WCA#610 with Stephen Shirk

August 24, 2026

WCA #610 with Stephen Shirk – Bloomington, New York, Chicago, and Twenty Years of SHIRK Studios

For episode 610, Matt talks with Stephen Shirk — engineer, producer, guitarist, and owner of SHIRK Studios in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. Stephen grew up in Bloomington, Illinois, studied business at Miami University, moved to New York in 1998 with a friend’s couch as his launch pad, and worked his way through the Hit Factory and a jingle house where he built Pro Tools systems, got his SAG card, and learned from Jay Messina. In 2004 he moved to Chicago, rented studio spaces for a decade, and in 2013 bought the building he now runs as a semi-commercial studio with a Sphere console, instruments on every wall, and a deliberately un-sterile feel. They talk about the HearYa live sessions that built his early reputation, word-of-mouth marketing and what comes next, Steve Albini and Electrical Audio, owning vs. renting in Chicago’s studio ecosystem, and getting back out to shows.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

– Growing Up in Bloomington, Illinois
– Church Choir, Guitar at Fourth Grade, and Early Bands
– A Business Degree at Miami University and Playing in Bands
– Moving to New York in 1998 With a Friend’s Couch as a Launch Pad
– Learning Pro Tools Version 4 on the Fly
– Starting at the Hit Factory as a General Assistant
– The Culture Shock of New York Speed — and Learning to Shut Up
– Moving to a Jingle House: More Engineering, More Money, a Synclavier
– Building Pro Tools Systems and Getting a Pager From the Boss
– Learning From Jay Messina (Early Aerosmith, Jack Douglas)
– Getting His SAG Card and Discovering Mailbox Money
– Moving to Chicago in 2004 and Renting Studio Spaces
– Buying the Building in 2013 and the History Behind It
– SHIRK Studios: Semi-Commercial, Instruments on Every Wall
– Avoiding the Sterile Studio — Guilford of Maine Walls and Why He Hates Them
– Word of Mouth Marketing and Wondering What’s Next
– Chicago’s Studio Scene: Narwhal, Brian Deck, and the DIY Wave
– Steve Albini and Electrical Audio
– Owning the Building vs. Renting — Lessons From Chicago Studios
– Live-Work Lofts as an Option for Engineer-Owners
– Getting Back Out to Shows and Reconnecting With the Scene
– The Red Room: Chicago’s Fifty-Cap DIY Listening Venue
– Dana Nielsen Listening to the Episode and the Buttoned-Up Business

Matt’s RANT!: Getting the Job Done Part 2

Links and Show Notes:

Credits:

– Guest: Stephen Shirk
– Host/Engineer/Producer: Matt Boudreau
– WCA Theme Music: Cliff Truesdell
– The Voice: Chuck Smith

Video Interview