Miraval Studios is a
recording studio
A recording studio is a specialized facility for Sound recording and reproduction, recording and Audio mixing, mixing of instrumental or vocal musical performances, spoken words, and other sounds. They range in size from a small in-home proje ...
located in the
Château de Miraval, a 900
hectares estate located in
Correns, in the
Var department of
Provence (
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
). Founded in 1977 by French jazz pianist
Jacques Loussier and sound engineer Patrice Quef, it was in operation under the name Studio Miraval until the mid-2000s, but sat unused after the acquisition of the estate by actors
Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolie in 2011. Brad Pitt and French producer
Damien Quintard reopened the fully restored and refurbished studios under the name Miraval Studios in October 2022.
Studio Miraval (1977–2000s)

For hundreds of years, the Miraval estate in the south of France has inspired artisans, vintners and musicians alike with its simple, otherworldly beauty. Surrounded by gardens, stone terraces, fountains and a forest of white oak and evergreen, the 900-acre property has produced wines and olives since the 13th century.
In 1977, the estate's then-owner, French pianist and composer
Jacques Loussier, and sound engineer Patrice Quef built a state-of-the-art recording studio on the property, the Studio Miraval. Loussier began by recording his own work, mainly for films, and then started taking on French artists such as
Maxime Le Forestier and
Pierre Vassiliu.
Miraval achieved fame thanks to
Pink Floyd, who came there in 1979 to record part of their album ''
The Wall''. Subsequently, equipped with one of the first
SSL mixing consoles in France, Miraval recorded
AC/DC,
Judas Priest,
The Cranberries,
The Cure,
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...
,
Wham!,
Level 42,
David Sylvian (solo and with
Rain Tree Crow),
Chris Rea,
Sade,
the Go-Betweens,
Steve Winwood,
Yes,
UB40,
Chris Braide,
Shirley Bassey,
the Gipsy Kings,
Shakatak,
Rammstein,
Fonky Family,
Kelly Family, Blankass, Silmarils,
Jimmy Barnes and many others. Later on, in the early and middle 2000s, Rammstein recorded the album ''
Mutter'', and
Courtney Love also spent a few weeks in the estate. In 2006,
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...
recorded some tracks for ''
Black Holes and Revelations''
In 1998, Loussier sold Miraval to businessman–turned–wine producer
Tom Bove who resold it in 2011 to actors
Brad Pitt and
Angelina Jolie who decided not to operate the studio anymore.
Miraval Studios (2022–present)
On 10 October 2022, Brad Pitt, now separated from Angelina Jolie (who sold her shares in the Miraval estate), and French producer
Damien Quintard officially reopened the completely redesigned and refurbished studios under the name Miraval Studios.
One of the studio's first additions is a console with hybrid
analog and
digital capabilities, a
Dolby Atmos system, and all the technology needed to pre-mix for film and television projects. Recording booths and workstations for sound and video editing are also included.
[
Sade and her eponymous band were the first to record at the studios. Travis Scott used the studio for his 2023 album '' Utopia''. Some of the 2024 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album '' Wild God'' was recorded at Miraval.]
References
External links
*
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds recording ''Wild God'' at Miraval.
{{Authority control
Recording studios in France
1977 establishments in France
Buildings and structures in Var (department)
Companies based in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
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