The Garage Puts Music in Harm’s Way

Working out of his Camp Verde garage turned audio engineering production studio, Harms is drumming up business from as far away as Canada and New York.  

Just 26 years old, Harms was born in Evanston, Chicago, and his family moved to Camp Verde when he was 10. “I went to South Verde High School and after graduation enrolled in The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Science in Phoenix.”

Brimming with a huge volume of talent, Harms accepted an internship in Los Angeles that became a full-time job.

“I started from the bottom doing an internship with the legendary Rick Rubin at his studio, Shangri-la in Malibu and also Barefoot Recording.  I worked both places before taking a full-time position with Shangri-la,” he said. “I met a lot of cool people. Along with making coffee, cleaning toilets, sweeping the floors and wrapping cables, I once made tomato soup for Neil Young.”  

The Shangri-la studio recorded musicians such as Black Sabbath, Kanye West, Ed Sheeran, Andrew Bird, Adele, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Johnny Cash, to name a few. In addition, Bob Dylan’s old tour bus (converted into studio space) is parked on the property. A four-part television miniseries documentary about the studio aired on Showtime in 2019.

Promotion prevailed as Harms stepped up from assistant audio engineer and into the role of house engineer at Shangri-la. “Then, COVID hit and studio time was cut. Rent was high in Los Angeles, so I came back to Camp Verde and built my studio from scratch.”

It was then that Harms started his YouTube Channel. This move sparked recognition from musicians around the country and Canada. 

 “Max Harms has been an invaluable partner to me. He pulled a scene out of thin air and created a network of touring musicians I couldn’t work without,” said Flagstaff country musician Red McAdam. “The Garage is an absolute oasis in the desert, the people he’s managed to bring through Arizona have been so incredibly special and kept me and so many others in the state during periods where we were thinking of leaving. I went on three separate month-long tours with people I met through Max. My entire professional Rolodex and many of my best friends are people I met through him.”

Adding video and photography services to his studio was important to Harms. “They go hand in hand,” he said. “I bought a camera because I wanted to film a documentary about Camp Verde. Then I decided I might as well film some recording sessions and that became a successful match for my work.”

His girlfriend, McKenna Dibble, stepped in to assist with editing video and film. “She does a great job of helping with production and she’s learning fast,” he said.

Though Harms never played an instrument growing up, his dad always had a guitar lying around. “I toyed with it a bit when I was young but nothing really stuck. Then when I was 19, I picked it up and started taking it more seriously.”  Today, Harms, who is self-taught, can play just about any instrument.

Katie Mae, from Katie Mae & the Lubrication band in Phoenix, says that Harms is an incredibly gifted and talented audio engineer. “I’m very fortunate to call Max a good friend. My band and I recorded our first full-length record with him back in December and it was the most fun I’d ever had recording. I’m proud to say that he is co-producing that record with me, which we are hoping to release this summer. If a musician is passing through Arizona and I like their work, I always encourage them to go see Max. We were one of the first live sessions that he released from The Garage Recording Studio, and I was so blown away by the sound he captured. Since then, I’ve done a lot of work and enjoyed countless good times with Max. I look forward to many, many more.”

Traveling from Applegate, Oregon, singer/songwriter Jason Dea West believes the trip is well worth it. “I waited to film and record my song @ghostyfuntime until I could work with Max Harms,” said West. “It’s a very important song to me and I knew I could trust Max’s expertise to not only capture a powerful video performance but deliver the best sounding audio anyone could ever ask during a live session. Seriously, nobody has come remotely close to what Max is doing down there in Camp Verde, Arizona.”

In pursuit of his own musical interests, Harms has been recording songs on his YouTube channel and other streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and Tital.

Free time for Harms is playing with his six-month-old English Bulldog, Townes, who was named after legendary old country singer, Townes Van Zant. He also likes hunting. Harms can be contacted at mharmsrecording@gmail.com and his Max Harms YouTube Channel, or 847-833-5381.                                                            

IN MY SPARE TIME

I like to kayak the Verde River in the spring and summer, hunt in the fall and watch movies a lot during the winter.

HOBBY I HOPE TO PURSUE

I’d like to try making leather goods someday.

ADVICE FOR MY YOUNGER SELF

Have patience. Patience is important and I lacked that when I was young.

MY ROLE MODEL

My mom has been an artist her whole life and has been self-employed. She does blacksmithing, jewelry and pottery. She’s amazing.

MY GUILTY PLEASURE

Whiskey. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Producer Max Harms creates in his audio production studio, The Garage, with Mckenna Dibble.