Henry Sarmiento on Sonic Vista Studios

Ibiza guide Essential Ibiza met Henry Sarmiento, the owner of Miloco’s Sonic Vista Studios, to talk Lady Gaga, why the Spain recording studio will one day be considered “the Motown of the Mediterranean,” and why music is to Sarmiento “one of the most powerful things on the planet.”

What is it that brought you to Ibiza?

I came because I love the island; I didn’t move to Ibiza for the clubbing life. I came to represent the music industry and I was the first person who brought a Pro Tools | HD system here, and that’s the industry standard for audio. People who come here call me because I get it right; I make sure the clients are getting the right sound.

So when was your first time here?

I came in 2003 for a week with my good friend Miguel Migs, who’s a big DJ from San Francisco. A whole bunch of us came because he was playing at Pacha, and I really loved the island. It has a very special spirit.

What were you doing before?

I was running Herbie Herbert’s studio in San Francisco. He’s a guy who’s responsible for over 400 million records. He put together bands like Journey, Santana, Roxette, and he’s why my backbone is very professional and honest. There’s no time for slacking in his camp!

You were 16 when you started working in the music industry. Was music something you grew up with?

Well it’s kind of an interesting story. When I was 15 I hitchhiked to a Max Creek concert. I was living in Vermont at the time and there wasn’t much culture. I was from NYC so I needed some vibes! You know, I was used to the city. So this gig was a two-and-a-half hour drive away and I calculated it’d take me six hours to hitchhike there. But then I went, got picked up by the second car, and was driven all the way to Hartford. I got there in two-and-a-half hours. It was easy. So I got to the concert venue and thought, “What do I do now?” I was bored! There was this huge parking lot with warehouse parking docks, so I sat in one and chilled out in the sun. And at 5.30pm this big truck started backing up right where I was sitting, and it turned out it was carrying the band equipment. I told them my story and they asked if I wanted to help out. They gave me a pass, and I helped them with the show. I got to experience it from the perspective of the band and the crew, and to watch the crowd from behind the scenes. My friends were like, “What the fuck are you doing up on stage!” Anyway after the show, the band were like, “Hey, you want to come to New York with us tomorrow? We’re doing another show,” and I was like, “Yeah, that’s my city!” And it was a night of pure rock’n’roll. I was underage at the time but I was with the band so it wasn’t a problem. That was a super cool weekend. The next day I got back on the freeway and hitchhiked home. My mom was like, “Where you been?”

See more at Essential Ibiza.