Funding brings music to the ears of budding entrepreneur

A budding entrepreneur from the Vale of Glamorgan has launched a mobile recording studio for bands and recording artists across Wales.

Sion Roberts, 23 from Bonvilston has set up Soniform to help local bands and budding musicians record their music and create high-quality demos and EPs.

The idea for the mobile recording studio came when Sion witnessed friends unable to afford the cost of paying for a recording studio to record their music.

Using entirely portable recording equipment, Soniform, which is derived from a combination of 'sonic' and 'form', meaning 'making sound’ can travel to different locations meaning that musicians can even record in the comfort of their own home.

On setting up Soniform, founder Sion Roberts said: “The idea came to me after witnessing a lot of my friends who are in their own bands simply unable to afford the cost of hiring a recording studio. Therefore I decided to create a mobile studio offering them the ability to record their music at reasonable rates. I decided to set up a mobile studio as opposed to a fixed one to eliminate as many overheads as possible including rent and electricity to make my service as cost effective and accessible to local musicians as possible.”

Sion will run the business part time, alongside his current job as a as a Learning Support Assistant in Cowbridge Lower School, helping 11 -13 year old children with learning and behavioural problems. Soniform will specialise in recording music of budding musicians and artists, in addition to recording schools concerts, live performances and community performances. Continued Sion: “With the recording studio I can travel anywhere, record the music and mix and master the audio tracks, creating quality demos and EPs for a range of clients and purposes. I am looking forward to launching this niche service and developing its offering over the coming months.”

To help set the business up, Sion received funding from Inspiring the Vale Bursaries scheme which is run by Creative Rural Communities, a regeneration and economic development initiative led by the Vale of Glamorgan Council in partnership with various public, private and voluntary sector organisation. T

he scheme, established in 2009, aims to give individual or group applicants up to the age of 30, who either currently live in the rural Vale or have previously lived there in the past for five years, the opportunity to set up their own business with a grant of up to £3,000.

On the scheme Sion said: “When I first decided to set up Soniform, I knew I needed funding to enable me to buy the necessary equipment to offer a high quality recording facility to rival recording studios. I heard about the Inspiring the Vale bursaries scheme from a friend who suggested I apply. Without the support and funding I have received from the scheme, setting up Soniform simply would not have been possible.”

Nia Hollins, rural regeneration officer at Creative Rural Communities who supported the Sion through his application said: “To date there has been very little help and support for budding young business entrepreneurs like Sion in the Vale of Glamorgan. However, Inspiring the Vale Bursaries scheme gives people not only the opportunity to work for themselves but it also gives them the funding needed to set up their own business.

“New businesses like Soniform are essential if we are to keep the local economy thriving, keep employment high in the area and encourage more business to set up in the Vale. We are thrilled to have been able to help Soniform and look forward to watching the company grow over the next few months.”