Meet Joe Reineke | Husband, Musician, Producer, Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Reineke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?

I’ve had the incredible opportunity to play music in bands signed to different labels. The Meices, my first band, had a contract with London Records, and later, my band Alien Crime Syndicate signed with Revolution/Warner and then V2 Records. I ended up making records in various cities, from London to NYC, LA, San Fran, and Florida.

Throughout my musical journey, I was always into recording. I started with 4-track and then 8-track recorders to ADATS and early DAWs. I even set up recording setups in my bedrooms and practice rooms. However, leasing a dedicated space for a recording studio was an entirely new venture for me.

An unexpected turn of events came when some of my bandmates also started playing with Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses in his side project, Loaded. During a dinner together, Duff mentioned that he had a board and tape machine in storage in LA that I could use. Without hesitation, I agreed, and that’s how the opportunity to start my own business presented itself. Initially, I thought it would be short-term, just making records with my band and a few others. I never imagined that I would still be here 20 years later, with plaques on the walls.

Back then, I just wanted to rock out with my friends and make some records because I loved it. I wasn’t concerned about starting a business or having a grand plan. However, along the way, something truly beautiful happened. I formed lifelong friendships and had unforgettable musical experiences, creating art together. It may sound a bit cheesy, I wasn’t just in the music business anymore; I was in the relationship business. The music industry can be tough, but I found through music I could sometimes have meaningful connections with others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I play music with my lovely wife Karyn, we have a group called Society of the Silver Cross, we really love singing, playing and writing together. Its’s a great balance. Together we built a dream epic recording studio, perhaps the most unique in the country, Temple of the Trees. (How did you get to where you are today professionally.) Music and an unstoppable dream, I’ve had so many challenges but don’t we all, are we as humans that come here to earth to have experiences immune to challenges? Life will anyways give you lessons, we all have our own pushups to do, you can either handle the moment in front of you or you can’t, thats it, well most of it, haha.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

The Pacific Northwest has a ton of nature stuff to do, like cool hikes and trails, I might take you there. There is also tons of water and all that. And the food scene here is awesome.

Plus, there’s live music happening almost every night, so we could easily catch some great shows.

Now, I’m not really into sightseeing. If you wanna go up the Space Needle, go ahead, but I’m not joining you, haha. Funny thing, I lived in San Francisco for years and never bothered going to Alcatraz.

But hey, my recommendation: take a ferry over to Bainbridge Island. It’s a cool experience, and you get some amazing views of the water. And if you’re a music lover, check out the MOPOP music museum. It’s pretty cool and worth a visit.

I guess being a tour guide isn’t my calling.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jim Devito, a recording studio owner in Florida, played a significant role in my musical journey. We established a strong connection right from the start, and I felt completely at home in his studio. The experience of being surrounded by various instruments, the mixing board, amplifiers, and guitars was truly captivating and inspiring for me. At that time, the drummer in my band received an offer to relocate to the west coast, specifically Santa Cruz. Unsure of what to do, I reached out to Jim seeking guidance. I vividly remember his response, which has stayed with me ever since. He asked me a simple question: “Have you ever been anywhere?” When I replied that I hadn’t, he advised me to go somewhere, encouraging me to explore new horizons.
Following his advice, I saved up money and embarked on a cross-country journey, accompanied by my guitar, amplifier, and a few personal belongings. I never looked back. It was the best decision I ever made, and I am eternally grateful for Jim’s wisdom and support. His words of encouragement empowered me to step out of my comfort zone and embark on a transformative musical adventure. It was the best advise anyone has giving me and I’m so glad I did it!

Website: https://www.templeofthetreesstudio.com/

Instagram: temple_of_the_trees_studio

Image Credits
photo by: Ernie Sapiro