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Independent recording studio sets up shop in Fayette

Better Man Records to host free concert downtown Friday night

Justin Addison Editor/Publisher
Posted 11/10/20

Fayette has landed on the music scene. Better Man Records officially opens shop on Friday. The professional music studio is the creation of Preston Ary and David Adkisson, two friends who decided to …

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Independent recording studio sets up shop in Fayette

Better Man Records to host free concert downtown Friday night

Posted

Fayette has landed on the music scene. Better Man Records officially opens shop on Friday. The professional music studio is the creation of Preston Ary and David Adkisson, two friends who decided to harness the thriving independent music scene into what they hope becomes a successful business, not only for the record label but for the artists.

The business opening will be heralded in with a free live concert on the courthouse lawn Friday night.

The studio, located in the Eubanks Bros. building on the south side of Fayette’s downtown courthouse square, already has demand from artists eager to record. In addition, Mr. Adkisson will also run Hot Air Productions, his video production company, out of the same building. He specializes in music videos and commercials and hopes to begin shooting his first feature film, a romantic comedy that has already been delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in the Kansas City area soon. 

Mr. Adkisson also manages the Preston Ary Band. The two became fast friends years ago after they met at a music competition in Mr. Ary’s hometown of Mountain Grove, Mo.

Mr. Ary, 27, is best known as the lead singer of the successful country music act The Preston Ary Band. The Central Methodist University graduate is finishing up his duties for the Howard County Soil and Water District to focuses his talents full time into creating more music that has already generated a fanbase across the state. His bandmates, guitarist Kevin Helmerichs, bassist Andrew Wooldridge, and drummer Brendan Wiesehan, are also CMU alums, all of whom studied or performed at the revered Swinney Conservatory of Music. The band’s first album, “Came Here to Party,” was released in 2018. It was produced by Kent Wells, producer and bandleader for Dolly Parton.

Prior to his return to Missouri, Mr. Ary spent two years in Nashville writing, playing, and networking. “I actually recorded some music on a soundboard right on Music Row. And it was the same board that Johnny Cash had recorded on,” he said.

Nashville is also where Mr. Ary learned hard lessons on how young artists are sold golden promises only to be left with predatory contracts and starving band accounts. But his time there also yielded an internship in the studio with Mr. Kent.

He left Nashville due to the high cost of living, along with a saturated music scene, and returned to Missouri with a wealth of experience he anticipates to parlay into a strong independent label. “I took what I had learned the hard way and what I had seen, and I wanted to give people the right experience (in Mid-Missouri), where they don’t have to drive six hours and then get ripped off.”

At first glance, Fayette would seem an odd choice to locate a professional music studio. But in the age of high-speed internet, location is becoming less of a factor. 

“In today’s society, we don’t need to be in specific hot spots to make content, distribute it, and become successful. We can do it anywhere,” explained Mr. Adkisson. “You can grow where you’re planted.

“As artists, we know several other artists that are also trying to make it. And we know how to help them.” That led to the desire to open an artist-run studio that is geared toward helping those artists. “The songs are theirs, they should reap the rewards from them,” explained Mr. Adkisson.

The independent music platform is the largest it’s ever been and it continues to grow, said Mr. Ary. And social media allows content to be provided from anywhere in the world. The Artist Development Program that Better Man Records provides not only to records the music, but helps artists distribute and monetize their songs.

“The ball is in your court as an independent artist,” said Mr. Ary.

Even though the studio is still under construction, artists have been lining up to record. One such musician, Bryan Andrews, who has generated more than 1 million views on social media platform Tik Tok, is from Carrollton, Mo. He expects to start recording soon.

The genesis of Better Man Studio came following a discussion over a meal at Miknan’s Main Street Pub in downtown Fayette. On their walk back home they passed the empty Eubanks Bros. building and noticed a “For Rent” sign. That serendipitous moment led to the creation of Better Man Records, named after the band’s song, “Better Man.”

“We were talking about the studio and our plans,” explained Mr. Ary. “And we were walking back from Miknan’s and said, ‘Oh, this place is for rent, let’s call it.’” Before they knew it, they building a studio.

“Preston looked at this building and said, ‘I can just see it now.’ And I said, ‘let’s call them’,” recalled Mr. Adkisson. “We signed our lease that day and haven’t looked back since.”

Already one new Preston Ary Band song has been cut in the new studio. And studio time is currently booked for December. Better Man Records already has three artists prepared to record, and more are knocking on the door.

Friday’s grand opening concert is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the bandstand on the courthouse lawn with the label’s artists. Bryan Andrews will open the show, followed by Joey Wray at 7. The Preston Ary Band will cap things off at 8 p.m.

The concert may just kick off what could be a thriving live music scene in Fayette as more artists sign with Better Man Records. Those musicians will need to hone their skills, and what better place than the downtown square across the street from the studio? Already one downtown building owner has discussed hosting indoor concerts.

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