar a few years later.  I bought a Tascam Porta 01 4-track cassette recorder in the late 80’s and spent the better part of my time learning how to make a decent recording with it.

90’s/Early 2000’s/now

I took any music-related job I could find in order to gain knowledge and make a living. I worked at music stores, record stores and musical instrument electronics manufacturers while going to school. I moved to San Francisco in the early 90’s. My intention was to spend the Summer there, but my stay lasted a little longer. I gained more experience working full-time at Spitzer’s Music and doing some occasional session work.  I moved back to Kalamazoo after a little more than a year. I began to record friends in a barn at my Mom’s house. My friends started paying me to record their bands in the barn. I officially opened Broadside Productions in 1994. I have been in more bands than I can remember. I had the opportunity to make records and tour a bit with my band Thought Industry (Metal Blade Records) throughout the early 2000’s. I continue to write and record music with friends as much as possible.

Over the years, I’ve worked on a great number of projects of different styles. I love it all. A great number of the bands that I record happen to be rock projects, but I’ve tracked, mixed and mastered just about every type of project you could imagine… Rock, Jazz, Punk, Country, Bluegrass, Blues, Spoken Word, Metal, Hip Hop, Rap, Electronic, Acapella and everything in between.

Go Red Wings. Go Tigers. Pizza rules.

What you can expect from me:

By default, I assume a traditional (passive) role as an engineer during sessions. I’m not here to make you do things my way, or impose my personal production preferences on you. My job is to guide you through the process and make the session run as smoothly (and efficiently) as possible.You can count on me to listen to what you have to say about how you want to sound and act as a “translator” between your band and the recording equipment.  I’ll  provide suggestions and options based on my past experience. My #1 concern always being that you feel comfortable throughout the process.  It’s your band, not mine. 

Can/will you “produce” my record?

Yes. If you’re looking for someone to work with you in a more “hands-on” fashion (helping with arrangements, harmonies etc…), I’m willing to do so, but will never force my production preferences on anyone.

Will you play on my record?

Yes. I’ve tracked guitars, bass and drums on a great number of projects for clients over the years.