Carl Crawford is continuing to expand his impact on Houston’s music scene with the debut of a luxury recording studio and new headquarters for 1501 Certified Entertainment.
On May 5, former MLB star turned music executive and studio partner Jarrod “Lacemode” Lacy officially unveiled Studio 1501, a luxury recording complex in Houston built to serve as the new creative headquarters for 1501 Certified Entertainment. The state-of-the-art space is designed to help develop the label’s next wave of talent following the breakout success of artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Diamond The Body, and Erica Banks.
“The 1501 brand has always been about going big,” Lacy said. “We want these artists to feel like they can have a command of what they do and elevate the expectations of what they can accomplish in the world.”
“Carl has built a place of magnitude with this that is really designed to make an impression, both sonically and vibe-wise,” he added. “We want people to know that whether they are local or visiting talent that they are getting the best of the best. To that end, it was incredibly important to curate every detail of the space to that purpose and the sound most of all.”
Crawford reportedly spared no expense creating Studio 1501, spending nearly two years designing and building the luxury space from the ground up. Nicknamed “The Rolls Royce Room” for its Italian leather seating and upscale finishes, the studio’s control room was built to leave artists completely blown away the moment they walk in.
“There simply has not been a space of this caliber in the city attached to a label like ours,” Crawford said. “It was important that Houston have a hometown spot that can compete on that level and also offer artists a real creative home in their own backyards.”
“We’re trying to find and elevate the new big artists, and to do that, you need a facility that inspires them to create and perform at the highest level,” he adds.
Studio 1501’s control room features a custom set of high-end Augspurger speakers personally selected by Crawford and Lacy for both sound quality and overall vibe. The room was also specially tuned by audio expert Dave Malekpour to create a one-of-a-kind recording experience tailored for the future of 1501 Certified Entertainment artists.
“We have some of the best gear that you can get in here and we want a sound system that translates all of that on an epic scale,” Lacy said. “Dave and the MDP Team were very involved in the final placement and angles of the speakers to ensure everything was perfect and the sweet spots were very dialed in.”
“You don’t get that personalized approach with other companies, and it was an aspect that makes the studio that much more special for our artists,” he added.
“It changes the whole aura of the room for a performer – you can tell it gives them a good feeling being in here and making music,” Crawford said. “You can hear and feel the difference in a way that elevates the whole experience.”
He continued. “We now have a home base where these artists can stay in the city and do their best work at a truly luxury level. Augspurger has really put the Midas Touch on this room, and we can’t wait to show the world what it’s capable of.”
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