After the closing of Radon Studio, so many years ago, I adopted the name MECCA to serve

                                                for the name or credit of any place I happened to be doing audio production that didn’t already have a

                                           name of it’s own.  

 

                        The first time I used the name MECCA, was while working on the first Steve Mackay album in Portland, OR.  A relatively long

             running incarnation was at my Nashville road base and was quite an impressive set up, with separate office, practice and recording spaces, plus I            was able to use it as a venue for occasional shows, hosting several regional acts as well as some international tours, such as a presentation of Jean Louis      Costes’ “Little Birds Shit” opera.  Sadly nothing remains to show from that period such as photographs or any of the sessions, aside those that found                                    their way onto the Sikhara, “Anduni” album, including some nice recordings of baritone sax and some operatic voice.

 

    In Xi’an, China, MECCA was reincarnated for a solid year, beginning with a performance by local experimental music collective System Error.   After several intensive months of working religiously on my own material, I began doing recording and production for local bands. 

 

  During this period I had no hope of acquiring any reasonable recording materials and began experimental with objects and primitive Chinese electronics from the local junk market.  The process and some point turned more serious and began to yield some impressive results.  

  No good thing can last…  The longest running incarnation of MECCA has burst into flames.  Incinerated within the fiery realms of the New Chinese Capitalistic Hell, this sinful domain has fought to last moment for survival and productivity, yet alas succumbs.   The halls once occupied by the few, but proud shimmering lights of creativity in Xi’an, China, will be handed over to a few rich people to play around in on the break time.  So the world turns…..

 

  Now with one foot out the door, I attempt to assemble a mobile version of MECCA, so that it can have a more continuous life and I can continue to build upon what I have learned here.  This was aided when one of the projects I recorded gifted me with my first ever laptop computer.   Changing with the times…  

 

  In the final hours, I rush to make any possible presentation of some of the work achieved here, maybe even a few glimpses of work in progress.  It seems     now as if there should have been so much more, but at the same time, this is a harsh area to be endeavoring to accomplish anything creative.  The

           mere existence of a place like this in Xian was probably not appreciated, but I know a few people really learned a lot from the time here and I hope                    every creative person gets an opportunity like I did, to focus on your work for a period without distraction from the outside world.   Hopefully,

                                                                      in the near future, MECCA can start making the pilgrimage to you.  

 

                                                                            -Scott, December 23, 2013, 4 days before eviction by The Man