about us
Powered by solar energy, we offer our clients a suite of personalized audio production services. Our mission is to deliver pristine quality audio production services without environmental impact. Our Saint Paul, MN studio offers a relaxing and comforting atmosphere for podcast, audiobook, and music recordings.
With trained ears, a wide breadth of experience, and technical aptitude, we ensure that our clients' works reach pinnacle quality while receiving excellent customer service. Since its founding in 2019, Solar Powered Studios has provided consulting, recording, and production services to 7 podcasts, mixed/mastered over 100 songs, recorded and produced audiobooks, and delivered numerous edits and custom pieces for fine arts performers and special projects.
We cater to podcasters, publishers, authors, musicians, businesses, record labels, and fine arts performers. Our works have appeared in burlesque shows, aerial performances, dance team performances, fireworks shows, personal projects, and corporate/community podcasts. Record label signings include Delve Deeper, Tibetania Records, Plastik People Recordings, S&S Records, Phunk Junk Records, Comsmography Records, Down Right Dirty Records, 4Matt Productions, Friday Rush Records, and more.
Nick Perko
CEO, Producer, M+M Engineer, Sound Designer
Nick's musical journey began at the age of 8 when he was invited to play drums at a neighbor's home. The very first beat ignited a love for drums and percussion that soon morphed into an obsession for composing music. Nick wrote his first songs for violin while in Suzuki class in 3rd grade and soon composed his first electronic pieces. By 6th grade, Nick knew that percussion was his calling. By progressing through formal percussion training and playing in marching band and winter drumline, Nick applied his classical learnings to his own music to write over 50 songs by the end of high school.
With a solid foundation in music theory and mallet percussion performance, Nick started playing gigs and continued writing music while attending college at the University of Minnesota for bio-products engineering. A love for the environment blossomed alongside his music production, thus inspiring the birth of his moniker, botanicus, and quest to manifest the music of the natural world. After working in biofuel production for a few years, Nick decided to follow his deep musical passions while elevating environmental causes. He founded Solar Powered Studios with the mission to help clients' projects achieve the highest possible quality with minimal environmental impact.
Hungry for more, Nick extended his knowledge, experience, and credentials by completing the Sound Design and Mixing & Mastering programs at Slam Academy in Minneapolis. Signings on Phunk Junk Records, Downright Dirty Records, Tibetania/M-Sol Records, and Delve Deeper soon followed as botanicus held residencies at Dance Church Minneapolis, Ginger Hop, and Soundwaveradio.
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Listen to the music of botanicus at botanicusmusic.com
Katie Strand
Vocalist, Ghost Writer, Film Producer, Instrumentalist
Katie has a colorful history and extensive portfolio on both sides of the camera and microphone. She has written a treasure trove of original music in which she sings, plays guitar, and plays piano. As an Emmy-nominated documentary Film Producer, Katie has written, produced, and directed for HBO, PBS, NBC, MTV, Fox, BBC and over 20 national commercials, including an HBO/Time Warner Super Bowl commercial.
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Katie is the principal voice actress for Solar Powered Studios. For audiobooks or podcasts, Katie can give your project the voice it needs: clean and clear, sultry and sexy, or quirky and ridiculous.
Listen to her voiceover for the Persevere Podcast (powered by Checkable Medical and produced by Solar Powered Studios), with theme music by Smoke & Mint (Nick Perko and Denis Terzic).
With Katie on the team, Solar Powered Studios offers a full suite of media production capability for organizations wanting to create positive impacts in our world.
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Check out Katie's latest project for Neighborhood Forest!
What is something you do to reduce your environmental impact?
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"Ride my bike, a lot, instead of turning on the heat."
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What is your favorite thing to do in the sun?
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"Stand-Up-Paddleboarding and yoga on the paddleboard, because falling in is fun, especially on a hot, sunny day!"
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Sam Perko
Aesthetics Designer, SEO Specialist, Website/Branding Specialist
A passionate designer and experienced marketing professional, Sam brings her love of aesthetics and SEO to the Solar Powered Studios team. She loves to design spaces both online and off, and uses her digital expertise to bring to those spaces the traffic they deserve.
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Sam designed the studio space, website, and branding for Solar Powered Studios. Her consultancy, Casa Del Sol Designs, aids our podcast clients in website creation and online marketing to drive traffic and increase the reach of their projects.
Learn more about Sam at casadelsoldesigns.com
Charbonneau
Voice Actor
Michael Charbonneau's mission and slogan are to take the crowd from "underground to uplift." If you are lucky enough to experience one his DJ sets, you will understand. Charbonneau's experience as a radio show host complements his natural talent to project his voice clearly and confidently. We are blessed to have Charbonneau as Solar Powered Studios' principal male voice actor.
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Listen to Charbonneau's voiceover for the CorTalent Connects Podcast (hosted by Laura King and produced by Solar Powered Studios).
What is your favorite thing to do in the sun?
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"Host unforgettable beach parties on Lake Michigan with my collective, Be Positive Productions."