Our Studios
The history of the studio reflects the contrasts between Leeds’ success story and the on-going deprivation in some parts of the city.
Throughout the 1990s and into 2000s Leeds was a growing city in which financial, retail and entertainment sectors were booming – new developments in around the city centre were common.
The then ‘Holbeck Urban Village’ was a new creative industry magnet and just on its border was the Old Chapel rehearsal studios; a grass roots, basic facility where a young Kaiser Chiefs was just one of the many hopeful young bands.
Situated in a brown belt wasteland between the multi million pound developments and an area of Leeds that had constantly remained at the top of the country’s most deprived list, Holbeck. The contrast could not have been starker.
Since 1992 the studio had been catering for both neighbourhoods – office workers and local community, young and old, all sharing space and equipment. Love of music removed social and economic barriers between people. The ethos was to keep everything affordable and accessible, and to go the extra mile.
However, the success and spread of the city threatened the survival of the studio and, to keep it as an asset to the community, investment was required. Help came from within, Kaiser Chiefs, by then one of the UK’s most successful bands. They were quick to offer support and their offer was matched funded following talks with Leeds Community Foundation.
In 2009 this enabled the registration of Leeds Music Trust as a charity for the benefit of the community. LMT bought the studio business as a going concern, converted it to a Community Interest Company and has since enabled the expansion of the premises, in turn bringing new ethically minded music businesses and projects to the area
https://oldchapelrecordingstudios.com
This in turn has encouraged partnerships and investment and grown local community spirit.
Today, the city centre growth has restarted, yet the old local problems remain. The Old Chapel Music team continues to grow to support the neighbourhood and wider Leeds community.
