DSM Artists Find a Home at Local Recording Studio Golden Bear Records
For those connected to the Greater Des Moines (DSM) music scene, it’s no surprise that Golden Bear Records made the region its home; for those unfamiliar with the sounds coming out of DSM and this local studio, let us introduce you to the musicians who are helping to build a musical haven for DSM artists to record high quality art. Not only does this recording studio offer a place for artists and studio musicians to create music, but it also has a wide range of instruments and equipment available for recording sessions.
An Evolving Music Scene in Greater Des Moines
DSM’s music scene has always been special. Local festivals like the World Food & Music Festival in Downtown Des Moines (DSM) showcase global talent, while in nearby Madison County, Hinterland brings major indie and alternative acts every summer to the city of St. Charles. Metal band Slipknot got its start in Des Moines, and you wouldn’t have to look hard to find someone familiar with The Envy Corps or The Nadas. In residence at Noce, The Des Moines Big Band hits the stage at the Western Gateway location, along with jazz artists like Max Wellman and Gina Gedler. Wooly’s welcomes touring and local acts to the Historic East Village neighborhood and Vibrant Music Hall hosts concerts in Waukee. (Oh, and Locals Bar & Stage opened this past fall, offering a place for up-and-coming bands to play and grow.)
When Golden Bear Records opened in 2016, Founder Bryan Vanderpool joined an established community of DSM artists and changemakers in the region. And while there have been plenty of music events and venues that have come and gone throughout the years, one thing remains true — talent lives here, and that means there will always be local artists who need the means to make great albums and find support for their projects.
That’s where Golden Bear Records shines.
Making Music at Golden Bear Records
Bryan Vanderpool moved from California to DSM right before the pandemic, looking for a place that would be more affordable, inclusive and have an abundance of people consistently making music.
“This was the first scene that I was ever a part of where everyone is excited for somebody’s success, and everybody’s really excited to see what that next band is going to do and what their album’s going to sound like,” Vanderpool says. “Day one I was in. They were just welcoming. Here we are, welcome to the scene. And that was very, very new for me.”
For Vanderpool, the volume of music being made in the region was completely unexpected. “There are so many bands. There are still bands that I discover that I’m like, how have I not heard of you in a town of less than a million people? But the sheer volume of music being made here is just incredible. It doesn't exist anywhere else. It's not normal for a city of this size and even cities three times the size.”
This past summer, Golden Bear Records and Vanderpool were featured by Iowa Public Radio in a recent article about the impact of the recording studio on the region’s music scene. Vanderpool estimated that around 80% of the artists with Golden Bear Records are Iowa-based, and he emphasized that the studio prefers real instruments over digital samples as well, packing its space with as many as it can hold. Vanderpool has grown Golden Bear Studios from making 10 records a year to booking 300 days last year and embracing the chaos of a packed calendar.
Get to Know the Studio Musicians at Golden Bear Records
The musicians who work for and utilize the DSM-based studio find the space, and the wider region, inviting and supportive. Located in Vanderpool’s basement, Golden Bear Records is a cozy spot with a big impact. According to Kathryn Fox, a utility player who plays the violin, viola, mandolin, piano, an electric five string custom instrument and guitar, the DSM music scene feels like family. Fox relocated to Iowa after getting married and found a camaraderie she had been missing while previously living in Miami. After attending a Tuesday night Blues Jam at Carl’s Place, she started playing with bands in different genres, honing her skills until she started string tracking for Golden Bear Records. And in 2023, she released her debut album “Sweet Beginnings.”
Robert Espe plays violin and saxophone for the studio, and like Fox, cites DSM’s supportive community as one of its best attributes. When he’s not in the studio, you can find Espe performing at Noce in the Western Gateway neighborhood, Wooly’s in the Historic East Village and Hoyt Sherman Place in Sherman Hill. Espe and fellow sax player, Aaron Ehrlich agree that there is much diversity in DSM's music scene. Ehrlich, like Fox and Espe, says it’s the kind of community where you can do anything you want when it comes to the type of gig you want to play. From jazz to bluegrass to hip hop, the wide variety of gig options appeals to those who don’t want to specialize in one thing.
Photo Credit: Gotproof Studios/Josh Harper
Bass players Jay Foote, Steph Graham and Ben Mars were introduced to Vanderpool by people in the local music community. Graham, who plays upright bass, and Vanderpool have played in several bands together, while Foote was introduced to him through the owner of The Cave. Foote, who moved to DSM from New York, says the biggest difference between the two cities is that New York has more musicians, but the quality is here even with the lower population. “Some of the best piano players, drummers, guitar players, songwriters I know live in Des Moines,” he says. Graham calls Vanderpool “the great connector,” as he easily brings local musicians together, introducing them to new gig opportunities. Mars frequents xBk and the Greenwood Lounge and says DSM is full of unrecognized talent.
Golden Bear Records Guitarist Dave Ducharme-Jones came to the region after living in San Francisco for eight years and Austin for almost 30. Ducharme-Jones likes that it’s community-oriented here and that there’s an opportunity to be part of other projects. Having started Porchfest in Union Park and Monday Night Life at Greenwood Lounge, which then moved to xBk, Ducharme-Jones is helping create new music events that continue to build the DSM music scene, which is just fine for Christopher Hansen, Golden Bear Records’ studio drummer, who loves the crowd at xBk. “It’s a great venue with great sound, and the hospitality’s wonderful. It’s just a really, really fun room to play.” Audio Engineer Jameson Malone is a frequent xBk visitor, too, and met Vanderpool through the venue. From there they started to sit in on sessions, eventually joining the studio.
Guitarist Seth Hedquist loves the hours of session work available through Golden Bear Records. As a teacher and freelance performer, Hedquist has been pleasantly surprised to be able to make a living from music, and urges others to get involved, saying “I think we want to do what every politician says they're going to do and create jobs. I think we actually kind of do it by supporting each other.” Blake Van Houten, who plays guitar, bass and serves as a producer and engineer for Golden Bear Records, is originally from the area. Like Hedquist, he says what’s cool about DSM is that everyone plays with everyone, though it can make scheduling gigs tricky because everyone’s so busy.
Photo Credit: Gotproof Studios/Josh Harper
Allie Crummy is primarily a vocalist at the studio, but also dabbles as a player, producer and engineer. She says Vanderpool understands what gear is needed. “He’s a great curator of vintage gear, and that’s what’s so unique about Golden Bear.” Crummy has recorded at the studio, but after finding herself interested in the technical aspect of the production process, started bringing in artists and producing herself. Jay Schneider, guitarist, keyboard player and singer, says Vanderpool has a way of inviting collaboration and mirroring your excitement about what you’re doing but in a way that still lets it feel like its yours. “He has this amazing way of making you feel comfortable and collaborating with you in a way that doesn’t make you feel any less than the artist you might want to be.”
An experienced keys and synthesizer musician, Tanner Taylor relocated from the Twin Cities, not expecting much of a music scene. Having lived in DSM for a year prior to living in the Twin Cities, moving back surprised him when it came to discovering the diverse population of musicians across all genres. “When I moved away there was maybe one or two other keyboard players that were out working full-time, and now I can think of at least eight or 10 guys working.”
Learn more about the Golden Bear Records studio musicians at goldenbearrecords.com/players.
As a #8 Most Affordable U.S. Metro Area and a Top 10 Place for Business and Careers, Greater Des Moines (DSM) is a region where you can have it all. Learn more about what it’s like to live here.