A Studio Rooted in History
Panama Sound resides in the historic Richmond Annex neighborhood—a community with deep roots in America’s wartime industrial mobilization.
During World War II, this area rapidly transformed to house the thousands of workers who flooded into Richmond to build Liberty Ships and Victory Ships at the nearby Kaiser Shipyards. These shipyards operated around the clock, producing vessels at an unprecedented pace that helped win the war in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
The homes throughout the Annex were built quickly to accommodate this massive workforce—welders, riveters, crane operators, and their families who came from across the country to contribute to the war effort.
What was once emergency wartime housing has matured into a quiet, well-maintained residential neighborhood where many homes now feature beautiful gardens—a testament to the community’s evolution from industrial urgency to peaceful domesticity.
Richmond
& Contra Costa County
Richmond sits on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in Contra Costa County, strategically positioned between the vibrant urban energy of the Bay Area and the natural beauty of the coastal hills. The city’s industrial heritage has given way to a diverse, creative community while maintaining its working-class roots.
The Acoustic Setting
What makes Panama Sound good for recording is its distance from modern disruptions.
The studio sits far enough from BART trains, freeway traffic, and flight paths to capture that elusive quiet, intimate sound that’s increasingly rare in the Bay Area.
Nearby Food & Drink
The Richmond Annex and surrounding area offer excellent options for fueling your creative sessions. Within easy reach, you’ll find local cafes, restaurants, and breweries that reflect the neighborhood’s unpretentious character. The area provides plenty options.
Down Home Records
Located just a couple blocks from us, Downhome Records is an essential destination for vinyl lovers and music enthusiasts.
This independent record shop embodies the same DIY spirit and music culture that Panama Sound strives to foster. I recently wrote an article on Arhoolie, and Down Home Records. Read it here:
Tell John McCord Logan sent you when you visit—he’s one of the good ones, and supporting local independent record shops like his is how we keep independent music culture alive in the Bay Area.