Cultivating Naturally Exceptional
Roots Music
Harvest Roots Recording is the operational moniker for Eric “The Harvester” L’Esperance - recording, mix engineer, and producer. Eric finds joy and fulfillment collaborating with his clients to reap the fruits of their artistic endeavors. His passionate, open, and generous personality backed by a strong work ethic and attention to detail, assist in elevating his clients’ work to their highest potential.
Eric works out of his home-studio in Worcester, MA. The acoustically treated “2nd Bedroom” serves as a home-base for tracking, editing, and mixing, however, his operation is designed to be mobile and travel-friendly. He is happy recording in any location that meets his clients needs, from boarding school classrooms, living rooms, to traditional studio environments. He and his wife Ash envision buying a home in Western, Massachusetts where they will build a permanent studio with accommodations for visiting artists.
Eric believes that the strongest songs are built on a firm foundation of excellent songwriting confidently performed. His work with clients begins before the studio sessions to ensure that the music and mindset are ready to be captured with microphones. His work places the highest value on authenticity, pays homage to vintage sounds of yesteryear, all while avoiding mimicry.
Born and raised in the post-industrial heartlands of Central Massachusetts, Eric was surrounded by music from the womb onward. When he was still knee-high to a duck, his parents toured regionally in a christian folk band. They would eventually settle down to share their music weekly in local church settings. From concerts, to church services, to family gatherings rife with acoustic guitars and his aunts’ & uncles’ harmonies, Eric grew a distinct taste for great songwriting presented in roots, folk, and Americana music.
Eric was first introduced to the home recording process through his high school friends and early collaborators, Against the Green (Dave & Penny Johnson). Though enamored with the microphones, converters, DAW, and the DIY attitude of young songwriters, he didn’t yet see how music-making could fit into his life. His post-high school journey was spent exploring “normal” cultural expectations of adulthood. He acquired a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning & Development in undergrad, and then worked for the State of Massachusetts and Town of Auburn as a Planner for the decade thereafter. During this time of his life, he struggled with a sense of malaise, feeling out of place in the planning environment. He was working alongside folks passionate about their duties, but try as he might, he couldn’t summon the same passion for himself.
In 2011, he met Ash Hames, a young songwriter and music student at Clark University, and everything changed. Upon sharing the stage together, it was evident that the two had a unique and palpable musical chemistry. They soon discovered they shared a desire to live a more creative life. Over a decade later, Eric writes, records, and tours with Ash in their celebrated indie-folk wife/husband duo, Ash & Eric.
The experience he gained working in-studios on albums with Ash reawakened his early interest in home recording. In 2018, after purchasing his first interface and a microphone, he began his journey to become a student of music engineering. Since that time, he has read and re-read every book he could get his hands on at the public library, devoured even more books the library didn’t stock, and studied for a year-and-a-half with Bjorgven Benediktson and the Audio Insiders community. Alongside his study, he began building his microphone and gear collection as he put his learning to practice producing home demos.
His latest work includes local singer/songwriter Morning Son’s debut EP Nature and single “Tired Empire;” Ash & Eric’s full-length album, Sure and 5-song EP, Where We’ve Been; “Correct Course” by Delaware-based wife/husband duo, The Honey Badgers; and Conor Hennessy & Paul Simion’s full-length album Seagull Song.
Make an Inquiry
Eric books a limited number of recording projects a year as he balances his work between Harvest Roots Recording and his duo Ash & Eric. Please use the form below to reach out with your inquiry to discuss if The Harvest Roots Recording is a good match for your next recording project.