Meet the Lab Rats
The Lab is a recording studio and rehearsal space located in Essex Junction, Vermont.
Founded in early 2023 by musician and producer Ezra Oklan, The Lab grew out of a simple idea: to create a space where artists can work, experiment, and build community. Today, The Lab offers recording, rehearsal space, and music education under one roof. We work closely with artists to bring out their best, offering a creative environment grounded in collaboration, experience, and attention to detail.Though we’re rooted in Vermont, our doors are open to musicians from anywhere looking for a space that’s thoughtful, capable, and built for real work.
EXPERIENCE
OUR SERVICES
We offer a complete range of music creation services under one roof—recording, mixing, mastering, and rehearsal. Our spaces are flexible enough for solo artists, full bands, and everything in between. Whether you’re tracking live on our vintage Neve console, dialing in the final mix in our tuned mastering room, or running through a new set in a fully equipped rehearsal space, you’ll have the tools and support to make your best work.
Our mixing services are designed for precision and character. We work in an acoustically tuned environment using a hybrid setup—blending the depth and warmth of analog outboard gear with the precision and recall of modern digital tools. Whether your tracks were recorded here or elsewhere, we shape them into cohesive, dynamic mixes that translate beautifully on any system. From subtle acoustic textures to dense, high-energy productions, we focus on clarity, balance, and emotional impact.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The Lab is run by working musicians and seasoned engineers who know what it takes to capture great performances. Our team has decades of combined experience in production, touring, and session work, bringing both technical expertise and creative insight to every project. We’ve built a space where artists feel at home—comfortable enough to experiment, equipped enough to deliver world-class results.
When you work at The Lab, you can expect clear communication, honest feedback, and a commitment to seeing your project through. We respect your time, your budget, and your vision. From the first conversation to the final master, we keep the process transparent and the focus on what matters most: creating something you’re proud to share.
Ezra Oklan
Ezra Oklan is a drummer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience on stage and in the studio. A New School jazz alum, he spent two decades in Brooklyn performing, sharing the stage, and recording with artists such as Dwight & Nicole, Nicole Atkins, Rachel Platten, Meg Washington, Ambulance LTD, Oakley Hall, Norah Jones, The Rza
(Wu Tang), Sharon Jones, Modest Mouse, The Killers, and The Black Keys. He has worked with major labels including RCA, Sony, and Universal, recorded in world-class studios from NYC to Norway, and is the founder of The VT Music Lab
Calvin Winzler-Lane
Calvin Winzler-Lane is an audio engineer and producer with over 20 years in the music industry. A graduate in recording engineering, he has managed vintage analog gear at Soundtoys and worked in artist management, A&R, and production at Putumayo World Music. Known for his sharp ear and innovative approach, Calvin is now based at The Lab—his fifth studio design—where he engineers and produces a wide range of projects.
Xander Naylor
Xander Naylor is a guitarist, composer, and educator whose genre-bending “signature sound” (Rolling Stone India) draws from Eastern and Western traditions. He has performed worldwide at major venues and festivals including Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, and the Montreal and Umbria Jazz Festivals, and has toured with Mwenso & The Shakes and The Sound of (Black) Music. Naylor scored the 2023 film Hayseed and serves as Business Manager and Head of Education at The Lab.
Caleb Bronz
Caleb Bronz is a drummer, producer, and engineer whose versatile career spans jazz, rock, reggae, hip-hop, blues, and more. He has performed and recorded with artists including Ray Vega, Myra Flynn, Barika, Mighty Sam McClain, and Mike Gordon (Phish), touring internationally at festivals like the Stockholm Jazz Festival. As an engineer, he runs The Drum Room, works with VT Music Lab, and served as Lead Audio Engineer for Vermont PBS’s Mister Chris and Friends. Caleb also teaches at the University of Vermont, sharing his expertise in drums, music tech, and production.
Rory Behr
Rory Behr is a Los Angeles–based producer, recording/mixing engineer, DJ, studio manager, and A&R affiliated with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) since 2016 . Renowned for his integral work on Isaiah Rashad’s critically acclaimed albums—The Sun’s Tirade and The House Is Burning—Behr has shaped standout tracks like “Free Lunch,” “4r Da Squaw,” “Stuck in the Mud (feat. SZA),” and “HB2U” . He has also played a huge role in cultivating the careers of Sza, kendrick Lamar, Doechi and Ab soul.
Originating from a musical upbringing in San Diego, Behr grew up immersed in the studio, inspired by his godfather ( Glenn Fry from the Eagles) to pursue guitar with a Hendrix influence before branching into DJing, production, and promotion . His technical prowess extends across hip-hop, R&B, pop, and dance genres, offering services from vocal tuning and mastering to full instrumental and 2-track mixing .
In the studio, Behr is known for his creative synergy with artists, especially Rashad—cultivating a polished yet emotionally raw aesthetic while maintaining speed and precision under pressure
Urian Hackney
Urian V. Hackney is a drummer, producer, and engineer known for his work in punk, hardcore, and beyond. A co-founder of Rough Francis and son of the proto-punk pioneers Death, he has toured with Iggy Pop, Converge, Trash Talk, and The Armed. Urian also runs The Box, a self-built studio where he produces and mixes artists like Caroline Rose and Lake Superior. Blending punk energy with analog warmth, he’s a force both behind the kit and the console. You can currently find him rocking the drums for rock legend Iggy Pop.
TESTIMONIALS
Client Success Stories: Hear What Our Clients Say
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CUSTOMER'S NAME
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Rory Behr
Rory Behr is a Los Angeles producer, engineer, DJ, and A&R with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)since 2016. He’s been central to Isaiah Rashad’s albums The Sun’s Tirade and The House Is Burning, and has worked with SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Doechii, and Ab-Soul. With roots in San Diego’s music scene, Behr’s expertise spans hip-hop, R&B, pop, and dance. Known for his speed, precision, and creative chemistry with artists, he brings polish and raw emotion to every project.
Dan Bishop
Dan Bishop is a Vermont-based bass player, producer, and songwriter. Most notably credited as a contributing producer on the song “Let It Reign” by the Temptations, Dan has also contributed heavily to the Vermont music scene, performing on hundreds of local stages and dozens of local records. He currently releases music and performs as Eustis, and works out of The VT Music Lab.
Adam Gansenberg
Our most recent addition here at the Lab, Adam moves fluidly between composing, performing, and engineering. Guided by intuition and a can-do attitude, he creates from a place of love and curiosity, always ready to meet the needs of the moment and help artists bring their vision to life.
