Music

We’re All Obsessed With ‘The Recording Studio’, The ABC’s New Music Show

Viewers are calling it "a true reflection of the power of music".

by David James Young  17 April 2019
The ABC's 'The Recording Studio' Has Audiences Crying

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Last night saw the premiere of The Recording Studio, a new ten-part ABC series which follows the stories of several everyday Australians as they enter the titular studio to record a song. And viewers flocked to social media to share their love for the show, calling it “a true reflection of the power of music”.

Taking place inside the recording studio at the ABC’s Ultimo offices – which you may recognise from the more recent string of Like a Versions – the series gives you the singer’s backstories, explains the choices behind their song selection and takes you behind the scenes of how the recordings themselves unfurl.

It’s narrated by Australian singer-songwriter Megan Washington, and will later feature appearances from the likes of Guy Sebastian, Horrorshow and Katie Noonan.

In the first episode, we’re introduced to John Hanley from Brisbane, a man whose pub choir-tested voice is losing strength due to his motor neurone disease. While he still can, he wants to record a cover of Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ for his wife Lisa.

We also meet Aimee O’Neil from Sydney, who is recording the number ‘Vilja’ from the operetta The Merry Widow to share with her grandfather, as it was her late mother’s favourite song.

Both stories have great emotional depth, and resonated with a sizeable audience upon its screening – The Music Network noted the episode received an overnight metro audience of 338,000. Many took to Twitter to express their feelings, where the show received plenty of love – and tears, as it turns out.

You can see what all the fuss is about for yourself by watching the first episode via ABC iView, and catch future episodes on ABC1 each Tuesday, 8pm. Watch a snippet of the show’s segment on John below — and if you hadn’t gathered from these tweets, keep tissues nearby.