Now Playing: Creation District Artists
CREATION DISTRICT RECORDS
Launched in 2018, Creation District Records is a youth-led independent label dedicated to breaking down the barriers that keep young people experiencing homelessness or economic instability from entering the professional music scene.
We bring youth voices out of notebook pages and into your headphones. Stocked with professional recording gear, MIDI instruments, and soundproofing materials, we create spaces—whether in our downtown studio or through pop-up sessions in shelters, garages, vans, or sidewalks—where young artists can explore, record, and share their truth.
Those ready to take the next step can sign on to the label. Signing means youth give up no rights to their music, but gain a platform: their tracks are added to our online streaming platforms and they receive support in promotion and album production.
Because at the Creation District, we believe music has the power to change lives. Our youth already know the way—all they need is a stage.
Our Studios
Studio A: Engineer Sessions
One-on-one, hour-long sessions with a professional engineer where youth learn the craft of audio production, record original songs, or process their experiences through music.
Studio B: Beats Lab
A drop-in creative space open weekdays where youth can independently make beats, record podcasts, or experiment with sound and music theory.
Mobile Sessions
Fully functional pop-up studios that travel to youth—transforming shelters, sidewalks, and beyond into recording spaces. Every session ends with a professionally mixed track in hand.
WHAT MAKES CREATION DISTRICT RECORDS UNIQUE?
LOCATION
At the Creation District, we understand that transportation can be one of the greatest barriers for youth experiencing homelessness to achieve their goals. We make recording accessible by bringing our studio to where youth are. In under thirty minutes, the Creation District Recording Studio can be set up in alley ways, shelters, garages, living rooms, and anywhere else you can imagine! If you can sing there, we can record there!
PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS
Creation District Records thrives through the support of professional musicians and local creatives who share their time, talent, and mentorship with our youth. From the very beginning, artists like Hobo Johnson and So Much Light have been integral to making the magic happen.
When not touring or managing their own careers, these artists step in to guide, mentor, and collaborate:
So Much Light has served as our recording and mastering engineer, sitting alongside youth during sessions and helping bring their visions to life.
Hobo Johnson has supported from behind the scenes as a manager—booking shows, building artist exposure, and joining sessions whenever he can.
Beyond these core collaborators, countless Sacramento-based musicians and creatives have partnered with us, offering youth the chance to learn directly from practicing artists and connect with some of the city’s biggest names in music.
These partnerships create more than just one-time moments in the studio—they spark ongoing mentorship that continues at open mics, live shows, and creative spaces across the city. By paying local artists for their time and expertise, the Creation District also invests in the local creative economy, ensuring that our community of artists grows alongside our youth.
EQUIPMENT
We believe our youth are professional artists, and they deserve to create with the same tools the industry’s best rely on. Every piece of gear in our studio is hand-selected by professional musicians—matching the interfaces, microphones, and equipment they use to record their own work.
From the first note to the final mix, youth have access to top-quality, professional-grade gear—because their creativity deserves nothing less.
PROMOTION
Every artist deserves a spotlight when they step into the world of music for the first time. At Creation District Records, we’re committed to amplifying the talent we already know is there—and making sure the rest of the world hears it too.
Through album releases, live shows, social media features, and online distribution, we give each artist the visibility and support they deserve. Our goal is not just to record music, but to build platforms where youth can share their voices, grow their audiences, and be celebrated as the artists they are.
