Internships
Hands-on mentorship in music engineering, passing down the Steve Albini Way.
Carrying Forward a Legacy
The Electrical Audio Foundation
Honoring Steve Albini's ethos of access, integrity, and craft by opening world-class recording, mentorship, and community to musicians and engineers who need it most.
The Foundation's Promise
A place in music, for everyone.
The Electrical Audio Foundation carries Steve's legacy forward in the spirit of how he ran his studio — welcoming all with equity, fairness, and deep respect. We support equality, access, creative freedom, and ownership, especially for those not previously given these opportunities. Beyond offering physical instruments for the craft, we offer the instrument of hope — the belief that every musician and engineer, regardless of background, deserves a place in the world of music.
About Steve Albini
The plumber of rock and roll.
Steve Albini was a fiercely principled, authentic, and influential pioneer in every aspect of music and audio recording. Known primarily as a recording engineer — a title he preferred over "producer" — he engineered some of the most landmark albums of our time, at studios all over the world and particularly at his self-built, state-of-the-art studio in Chicago, Electrical Audio.
"I can only imagine what Steve Albini could have made had he taken points on that record. But rather, he decided to be paid like a plumber — a fucking hot-shit plumber, but a plumber." Dave Grohl · Foo Fighters / Nirvana
When I wrote him a letter, he sent me designs of how to build a studio. I was a kid. That changed my life. It's actually since been a real guide to me of genuine generosity to other people. James Murphy LCD Soundsystem
What We Do
Programs built around the artist.
From first-time musicians to working engineers, our programs remove the barriers that keep people out of the room.
Reduced-rate studio time
Professional recording access regardless of an artist's ability to pay.
Band matching
Connecting new and young musicians — especially in under-resourced neighborhoods — to form bands, create, and record.
The Steve Albini Archives
Curated displays and educational tours of Electrical Audio, preserving the craft for the next generation.
Join Us
Help us keep the door open.
The Foundation runs on the generosity of people who believe in artist-first, community-first music. Your support keeps the studio welcoming, the programs free or affordable, and the craft alive.