Shangri-La, Recording studio in Malibu, US.
Shangri-La is a recording studio in Malibu, United States, situated on a hillside property above Zuma Beach and built around two main recording rooms with adjoining booths and mixing consoles. The spaces span several interconnected buildings surrounded by gardens and open areas overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The property began as an actress's ranch in the late nineteen fifties and was converted into a sound studio in the mid-seventies after musicians discovered the secluded location for recording projects. The Band and their collaborators designed the first professional recording rooms according to their own specifications.
The facility takes its name from James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon, reflecting the relaxed creative approach musicians adopted during extended stays. Artists often spent weeks on the property, living in outbuildings and recording whenever inspiration struck.
A visit requires advance arrangement through management, as this is an active sound facility. The location above the beach means you should expect a winding approach through residential areas.
One musician spent part of his recording sessions living in a tent within the property's rose garden, working whenever the mood struck him. This unconventional approach reflected the experimental spirit many artists developed here during long creative periods.
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