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The Inner Ear of Don Zientara
A photo-filled oral history of the DC-area music studio that brought us some of the most iconic recordings by Bad Brains, Bikini Kill, Fugazi, and so many more "If Memphis rock-and-roll had Sun Studio, and the Beatles had London's Abbey Road, DC punk had Inner Ear." — Washington Post "Don had a very gentle approach, and everything he did was perfect. He did not assert himself on the music, but rather had the sensitivity to respond to the vibe of the songs. I wanted everything to sound very intimate, with minimal compression and no reverb, and Don was comfortable with that. More importantly, he knew how to make those restrictions sound good."
—John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers In the late 1970s, Don Zientara—a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War—founded Inner Ear Studio in the basement of his home in Arlington, VA, using the electronics training he received from the army. Inner Ear remained in Don's basement until its 1990 relocation to a larger space on South Oakland Street. Along the way, Inner Ear became best known for recording iconic DC punk musicians including Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Bikini Kill, Rites of Spring, Mary Timony, and Fugazi. The Inner Ear of Don Zientara is an oral history of not just Inner Ear's recordings, but the role that Don played in creating one of the most welcoming and nurturing recording studios the world over. Alongside 250 photographs, the volume includes testimonials from members of Fugazi, Scream, Fire Party, Shudder to Think, Jawbox, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Dismemberment Plan, as well as musicians like Kathleen Hanna, Henry Rollins, among other notables. In addition to DC punk bands, Don also recorded many other styles and genres, including Celtic folk tunes, harp music, Russian balalaika groups, political advertisers, and choral singers. The studio was also featured on Dave Grohl’s Sonic Highways television mini-series. The Inner Ear of Don Zientara pays tribute to this iconic studio, celebrating the man at the heart of this remarkable space.
—John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers In the late 1970s, Don Zientara—a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War—founded Inner Ear Studio in the basement of his home in Arlington, VA, using the electronics training he received from the army. Inner Ear remained in Don's basement until its 1990 relocation to a larger space on South Oakland Street. Along the way, Inner Ear became best known for recording iconic DC punk musicians including Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Bikini Kill, Rites of Spring, Mary Timony, and Fugazi. The Inner Ear of Don Zientara is an oral history of not just Inner Ear's recordings, but the role that Don played in creating one of the most welcoming and nurturing recording studios the world over. Alongside 250 photographs, the volume includes testimonials from members of Fugazi, Scream, Fire Party, Shudder to Think, Jawbox, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Dismemberment Plan, as well as musicians like Kathleen Hanna, Henry Rollins, among other notables. In addition to DC punk bands, Don also recorded many other styles and genres, including Celtic folk tunes, harp music, Russian balalaika groups, political advertisers, and choral singers. The studio was also featured on Dave Grohl’s Sonic Highways television mini-series. The Inner Ear of Don Zientara pays tribute to this iconic studio, celebrating the man at the heart of this remarkable space.
- GenresMusic
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 29, 2023
The Inner Ear of Don Zientara (2023) by Antonia Tricarico.
I had never heard of Don Zientara or Inner Ear Studios. But then I talked to my son, the musician, and he was all ablaze to get his hands on this book. He told me a lot of the punk scene in and around the D.C. and Virginia environs was recorded at The Inner Ear. This book is a word and photo tribute to the studio, but mostly it honors the man behind the recordings. We learn of the start of Inner Ear in Don’s basement in the late 1970s and the move to a better, more business-like location in the 90s. After 50 years Inner Ear closed shop in October 2021. But in 2022 Zientara reopened Inner Ear back in his basement, so it has gone full circle. Yet even during that short time closed, it lived on in the hearts of those who worked there, recorded there, or listened to the finished music emanating from there.
Along with far more than 200 photographs taken by the author, there are a massive amount of written tributes to the man and the studio from dozens of bands. They range from Bikini Kill and Rites of Spring to Fugazi and Red Hot Chili Peppers. We also get to read letters from so many of the people who worked with and knew Don Zientara, including sound engineers, various producers and one Alex Vida, listed as Stagecraft. That was the name of the radio show he and Don created which allowed listeners to learn more about Punk musicians they either loved or never heard of before,
While the new studio isn’t mentioned in this book I am certain it will have the same caring, self-effacing driving force at the controls. Don was a Nam-era conscientious objector who brought the same inner calm to the recording studio, trying to stay out of the way and let the band’s true sound come through. And it worked.
This is a fitting tribute to a music market icon that may not be my style, but through my son and his friends, is certainly a living, vivacious entity that will live on and on.
I had never heard of Don Zientara or Inner Ear Studios. But then I talked to my son, the musician, and he was all ablaze to get his hands on this book. He told me a lot of the punk scene in and around the D.C. and Virginia environs was recorded at The Inner Ear. This book is a word and photo tribute to the studio, but mostly it honors the man behind the recordings. We learn of the start of Inner Ear in Don’s basement in the late 1970s and the move to a better, more business-like location in the 90s. After 50 years Inner Ear closed shop in October 2021. But in 2022 Zientara reopened Inner Ear back in his basement, so it has gone full circle. Yet even during that short time closed, it lived on in the hearts of those who worked there, recorded there, or listened to the finished music emanating from there.
Along with far more than 200 photographs taken by the author, there are a massive amount of written tributes to the man and the studio from dozens of bands. They range from Bikini Kill and Rites of Spring to Fugazi and Red Hot Chili Peppers. We also get to read letters from so many of the people who worked with and knew Don Zientara, including sound engineers, various producers and one Alex Vida, listed as Stagecraft. That was the name of the radio show he and Don created which allowed listeners to learn more about Punk musicians they either loved or never heard of before,
While the new studio isn’t mentioned in this book I am certain it will have the same caring, self-effacing driving force at the controls. Don was a Nam-era conscientious objector who brought the same inner calm to the recording studio, trying to stay out of the way and let the band’s true sound come through. And it worked.
This is a fitting tribute to a music market icon that may not be my style, but through my son and his friends, is certainly a living, vivacious entity that will live on and on.
May 15, 2025
Great look into one of the more unique recording engineers of the past few decades. interviews from lots of people who worked with him at his studios.
July 5, 2023
This book was a real treat: interesting, surprising, warm, sometimes funny, with lots of photos of the Inner Ear studios and a diverse group of people including members of many significant bands. Highly recommended.
July 20, 2023
Wonderfully inspiring and heartfelt story of an incredible bloke and a much loved space because of all Don did to make it that way. Talks to a huge cross section on bands who recorded there. Essential read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews