Matt Mercado first hit the national scene in the 90’s with the band Mindbomb, who signed to Mercury Records and gave Mercado his chance to tour around the world with rock gods like KISS, Rob Halford, Jackyl and Mötley Crüe. Mindbomb songs were also featured in two major motion pictures: Kalifornia starring Brad Pitt and Cliffhanger starring Sylvester Stallone. After Mindbomb, Mercado, Vulgar Vic and Joe Torossian formed the regionally successful Electro Rock band Pivot Man, who’s mixture of Rock/Metal/Electronica went on to influence some of the most popular bands of the 2000’s and were heavily featured on MTV’s “The Real World”.   

Pivot Man disbanded in 2001 and as the band went on to separate musical journeys, Mercado launched Supermercado with world renowned drummer and Emmy Award Winner Gregg Potter. The band's single “Ditch Kitty” was featured on the Gold-selling soundtrack for “FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage,” the demolition racing game released for the Xbox 360.
After two releases with Darkstar/Sony records, Supermercado disbanded and Mercado went on to devote himself full time to his successful recording studio Sonic Palace, recording local and national artist ranging from rock/metal (Candlebox, Soil, The Outfit) to the recently exploding Chicago Rap Scene.

Using his years of expertise in recording rock and metal, Mercado lent his skills to the burgeoning Chicago rap scene. Recently, Mercado recorded two of the hottest rappers, Famous Dex, who went on to sign with Rich Forever Records and Katie Got Bandz, best known for her smash hit “Make Me Rich” Feat. Jeremih & Chi Hoover. Mercado was also able to record a young up and coming artist Jumex and Dying In Designer. Dying in Designer subsequently signed with Hopeless Records, and the song “Lately” was a featured single/video.


Mercado also produced all the music and recorded, mixed and mastered all the artists for the studio’s first mixtape “Sonic Six - Vol. I” which was featured in the highly prestigious “Mix Magazine”.


It was in 2017 that Mercado would start acquiring a string of Billboard top 40 hits that continue to this day. The first Billboard top 40 being the Oklahoma City band “Kirra”, who’s song “Downfall” peaked at #18 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator chart. Soon to follow in 2018 was Pavement recording artist “The Outfit”, which peaked and #33 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.

In September 2020 Mercado celebrated his first Billboard Top 40 in the Country charts with Big Big Records artist Eric Chesser’s “Date Night” peaking at #36 on the Billboard Mainstream Country Indicator Chart.

Mike Penny started making music at a young age. He had an opportunity to attend Tribeca Flashpoint in 2010. He learned how to professionally record and mix most genres of music. After college, Mike was able to increase his knowledge as a professional engineer and has worked with a variety of different clients from rap, rock, gospel, jazz, and acoustic recording and mixing their projects. A few of his credits includes; Ron Carrol, Aires Adora, Nico Vega, Racing The Sun, Lord Haiti, UCOBY, and Ice Face. His passion and dedication has made him a go to engineer among many artists. Sonic Palace was established in 2003.   

Tech

DAW
Intel i5, 8 gigs of ram
Mac Pro 6 core
Pro Tools 10
Pro Tools 12
Studio One 3.5
Cubase 4, Reason, Sony Acid Pro
UAD 2 DUO (2 Cards) with 1176, LA2a, Cambridge EQ, Neve 1073, Dreamverb & Plate 140
MOTU 2408 MK III (Moded by Black Lion Audio) (3)
DVD-R, CD-R

Instruments

Trick Drums 6 piece studio kit (Hand crafted aircraft aluminum, Made in Chicago)
Vintage Marshall 800 (Modified by Fat Boy Amps) All new tubes and reconditioned
1960 serries Marshall 4/12 cab (2)
Trace Elliot Speed Twin - All new tubes and reconditioned
Modulous Bass, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Fender Strat, Fender Acoustic Bass, Taylor Acoustic, Seagull Acoustic, Guild D25 Vintage (1979) Acoustic, Gibson SG
Jerry Jones Sitar (As played by Metallica, U2 & System Of A Down)
White House 88 weighted keyboard piano and controller

Universal Audio LA 610 MK II
API 512c
Old School Audio MP-1
Neve 1081
Event EMP-1 (3)
Allen/Heath Mix Wizard 16:2
Prosonus Blue Tube
DBX 160 VU
DBX 902 desser
DBX 903 compressors (4)
DBX 904 Noise Gates (2)
DBX 905 EQs (2)
DBX 242 vintage
Aphex 9156 compressors (2)
Eventide H 3000
Aphex quad noise gated
Valley People 2112
DBX 166
Line 6 Filter Pro
Lexicon PMC 60
Avid Eleven
Aphex J Pre 500 (2)
Aphex A Pre 500
Aphex CX-500
Aphex EXQ 500
Aphex Project 500 (2)
DBX 166 VU
Aphex Aural Exciter
SCA N72 (2) (Neve 1072 clones)

Microphones

Neumann U87
Shure SM7b
Sennheiser MD 421
Shure Beta 52
Yamaha Sub Kick
Audix D 2
Blue Blueberry, Blue Mouse
AKG C14 EB (Vintage)
Rode NT1a (2)
Audio Technica 4050
SM 57s (4)
SM 58s (2)
Electro Voice PL20s (2)
Electro Voice PL10s (4)
Audix F10s (4)
Neumann TLM 193 Matched Pair
Rode NT3a Matched Pair
AKG D112

Etc.

EBO
J Dunlop Talk Box
Roland SPD 20
Filter Queen