Why Jack Kays Came Back to 38 North Studio

The musician returned to the Washington, D.C., area recording studio for a ten-day session after working there on his previous album.

Jack Kays had just finished an Australian tour opening for Pierce the Veil when he headed back to 38 North Studio for ten days of recording. He’d been there before, putting the finishing touches on Deadbeat!, and had already decided he wanted to make his next record there.

For 38 North Studio, founded by Sarah Marks and Buddy Speir, sessions like Kays’ reflect the kind of recording experience its owners want to offer. The studio combines analog equipment and modern production tools, with an emphasis on musicians working together in the same place.

Kays’ music draws from alternative rock, punk, and hip-hop, and his recording career has included years with Columbia Records and extensive international touring. Now working independently, he returned to 38 North Studio to record material for an upcoming release.

His decision came from what he’d experienced during his first visit, particularly the studio’s live room and the people working there.

“I first came to 38 North to do some of the finishing touches on my last album, Deadbeat! I was immediately taken by the live room and the way that Sean Russell and Buddy Speir seemed so passionate about what they do. As soon as we got in the car to leave, I told my drummer that we absolutely had to record the next record here.”

Marks and Speir established 38 North Studio to give musicians access to experienced producers, engineers, and equipment in a setting that encourages collaborative recording. They also wanted to preserve the experience of musicians playing together, even as recording technology gave artists more ways to work independently.

Home recording software has made it possible for musicians to produce songs without booking studio time. That flexibility has changed how records are made, but working in a shared recording space offers another option, especially for artists who want to develop arrangements and capture live performances with other musicians.

38 North Studio has also received recognition within its regional music community. The studio won Best Music Studio at the Washington Area Music Awards in 2024 and 2025.

Its behind-the-scenes walkthrough, filmed by Carter Louthian with original music by Virg Vision, offers a look inside the facility. Photography by Louthian and Cagla Akcadag has also documented the recording spaces and musicians working there.

An extended studio session can involve more than recording finished songs. Musicians may try different arrangements, record additional takes, or make changes after hearing how the instruments sound together. Producers and engineers can work through those decisions with the artist while the session is underway.

For Kays, the decision to return came down to his experience with the people behind the studio. His enthusiasm after that first visit offers a glimpse of what Marks and Speir have worked to create at 38 North Studio.

More sessions and artist projects can be found on 38 North Studio’s Instagram.

SPIN Magazine newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.