The 5 AM @ Daft Studios

If there is one word to describe this recording days, it is quality. All circumstances had been created to maximize the results of the recordings.

Firstly, the band members of “The 5 AM” where highly focused on getting a good result. There had been months of writing, rehearsals, and debate to play the songs with the right feeling.

The recordings were led by Werner Pensaert, a highly-experienced producer with a lot of know artists and international successes accredited to his name.

Also, the chosen studio contributed to the quality. The brand-new Daft Studios has a beautiful location situated in the Belgian Ardennes. The new building has been specifically designed as a recording studio without making any compromise.

Because of the equipment that was present, such as amplifiers and special keyboard instruments, the studio felt like a “candy store” for the band. Even during breaks you could hear the music coming out of the studio.

On the top floor was a penthouse set up for the artists, so they could relax “on a high level” 😉 in between takes.

I was dividing my time between the Recording Studio, the Control Room, and the penthouse, where the kitchen is located. I’ve made short videos and taken pictures of everything to give a good impression of the atmosphere during the recording days of “The 5 AM”. A very special moment was when I was allowed to stand next to Christophe during the recording of the vocals (if I promised to be veerrrryy quiet 😊)

Additional challenges in cooking were a number of dietary requirements, such as someone with who was a vegetarian, someone who couldn’t have wheats, and someone with a nut-allergy. I had some extra pleasure in finding recipes that could be eaten by everybody, while no one noticed that there was being cooked according to a special diet. It is possible to make something delicious out of everything! For instance, for breakfast I made gluten-free buckwheat pancakes, or fresh fruit salads together with yoghurt. Furthermore, for dinner we ate, for example, several Indian curries or Italian risotto with goat cheese.

Listen to Save Me

In the photos below you can look at a small impression of the mood during the recording days of The 5 AM.

Joep testing the sound on his guitar.

Werner working in the Control Room

An overview of the spacious recording studio of Daft during an evening recording session.

Christophes new love, a Fender Super Amp.

A night of Indian food with Korma, Tikka Masala, raita, rice and naanbread.

Christophe listening to the recordings in the Control Room.

Werner at the controls.

After a day of hard work, a relaxing break with a Mexican dinner.

Relaxing in the penthouse and getting to know new music by exchanging it.