In the fishing village of Bang Saray, an hour-and-a-half south of Bangkok, Karma Studios offers a creative oasis for artists and producers. The man behind the facility is Chris Craker, whose 40-plus years’ experience as an artist, record producer and composer led to this unique and inspiring space. Recently, Craker added Genelec The Ones coaxial close-field loudspeaker to the studio’s original Genelec 1035B main monitors – previously installed in London’s Townhouse.
The motivation came unexpectedly when he was invited to produce records for His Majesty the King of Thailand, resulting in 11 albums of the King’s compositions. This opportunity inspired the vision oa haven of creativity in the heart of Thailand.
‘How amazing would it be to have a beautiful studio in a beautiful location?’ he asks. ‘I could then entice my favourite artists to come and work with me at a studio by the beach, so that’s exactly what we did.
‘We have a great lifestyle and a great facility in which to record, and we make good use of that. It changes people’s mood – people behave and perform differently when they’re very relaxed.
‘It’s three studios,’ he continues, ‘essentially one large one and two smaller production suites, and we’ve been involved in the production of all kinds of music including classical, jazz, heavy metal, reggae, punk, disco, and Hollywood film soundtracks as well.’
Craker underscores the importance of creating a relaxed and enjoyable environment for artists, acknowledging that the studio’s beach setting and spa facilities contribute to the overall experience: ‘We enjoy the process of inviting someone over after they acclimatise – and they enjoy the facilities.’
Karma Studios studio offers a harmonious blend of classic and contemporary monitoring. The soffit-mounted 1035s are designed to produce neutral audio reproduction at extremely high SPL in large rooms. Many years later, Karma’s 1035s are continuing to deliver reference quality performance – which is a living testament to the longevity and sustainability of Genelec technology.
‘I have a very clear recollection of the first time that I knew I loved Genelec monitors,’ Craker recalls. ‘I was working at Metropolis Studios with Jim Lowe using the 1035s and we then moved to Hugh Padgham’s studio with the same monitors in West London.’
He has recently introduced Genelec’s 8361A flagship three-way coaxial studio monitors from The Ones series, which offer precise imaging, extended frequency response, controlled directivity, and fatigue-free listening. These are joined by the more compact 8341As, which are used in Karma’s two satellite studios.
As part of Genelec’s Smart Active Monitoring family, The Ones’ precision complements the 1035’s combination of high SPL and long throw performance, and each Ones model can be individually tailored to the room’s acoustics via Genelec’sGenelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) calibration software.
This strategic selection aligns with Karma Studios’ ethos of blending heritage with innovation, where the resonance of the past meets the demands of the future. The result is a studio that not only pays homage to music history but also pioneers the future of audio excellence ‘Genelec monitors provide a sound that we know we can trust,’ Craker says. ‘It’s The Ones that we rely on as our mainstay point of reference, and they don’t let us down.’
Under his visionary leadership, Karma Studios has become Asia’s premier luxury residential recording studio complex. Beyond creating chart-topping records and iconic film soundtracks, the studio is an unparalleled retreat for artists seeking inspiration and seclusion.
Among the studio’s recent clients are Liam Gallagher, Shawn Mendes, Jamiroquai, Placebo, Jolin Tsai, Kun, DVBBS, Sigala, Ella Eyre, DNCE, Dagny, The Libertines, Bullet For My Valentine, Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, and Da Boy Way, as well as stars from labels including Universal, Sony, Warners, Def Jam, Island, Interscope and RocNation.
