A Music Producer in Vegas Finds Success After Losing His Job to the Pandemic

Bo Brusco | March 28, 2021 (10-minute read)

Steven Zeller, like millions of other Americans, lost his job at the beginning of the pandemic. But when that chapter closed, he began a new one at Naked City Audio, a local recording studio in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Mass Layoffs During the Pandemic

In March of last year, Cirque Du Soleil announced a mass layoff of their employees. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the entertainment company “temporarily laid off 4,679 employees, or 95 percent of its global workforce, after suspending 44 shows worldwide because of the coronavirus outbreak.” Steven Zeller, a Las Vegas local, was one of those 4,679. 

Steven Zeller mixes tracks for a local artist at Naked City Audio on March 26, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo: Bo Brusco)

Opportunity Amidst Unfortunate Circumstances

Unemployed and uncertain about the future, Zeller searched for opportunity amidst the chaos. With his background as the Lead Audio Technician for a Cirque show in Las Vegas, he began working as a freelance music producer at a local recording studio named Naked City Audio. Unbeknownst to him, this small side gig was about to blossom into a substantial opportunity. 

“I was producing Sunroom. I had a couple of other clients that I was bringing in freelance, and then that’s when John approached me, was June,” says Zeller. 

John Kiehlbauch, who has been running the studio for seven years now, was offered additional rooms within the same building as the studio. The rooms became vacant at the beginning of the pandemic. Kiehlbauch spoke with Zeller about the offer and the prospect of running two studios in Naked City Audio, which would allow Zeller a space of his own. In that space, Zeller would have the ability to take on many additional clients.  

“We thought it was a good opportunity,” Zeller recounts. “You know it was one of those things where we weren’t asking for it, and it just kind of lent itself, and then the property manager approached John. And we both were kind of like ‘we didn’t think about it, but now that you offered, we’re totally thinking about it!’” 

Elbow Grease and Renovations

By the end of June, Zeller began renovating the vacant rooms to create a “B” studio to operate in full-time, while Kiehlbauch would continue to work out of his original studio, soon to be named “Studio A.”

A photo from Steven Zeller’s Instagram account posted on June 24, 2020.

“Update: Naked City Audio is slowly emerging from its dormant hibernation the last few years, and wants YOU to come check out the new digs this August. Full-service recording studio with affordable rates for tracking, rehearsal space, mixing, mastering, podcasting, and post-production needs!”

Though the process was lengthy, Zeller, with the help of some friends, was able to renovate the rooms in a matter of months. “B wasn’t fully operational until technically November,” says Zeller, “but we started booking clients in December. So it took five or six months for the build-out. But we did everything ourselves.”

Before and after photos of Studio B at Naked City Audio. It took Zeller and his friends about six months to complete the renovations (Photos: Steven Zeller).

Naked City Audio Will Go Public

In addition to now having two fully operating studios at Naked City Audio, the production company is also planning on going public for the first time. “I mean, it was word of mouth for about seven years,” says Zeller. “Technically, we go public now in 2021, but until then, it was word of mouth and independently bookings things. We’re actually going to be having a website up and running, and we’re going to have corporate services now. So people are going to be able to access us a lot easier than just word of mouth through the Las Vegas local scene.”

The Vision: A Studio Needs to Feel Like Home

Upon being asked what the vision is for the studio, Zeller responded by saying, “Just breeding creativity. I think the idea of having quality equipment with quality engineers will then breed artists to just come in and write. And because the space itself is so creative, it lends itself to fun writing.” 

Speaking more about the unique environment that he and Kiehlbauch have cultivated within the walls of the studio, Zeller explains that “People like to hang out here. And that’s the biggest part. A studio needs to feel like home. It needs to have good enough vibes to have people want to stay here.” 

Naked City Audio is full of eclectic yet quirky decor and artwork from local artists. Las Vegas, Nevada. March 26, 2021 (Photos: Bo Brusco).

As Zeller explained, Naked City Audio’s atmosphere is void of pretension. Instead, the space is full of eclectic yet quirky decor and artwork from local artists. This conglomeration of visual stimuli plays an essential role in fostering creativity. Additionally, the studio is small and homey, which helps ease the anxieties that sometimes come to musicians when tracking. 

Ideal for Local Artists

Another unique characteristic of the studio is its location, 1800 Industrial Road. The studio is near the heart of old Las Vegas, where locals have maintained a sense of autonomy amongst the 42 million tourists the city brings in annually.

When artists track with Kiehlbauch or Zeller, come lunchtime, they are almost guaranteed to be exposed to some of the best local grub spots that Vegas has to offer — per Kiehlbauch’s and Zeller’s suggestions. 

Local food at Naked City Audio in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 26, 2021 (Photo: Bo Brusco).

As Las Vegas is home to many recording studios, Zeller explains the niche role that Naked City Audio seeks to fill. “There are million-dollar studios in Vegas, but we’re not trying to be that,” says Zeller. “But we do know what we can get out of the equipment we do have and the size that we have. And it’s cool to offer that service to other people.”

Collaboration

Zeller also notes Naked City Audio’s collaborative spirit. “We also to work in tandem with other local studios, like Junction Sound upstairs that’s mainly based in hip-hop, and beats, and EDM, stuff like that. Whenever they need bigger artists or whatever, they’ll approach us,” says Zeller. “And if we get artists that are more on their spectrum, we’ll send them upstairs to Junction. We’re all in this collaboratively, so might as well work together.” 

A Story of Hope

According to cbsnews.com, “When the pandemic arrived, the economic shutdown hit Las Vegas harder than any other major city in America.” The numbers were truly staggering. Within a matter of three months, the city lost over 225,000 jobs. While every unemployed individual experienced their own unique challenges, Steven Zeller’s story is one of hope that good things can come even in unprecedented circumstances. 

The Future

Zeller reports that Naked City Audio’s official website will be up and running come April 5, 2021. Till then, anyone interested in tracking with them can contact the studio via their official Instagram account: @naked_city_audio.

Steven Zeller working in Studio A at Naked City Audio in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 26, 2021 (Photo: Bo Brusco).