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ABOUT BLACK BARREL RECORDS

Black Barrel Records (BBR) is an independently owned record label and recording studio headquartered in the historic Conti building at 415 Howe Avenue in Shelton, Connecticut.

Founded in 2021 by James Howard, Zach Stout, and Nick Howard, a team with decades of recording experience, BBR is fully equipped to provide bands and artists with high quality, high-tech recording services and hands-on label services, and offers partnerships with its signed artists, as well as artist management for all music types and voice over work.  Custom built by its owners, the studio is operated by the company’s Chief Executive Officer James Howard and Chief Technology Officer Zach Stout, who are both musicians, producers, and audio engineers. The newly renovated 1500-square-foot space provides bands with ample room to record, as well as a separate recording room for vocals.

Under the direction of veteran luthier Austin Michaels, Black Barrel Records’ repair and retail shop, which is located in the same building as the studio, was opened with the goal of serving musicians in the New Haven County and Lower Naugatuck Valley area following the closing of Sam Ash. The shop offers guitar set ups and repair services for string instruments, as well as a curated selection of instrument accessories, such as Ernie Ball and D’Addario guitar strings and accessories, Mogami and MXR cables, Dunlop guitar picks, vintage records, band merchandise, and more. For more information, visit our shop today.

Black Barrel Records’ executives also operate HS Acoustics, which focuses on home and business studio and entertainment center set up services for customers throughout Connecticut. For more information and to hire for installs visit our HS Acoustics page.

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