Why Lake Forest Musicians Trust Us

Lake Forest represents the North Shore at its most established—lakefront estates, a strong tradition of supporting the arts, and a community where excellence is simply expected rather than advertised. Musicians from Lake Forest bring that same understated confidence to their recording projects: they don’t need to be convinced that professional quality matters, they’ve experienced it their entire lives and they expect nothing less from the studios they work with. Whether you’re an acoustic artist recording guitar and piano arrangements, a rock band tracking full instrumentation including horns or strings, or a voice actor recording for commercial clients and audiobook publishers, you’ll find a studio environment that matches Lake Forest’s commitment to quality without pretension. Artists from this community understand that great recordings require both technical skill and artistic sensitivity—they’re looking for an engineer who can capture the nuance of a delicate vocal performance as easily as the power of a full band tracking live. As Chicago’s #1 rated recording studio on Google, Untold Stories has earned that recognition by delivering work that meets the expectations of artists who’ve been surrounded by excellence and won’t settle for anything less. Lake Forest musicians choose us because we approach every project with the same dedication and precision they’ve invested in developing their craft over years of study, performance, and refinement.

Getting Here from Lake Forest

From Lake Forest, the drive to our Pilsen studio at 1007 West 19th Street takes approximately 45-50 minutes via I-94 S (Edens Expressway) and I-90/94 S (Kennedy Expressway). Head south on Sheridan Road or Green Bay Road to access I-94 S, continue as the highway merges with the Kennedy, exit at California Avenue, and head south into Pilsen. The route keeps you on major expressways the entire way with clear signage and no downtown complications. Street parking in Pilsen is completely free and abundant throughout the neighborhood, typically within half a block of the studio. No meters, no permits, no hunting for spots like you’d deal with recording closer to downtown. If you prefer public transit, the Metra UP-N line runs from Lake Forest Station directly to Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown, where you can catch a rideshare southwest to Pilsen in about 10-12 minutes. Many Lake Forest artists appreciate the drive as mental preparation time—it’s long enough to review your material, warm up vocally, or simply transition from your daily responsibilities into creative mode. By the time you arrive at the studio, you’ve left the lakefront estates and quiet streets behind and you’re fully prepared to engage with the work. Plan to arrive right on time for your session, and you’ll find parking effortless, access straightforward, and the neighborhood’s creative character a refreshing complement to the focused recording ahead.

What Makes Lake Forest Artists Unique

Musicians and voice actors from Lake Forest tend to approach recording with a combination of high expectations and genuine respect for the craft. Growing up in or living in a community that values education, cultural engagement, and personal achievement creates artists who understand what excellence sounds like and are willing to invest what it takes to achieve it in their own work. Lake Forest artists arrive at the studio thoroughly prepared—material rehearsed to performance level, arrangements refined, technical details considered. They’re not hoping the studio will rescue poorly executed performances; they’re looking for a collaborative partner who can help them realize their artistic vision at its highest level. We see acoustic artists recording intimate guitar and piano arrangements, rock bands tracking full instrumentation with bass, drums, and occasionally horns or string sections, adult contemporary projects, singer-songwriters developing polished productions, and voice actors recording for commercial and publishing clients from Lake Forest. Many are artists who’ve studied music formally at institutions like Lake Forest College or privately, performed extensively, or simply dedicated years to developing their sound with the same seriousness they bring to every pursuit. What sets Lake Forest artists apart is their understanding that recording is an investment in creating something lasting—not content for social media, but work that represents their abilities and artistic vision at a professional level. They’ve researched their options, they know what distinguishes competent engineering from exceptional work, and they choose Untold Stories because we deliver the precision, technical excellence, and artistic sensitivity their projects demand. When you walk into our studio from Lake Forest, you’re working with an engineer who respects the standards you bring, values the preparation you’ve invested, and is committed to capturing your music with the clarity, warmth, and depth it deserves.