When I say that Water Music was an accident, I mean it in relative terms. Less of an accident than if you woke up tomorrow morning having inherited a recording studio from a long lost aunt, but one in the sense that Water Music happened while, to paraphrase John Lennon, we were “busy making other plans.”

Looking back. I can’t imagine what Robert Miller, James MacMillan & I were thinking of, but I can tell you what happened. We built a studio because we wanted to be able to spend as much time as needed recording our own band, Cries. It was one of those situations where all the wrong answers became the right answers, and a number of different elements, like having the band based out of the studio, and the flood of natural light that poured in through giant windows, all added up to Water Music being a very unique place.

The studio we built was exactly what we needed at the time, and we discovered almost instantaneously that other artists needed it too. I say instantaneously because we had barely finished framed out the control room when Chris Stamey started cutting the “Instant Excitement” album.

It must have been then that we realized this studio was going to have a life of its own.

And it has, in the form of an incredible array of talented people. They came here first because we were getting great sounds and because we were cheaper than studios in Manhattan, but I think the success of the studio had something to do with all of us being in the same boat. Same feelings. Same presures.

From the beginning, a kind of friendship and mutual support existed here at Water Music that isn’t found in many corners of the world. I think this has meant more to me than anything else.

Naturally we have a whole new set of plans. Hopefully these will occupy our attention, and what really happens in the future will be a complete surprise. You may not want to try this at home, but it’s working great over here.

We’ve talked about this record for a long time, so thanks to Lane for actually doing it, and to all the record companies for allowing us to include their artists.

To everyone on the front cover: What a party!

- Rob Grenoble, Water Music