Recording & Production with Ciara

Whether you’re a complete beginner with a song idea scribbled in a notebook, or an experienced musician ready to record and release a full project, my goal is always the same: to help you bring your musical vision to life in a way that feels inspiring, supportive, creative, and deeply authentic to YOU.

Sessions take place either in my home studio or, for larger projects, in collaboration with professional studios including Tiny Telephone (Oakland) and Old School Studio (Mendocino).

SERVICES OFFERED

SONGWRITING SESSION

Starting with anything from a lyric, poem, melody, chord progression, or simple idea, we’ll work together to shape your material into a complete song.

Perfect for:

• Aspiring songwriters

• Teens exploring original music

• Students wanting to move beyond covers

• Anyone with “unfinished ideas” sitting in voice memos or notebooks

Includes:

• Song development

• Structure & arrangement guidance

• Melody and lyric support

$225/hr

RECORD ONE SONG

A relaxed and supportive recording session focused on capturing a beautiful performance of one song — original or cover.

You’ll record your piano or guitar track and then layer vocals over top, leaving with a polished, intimate recording to share with friends, family, social media, auditions, or simply for yourself.

Perfect for:

• Students wanting their first recording experience

• Singer-songwriters

• Audition material

• Passion projects

• Gifts and keepsakes

2 Hour Session — $450

DEMO PRODUCTION PACKAGE

Bring me your song idea and together we’ll begin shaping it into a fully realized track.

This package is ideal for artists who want creative guidance and musical development without committing to a large-scale production process.

Includes:

• Song development to help your song realize its fullest potential

• Basic arranging (drums, guitars, bass, strings, vocal harmonies, etc)

• Demo recording of all tracks

• Guidance on next creative steps (upload to Soundcloud? Social media? Keep it for yourself? Hire a band? etc)

Day Rate — $600

FULL ARTIST PRODUCTION

This is the complete artist development and production experience.

From the earliest stages of songwriting all the way through recording and release preparation, I’ll guide and manage the creative process while helping you fully realize your artistic vision.

This may include:

• Song refinement and arrangement

• Demo creation

• Studio booking & coordination

• Hiring musicians and engineers

• Rehearsals

• Vocal coaching & performance direction

• Session production

• Creative direction and project management

• Budgeting and logistical coordination

Whether you’re creating your first single or a full EP, this process is collaborative, highly personalized, and designed to help you create work you’re truly proud of.

Combo of Hourly + Day Rate (customizable and agreed upon ahead of time)

Some of the projects I’m most proud of in recent years have come from helping MMS students and community members bring their music into the world.

Our very own Meera Lester recently wrote, recorded, mixed, mastered, and released their debut EP, Kiss Me Goodnight, under my guidance. Liz Ward’s debut EP, Back to Mendocino, is also currently in its final stages and coming soon.

After releasing albums with Hidden in the Sun and my solo album, To Shimmering Light, I’m now focusing my production and creative energy into Kitten Around, with our first EP releasing this fall.

If you’re interested in working together, I’d love to hear more about your ideas and help you determine which offering might be the best fit for you.

To schedule a consultation or learn more, please contact:
ciara@mcallistermusicstudiosf.com