MACHINES WITH MAGNETS

Machines with Magnets is a hybrid creative space in Pawtucket that seamlessly combines a professional recording studio, art gallery, live performance venue, and cocktail bar. The studio attracts approximately 60% local artists and 40% musicians from New York City, drawn by affordable rates and a commitment to creative excellence. The space is designed with acoustics in mind—the building's irregular geometry with few parallel surfaces creates unique sonic characteristics that engineers intentionally incorporate into recordings.

The facility operates as an integrated creative ecosystem with a professional recording studio (26-channel Neotek Elite console, Otari 2" analog tape), a 2,000-square-foot venue with full bar and 32-channel live recording capability, and an 800-square-foot gallery. Notable artists include The Body, BIG/BRAVE, Hide, Lingua Ignota, and Full of Hell. Live shows are recorded at studio quality.

Machines with Magnets was established in 1999 by producer and engineer Keith Souza as a small, analog-focused DIY recording studio. During its early years, the studio recorded music for heavyweights like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Lightning Bolt, and Pink and Brown. Seth Manchester joined in 2003 and the facility relocated to its current Pawtucket location in 2006, expanding into a full multimedia arts facility where studio revenue sustains cultural programming.