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About

Underground Squirrel Studio was founded by Micky Rosenquist in 2007 and is located in Rockford, IL. It is a creative space dedicated to the production, recording, learning, teaching, practice, and composition of music.

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Micky is a multi-instrumental Composer/Producer/Performer who has collaborated and toured with many artists throughout the country. Along with helping other artists and students find their musical voice, Micky can also be found writing and performing under the stage name Micky Torpedo. He creates everything from instrumental, ambient compositions, to rowdy rock and roll.
 
Formerly an Adjunct Professor of Music and Audio Engineering for Rock Valley College, Micky has given many presentations on Songwriting and Audio Engineering at Rock Valley College, Rockford UniversityKeith Country Day School, and other schools in the regional districts. He holds both an A.A. and B.A. in music, is a graduate from the Northern Illinois University Music Program. He was a Co-Founder of the Rock and Roll Institute NFP (a 501c3 nonprofit music camp for kids) and served as Executive Director for many years. Micky was awarded the 2023 "Performing Artist of the Year" award by RAAC Rockford Area Arts Council for his album, Birdsongs Vol 1 - Sounds of the Mississippi Flyway, and just released Birdsongs Vol 2 - Sounds of The Bell Bowl Prairie in 2024.

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Lessons

Underground Squirrel Studio offers private instruction on a wide variety of instruments, and features a method of teaching that embraces music theory, ear training, and composition/songwriting. The instrument instruction available is guitar, bass, piano/keyboards, voice, drums, marimba, bells, banjo, ukulele, accordion, songwriting/composition, and recording instruction. 
 
Lesson rates are $130 per month for weekly sessions, with a discounted rate for multiple instruments and/or multiple family members. We offer in person or online video lessons. Click here if you are interested in more information!

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Lessons
Recording

Recording

Micky has recorded and/or produced many upcoming artists and bands, composed scores for film/commercial projects, also audio book recordings and voice narration projects.

Recording rates are $435 for a 4 hour block, or $800 for an 8 hour block. However, the recording schedule is mostly dedicated to recording projects that Micky is producing, and those prices do not include production. If you’re interested in production quotes, you can contact via email to undergroundsquirrelstudio@gmail.com
or by phone at 
1-779-210-4217.

Notable Gear

Preamps
Vintech 473 (8 channels), Arsenal Audio by API (2 channels), Audient ASP 880 (8 channels) and Apollo Quad (4 channels). 

Compressors
Retro STA-LEVEL (2 channels)
Chandler EMI RS 124 (2 channels)
Lindell Audio LIN76
Warm Audio WA76


Microphones
1973 Neumann U87
Neumann KM 184 (stereo pair)
Neumann U89
Coles 4038 Ribbons (stereo pair)
Weird Audio W47 Tube - Mod 2
Lauten Audio LS-208
Lauten Audio LS-308 (pair)
AEA R84 Ribbon mic
EV RE20
Beyerdynamic TG D70
Shure PGA98D
Shure 520DX
Various Shure SM57s and SM58s


Amplifiers
Modded 1973 Fender Twin Reverb
Modded 1967 Fender Bassman (head and cabinet)
1940s era Supro 
1950s era Meteor
1950s Silvertone Case Amp
1950s Webcore (modded tube movie projector amp)
Various vintage speaker cabinets
(Orange, Fender, Vox, Marshall, Kustom, Natco)


Drums/Percussion
1973 Slingerland Copper Kit (24,12,16)
1930s Slingerland Wood Shell Kit (28,12,15)
Gretsch Jazz Kit (18,12,14 with 14 snare)
1960s 26 Duco (bass drum only)
Ludwig 6x14 Black Beauty
Ludwig 5x14 Acrolite
DW 5x14 Snare
PDP 6x14 Wood with Wood Hoops

Marimba
2 Ludwig Timpani


Strings
1990s Gibson SG with Bigsby
Fender Tele with Bigsby
1990s Epiphone Casino with Bigsby
Guild Hollowbody
Martin Sustainable Series Acoustic
1959 Gretsch Anniversary Hollowbody

1950s Gibson Lap Steel
Schecter Bass VI
1990s Epiphone Jack Cassidy Bass
Frankestein Tele Bass
Johnson Banjo
Kala Ukulele


Other Toys
Refurbished 1970s Dynachord Tape Echo
1960s Rhythm Ace Drum Machine
Roland SPD Drum Machine
Korg Minilogue Synth
Korg MS20 Synth
1970s Rhodes Mark I
Accordion
Large collection of various guitar and bass pedals



 

Production Clients

Here are some artists that Micky has Produced and/or collaborated with, along with some of his own music. All music was recorded at Underground Squirrel Studio. If you'd like to hear more from these artists, visit our online store! Otherwise, most can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, and most other streaming platforms, and possibly at your local record store.

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"Cold Wind"

by French Actress

"Turbulence"

by Micky Torpedo

"Advent"

by Micky Torpedo

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"Disquiet"

by Micky Torpedo

"Quiescence"

by Micky Torpedo

"Honkey Cat"

by Purple Hell

"Eyeball For An Eyeball"

by Purple Hell

"Dark Matter"

by Go Go Torpedo

"Retirement Or Bust"

by Go Go Torpedo

"Silent Spring"

by Go Go Torpedo

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"City Song"

by Tentacles Everywhere

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"Abraham Lincoln"

by Mana Kintorso

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"Here's Looking At You"

by Tentacles Everywhere

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"Gypsy"

by Mana Kintorso

"Gold"

by Purple Hell

"Dishwasher Song"

by Purple Hell

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"Ray Gun"

by Go Go Torpedo

"Into The Water"

by Go Go Torpedo

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"Hulk Hogan"

by Los Osos Voladores

"Can't Be Trusted"

by The Lone Canary

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"Paint"

by Los Osos Voladores

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"From The Fire"

by The Lone Canary

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"Catching Frisbees"

by Mana Kintorso

"Weather"

by Mana Kintorso

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"Michael"

by Pink Beam

"Sleep When You Are Dead"

by Pink Beam

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"Theme"

from the film,

A Beautiful View Of Nothing

"The Diner"

from the film,

A Beautiful View Of Nothing

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"Sam"

from the film,

A Beautiful View Of Nothing

"The Bench"

from the film,

A Beautiful View Of Nothing

Thanks for submitting!

"Godzilla We Fight"

by EVIL ZENITH

"Shed My Skin"

by EVIL ZENITH

"La Rentrée"

by Micky Torpedo

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"Harvest Moon"

by Micky Torpedo

"Solstice"

by Micky Torpedo

"Incandescence"

by Micky Torpedo

"Loose Ends"
by Andi Kidd

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"Catching Up"
by Turning Stranger

"Constant"
by Turning Stranger

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"Big Girl Winnin"
by Amanee Avery

"Bodyguard"
by Cradle P. Lavender

"Running Water"
by Cradle P. Lavender

"Couldn't Handle me"
by Amanee Avery

"Piping Plover"
by Micky Torpedo

"Baltimore Oriole"
by Micky Torpedo

718 Auburn st

Rockford, IL 61103

undergroundsquirrelstudio@gmail.com

Tel: 1-779-210-4217

The studio is open 7 days a week. All services are available by appointment only.

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