_{By Madeline Harris}

Back in October, we mentioned JakDel’s latest endeavor: opening up a state-of-the-art recording studio/creative getaway in the scenic Provo Canyon. JakDel (Jake Pedersen) dropped the news during our first interview and, a couple months later, let a couple of us tour the campus of what will be called Seladore.

It’s an artist’s playground and encourages creation through an environment that eliminates distraction. Set to open in the spring, Seladore is six acres of aspen trees and all the tools needed to help creative visions come to life. As a cherry on top, a river runs through it.

Seladore is nestled in a corner of the canyon that once was a laboratory for the historic Nunn’s Station hydroelectric power plant. “The studio used to be the laboratory, and we found testing supplies and cool stuff like that” in the building process, Pedersen notes. “It’s amazing. They still had all the old equipment.” 

Jerry Anderson is working on site to build the studio, and Pedersen says that as “the historian of the group, he can tell you pretty much everything about how this place came to be. His pickup is full of things we’ve found.” They plan to frame and hang some of these archival artifacts in remembrance and honor of the campus’s past.

The group is interested in preserving what they can from the campus and working with the existing infrastructure instead of against it and tearing it down. “The spirit of this place – we just wanted to reuse and maintain everything.” This bricolage spirit is seen in many areas of the campus, from the duplex-turned-newly-renovated guest house to the unique floor plan of the studio itself. The original structure was so intentionally built, and built to last, and its blueprint was a huge part of the construction process. “We let the spirit of the building guide the layout in a lot of ways.”

“I want to repurpose it for a different kind of creation,” says Pedersen. ” “The laboratory is still a lab all around and promotes experimental fun.” This air of boundless creativity is present in all of Seladore’s details. Here, artists are encouraged to “explore sounds, try new things, and use what’s at their disposal. There’s no need to do what everyone else is doing.” 

Pedersen is working closely alongside Nashville-based studio designer Mathias John to create an environment that considers elements like wellness and inspiration as crucial to the recording process. It’s not just a place to pump out music; it’s a place to retreat to, to be immersed in the natural world, and to pace artistry as needed. It’s about avoiding distraction and hustle culture.

As Pedersen so eloquently put it: “When I’m too stuck in the grind, I have less to say.”

The studio features a Neve 5080 console “at the brain of it all,” PMC speakers, and a synth workstation. “These are all high industry standards — the curation of gear is something we’re taking a really long time on.”

Pedersen and John are prioritizing the versatility and effectiveness of their gear, combining the classic elements of old records with the reliability of modern records. There are several rooms to play in, with some dedicated to jamming and some for precision and performance. Charmingly, there’s also a basement reverb chamber. Pedersen notes the importance of checking all possible boxes to allow for a seamless creative flow and open-ended collaboration. 

“We’ve taken every aspect of the studio from all possible perspectives…. We want to make it cohesive for anyone who comes in here and for the workflow to be amazing.”

Ultimately, Seladore will be a top destination for artists seeking to let their imagination wander freely and get their hands dirty in the sandbox of recording. Though there is not yet a set opening date, we can expect it to be operating sometime around May of 2026.

Follow JakDel on Instagram for updates, and in the meantime, check out his single “Beating Heart” below!