Born of “pandemic panic” yet still coming together two years later, Outta Wax Record Pressing has plans for 4,700 square feet in the former Flaire Print shop at 2110 Washington St. NE. Sara Pette (pronounced “pet”), who lives with husband Nato Coles a few blocks from the shop, is collaborating with her brother John Pette and friend Alex Stillman who is managing the renovation. Under her (Alex’s) direction, the rest of the team, some of whom will eventually work in the operation, are renovating the building while waiting for equipment to arrive.
Sara, herself a musician who would like to own a record label, trained in pressing records at a company in Miami and describes even the best equipment as needing frequent tweaking. Outta Wax will focus on independent artists. There’s an earlybird list of clients eagerly awaiting the startup. It is anticipated “on a good day,” a few hundred records can be pressed on one machine, taking about 30 seconds per pressing. Sara hopes eventually to be fully vertically integrated with printing and packaging all in-house. They’ll still send out for the “stampers,” the electroplated masters from which the vinyl is pressed.
Meanwhile, Pette’s Hounds Dogwalking & Pet Care, her original business, is rebounding nicely from the pandemic time when customers stayed home with their pets.
A recording studio will also be renting space in the building. One of the things that makes the Arts District strong is the presence of businesses that serve and remind us that there are all types of artists here in addition to the visual. We’re looking forward to reporting more about these businesses when they’re further along.
Story and photos by Margo Ashmore