Why Evanston Musicians Trust Us

Evanston stands apart from other North Shore suburbs—home to Northwestern University, a thriving downtown arts district, and one of the most culturally diverse communities in the Chicago area. Musicians from Evanston reflect that breadth: jazz ensembles tracking horns and upright bass, singer-songwriters recording piano and vocal arrangements, experimental indie projects pushing creative boundaries, and voice actors pursuing narration projects. Evanston artists don’t fit into a single mold, and they don’t want a studio that treats recording like an assembly line. They’re looking for an engineer who can adapt to their specific project, understand their artistic vision, and deliver professional results regardless of genre or complexity. As Chicago’s #1 rated recording studio on Google, Untold Stories has earned that reputation by working across every style and approach—from intimate acoustic sessions to full band tracking to experimental production. Musicians from Evanston choose us because we match their creative curiosity and technical standards. Your session is about bringing your unique vision to life, whether that’s capturing the subtlety of a solo cello performance, the punch of a full rock band, or the warmth and clarity required for spoken word and audiobook work.

Getting Here from Evanston

From Evanston, getting to our Pilsen studio at 1007 West 19th Street offers multiple convenient options. By car, you’re looking at 25-30 minutes via Lake Shore Drive south or I-94 S (Edens Expressway) to I-90/94 S (Kennedy), exiting at California Avenue and heading south into Pilsen. The drive is straightforward with excellent highway access. But where Evanston really shines is public transit—the CTA Purple Line runs directly from Evanston (Davis, Foster, Noyes, or Central stations) to the Loop, where you can transfer to the Pink Line at Clark/Lake and ride directly to 18th Street in Pilsen. Total transit time is roughly 40-45 minutes, and you can read, listen to music, or review your material the entire way. Alternatively, the Metra UP-N line runs from Evanston Davis Street Station to Ogilvie Transportation Center, where you can catch a quick rideshare southwest to Pilsen. Street parking in Pilsen is completely free and abundant—no hunting for spots, no meters, no permits like you’d deal with closer to downtown. Many Evanston artists appreciate the accessibility: you can drive when you’re hauling gear, or take transit when you want to focus mentally before a session. Plan to arrive right on time, and you’ll find the neighborhood welcoming, the parking effortless, and the creative energy of Pilsen a natural extension of Evanston’s own arts culture.

What Makes Evanston Artists Unique

Musicians and voice actors from Evanston bring an intellectual curiosity and creative openness to their recording projects. Growing up in or living in a community anchored by a major university, world-class music programs, and a diverse cultural scene creates artists who’ve been exposed to everything from classical performance to experimental jazz to underground indie rock. Evanston artists tend to approach recording with both preparation and flexibility—they know what they want to capture, but they’re also open to creative suggestions and willing to experiment when it serves the song. We see an incredibly diverse range of projects from Evanston: jazz trios recording piano, bass, and horn arrangements; folk artists tracking acoustic guitar and strings like violin or cello; rock bands capturing full instrumentation; and a strong representation of voice actors and audiobook narrators from the Northwestern and professional communities. What sets Evanston artists apart is their combination of technical skill and artistic risk-taking—they’re not afraid to try something unconventional if it serves their vision. They’ve researched their options, they understand what professional recording requires, and they choose Untold Stories because we can meet them wherever their project demands: traditional or experimental, simple or complex, familiar or boundary-pushing. When you walk into our studio from Evanston, you’re working with an engineer who respects both your preparation and your creativity, and who’s committed to delivering results that honor your artistic vision at its highest level.