The Supertone Sonic Lab
Where sound meets inspiration. A world class residential recording studio & creative retreat on Portugal's stunning Silver Coast
Inspired by passion
Those of you who know us will understand how passionate we are about music.
When we first got together twelve years ago, we asked ourselves a tough but important question—what kind of lifestyle did we want to live? Importantly, not what we thought we could achieve, but the life that we ‘dreamt’ of.
No one knows how many ‘time coins’ we have left to spend and having met later in life, we were intent on spending those ‘time coins’ wisely—getting the most bang for our buck!
So what did we want?
This is the footer in Starlite’s email correspondence:
'“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to put to rout all that was not life and not, when I had come to die, discover that I had not lived.” Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
In a nutshell, to live a meaningful life, overflowing with music, creativity, people, and to travel the world, learning from other cultures, to laugh and love deeply, and not, when we come to die, regret a thing.
Subsequently, we have lived in France, Spain, the Isle of Man, Germany and are now based in Portugal—what a European ride!
Living here, we have learned so much about the Portuguese people, their history, and their customs. We even went back to school twice a week to learn the language, and now have our first certificate in Portuguese. OK, we now have the speaking age of a four-year-old, but it’s a start.
During this time, we had also been searching for a place to settle and put down roots—to find kindred spirits and to contribute to and be part of a creative, nurturing community.
Caldas da Rainha
In a serendipitous meeting back in September 2024, we were chatting to our friends and super-talented animators David and Jo Mourato about looking for somewhere to move to and they invited us up to Caldas da Rainha, offering to give us a guided tour of the city! Once we started walking around, we immediately knew we had found our new home.
Caldas da Rainha is also a UNESCO City of Culture, and we were blown away by all the cool people we met. It’s full af artists and musicians—it just felt right!!
Foz do Arelho
In a double serendipitous affair, that morning we also viewed a potential property fifteen minutes from Caldas in the coastal village of Foz do Arelho.
The house had six bedrooms set out over three levels with a separate flat on the top floor (now the Sky Deck) which contained a double bedroom, bathroom, lounge and balcony. On the ground level (Ocean Deck) the vast living room had a triple-height ceiling—perfect for recording drums—with a long balcony that connected all the rooms so you could walk straight out into the sunshine. The lower garden level had a large room perfect for the recording console (now the Engine Room) plus a garage which is ideal for storing flight cases.
The garden was massive with a decent-sized swimming pool, and the added bonus was the separate balcony with a built-in BBQ adjacent to the kitchen; we love to cook outdoors, and this was in our top five things we were looking for.
Admittedly, it was dirty and very neglected, having not been lived in for years, just rented out as a summer party house—but we could see the potential for our next studio adventure. The major selling point to us after the space seemed workable was the breathtaking view from the house across the Óbidos lagoon and the Oceano Atlântico. It made your heart skip a beat—a slice of paradise and absolutely stunning!!
Inspired by making music
We have acquired a lot of musical and recording equipment over the past ten years and when added to the considerable amount of gear we already owned, means we need an articulated lorry every time we move house.
When we started planning our life together, we had a choice—do we own a property and stay put, or sell everything that wasn’t connected with music, reinvest the proceeds in buying serious world-class analogue music recording gear and record beautifully recorded music for the rest of our lives?
It was a no-brainer.
Why open a residential recording studio?
When we first moved to France, we wanted to live with our equipment rather than have a separate studio. We rented an old farmhouse near Duras, outside of Bordeaux, and quickly realized that the studio was where we felt most at home. Despite having bedrooms upstairs, we decided to sleep there. After all, a room is just a room, and you get to decide its purpose. We had a futon that worked perfectly as both a bed and a sofa, so it never felt strange—it felt right.
Waking up in the French countryside, surrounded by vineyards and our instruments, with our Labrador, Hummock, snoozing at the foot of the bed, was one of the most magical periods of our lives.
That way of life felt completely right. The inspiration of living and working in our studio sparked an idea: why not open a residential recording studio? By sharing this unique experience, we could put our passion and equipment to work, helping other artists transform their creative visions into something real, tangible, and truly unforgettable.
Supertone residential recording studio, Spain.
The weather in France was not so good, and there was no nightlife nearby, so we decided to move and fancied living life in Spain for a while to see how it went.
Within a year, we rented a beautiful house in the mountain village of Estivella, just outside of Valencia, where we opened our first residential recording studio. We learned a great deal and had an amazing experience during our time there; for four years, we hosted and recorded some fabulous musicians from all over the world, including American Grammy Award nominees and renowned jazz musicians.
You can record anywhere; in a studio on an industrial estate or a room in your flat, but when you live the communal life of a musician in a fabulous part of the world, the experience is so different. You are different. You change. The music changes.
Watch the quick tour video below to give you an idea…
Welcome to the new Supertone Sonic Lab // 2025
We’ve been working really hard over the past six months, cleaning, repairing the house, and creating the recording spaces.
Now in August 2025, and via France, Spain, the Isle of Man and Germany, we are thrilled to introduce you to the newly opened Supertone Sonic Lab. A world-class residential recording studio and creative retreat set in a slice of paradise in the coastal village of Foz do Arelho on Portugal’s stunning Silver Coast.
Our coastal muse
Our location was chosen not just for the sunshine, but for the unique character of Foz do Arelho, where the serene Lagoa de Óbidos meets the Oceano Atlântico. This picturesque village, with its golden beaches and clear waters, offers a wonderfully relaxed Portuguese lifestyle. The best part? It's just an hour's drive from Lisbon Airport on quiet motorways, ensuring your artistic escape is both seamless and spectacularly rewarding.
Beyond the studio, a short drive offers plenty of culture. Just 15 minutes away is Caldas da Rainha, a UNESCO City of Culture known for its vibrant music and arts scene. A bit further, you'll find the medieval town of Óbidos, a true jewel crowned by an ancient castle—it's like stepping back in time. We recently attended the Óbidos Medieval Market, a brilliant experience where the cobbled streets were filled with knights, maidens, the scent of BBQs, and the sounds of ancient music.
A sanctuary for sound
Like the world's most renowned residential studios (think the immersive environments of Miraval or La Fabrique), the Supertone Sonic Lab offers more than just equipment; it's a profound creative experience.
This warm, characterful space, nestled in natural beauty, is crafted for you to relax, leave stress behind, and focus completely on your music. It's an invitation to an inspirational, memorable and rewarding life experience, where environment and acoustics intertwine to foster unparalleled creativity.
The Supertone Sonic Lab is where sound becomes experience—created, shared, and felt in the moment.
A relaxed atmosphere
To further enhance your stay and ensure a truly special, stress-free environment, our four friendly Labradors, Hummock, Bobby, Edith and Françoise, are always ready to offer a warm welcome and a little extra relaxation.
Perfect climate
Our location boasts a hot Mediterranean climate, reminiscent of Los Angeles, making it ideal for both creative work and relaxation. When it's time to cool off, you have a choice: take a dip in our swimming pool, or walk just three minutes to swim in either the tranquil lagoon or the invigorating Oceano Atlântico.
Our philosophy is centred on the concept of complete creative immersion. We have crafted a residential recording studio specifically for musicians to fully dedicate themselves to their craft. Bands and solo artists, whether signed or independent, and across all genres, will find a sanctuary here where they can live, cook, and collaborate on their music.
We also warmly extend our invitation to music producers and guest engineers seeking an inspiring new workspace.
The Engine Room
The Sonic Lab features two primary recording spaces.
Situated on the lower garden level, the heart of the studio resides in The Engine Room, home to our magnificent 48-channel CADAC J Series analogue console, affectionately known as Betty (after Starlite’s Nana). Renowned for its rich, expansive sound, Betty delivers unparalleled depth and character to every take, a testament to authentic audio capture.
The room has an abundance of natural light and breathtaking views of the Oceano Atlântico and is equipped with ATC and vintage Tannoy studio monitors, an array of vintage outboard, plus serves as a dedicated cinema and features a green screen area for video production; a versatile space offering a unique sonic character.
The Ocean Deck
Adjacent to this, the Ocean Deck, with its impressive four-meter-high ceiling, provides an ideal acoustic environment for tracking both acoustic and electric instruments, allowing for natural resonance and clarity.
To further enhance your recording experience, we provide an experienced in-house engineer and music producer. Should you desire additional expertise, we can facilitate sessions with our distinguished roster of external Grammy-nominated and winning professionals.
Outdoor sessions
For truly unique tones and an immersive recording experience, we also offer the option to record directly in our beautiful garden, capturing the natural ambience and inspiring setting of Portugal's coast.
Inspired by cuisine
We think good food and good company are just as crucial as good sound. That's why our kitchen is the heart of the house, leading out to a large balcony with a proper Portuguese charcoal grill. It's the perfect spot to cook dinner, share stories about the day’s session, and just chill out.
Cooking and eating together is a huge part of the Supertone Sonic Lab experience—it's often where a lot of the magic happens!
Logistics
While our studio is filled with world-class equipment, we know that some artists prefer to use their own gear.
We can help make your project seamless and affordable by assisting with everything from shipping and equipment rentals to flights and local transport. Additionally, we have a roster of world-class session musicians available to elevate your tracks. Just tell us what you’re looking for!
Interested in booking the Lab?
Just fill in our contact form and tell us about your project, which will help us understand how we can best work together.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Much love
Suzy, Simon, Hummock, Bobby, Edith & Françoise.
A charming and inviting studio indeed. And the location…. Ahhh. Congratulations on the opening. Very happy for you guys as you take life full on and savor every life coin. Much love Rhonda & Jeff