Finding the right flow in Nashville

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Jarvie using the Snell Hall recording studio

By Colin Bowyer, Communications Manager - July 24, 2025

In the heart of Nashville, three alumni of the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts’ music technology and production program (MTP), Griffin Barbieri, ‘24, Sage Jarvie, ‘24, and Cooper Reynolds, ‘24, are building something more than a recording studio; they’re crafting a creative community. Flow Industries, is a visual and audio production company born from friendship, shared ambition, and a relentless pursuit of artistic excellence.

The story begins in Corvallis, where all three founders crossed paths in Snell Hall’s recording studio. Reynolds, who began his time at OSU as a business major, ended up switching to music technology and production, encouraged by peers and guided by mentors like Director of the MTP program and Associate Professor Dr. Jason Fick. After switching, Reynolds dove headfirst into the world of music production. He took a job as an audio engineer in Snell Hall’s recording studio, tucked behind the esports lounge, where he produced for campus-wide events, academic programs, and creative projects. His work on the annual student-driven MTP album earned him the role of head engineer in 2024, solidifying his technical chops.

Barbieri’s journey was more melodic. Growing up in Portland, he was immersed in music from a young age; first in a string ensemble, then on baritone and tuba. But it was the ambient soundtrack of Minecraft that truly captivated him. The game’s deceptively simple music inspired Barbieri to explore digital production. At OSU, he declared a business major, but, similarly to Reynolds, couldn’t resist the pull of music production, eventually adding MTP to his academic resume. 

Jarvie, the third pillar of Flow Records, transferred to OSU via Portland Community College. Arriving with little experience in production, but a strong foundation in guitar, Jarvie quickly immersed himself in student media, learning the intricacies of engineering and live sound as a producer at KBVR-TV, as well as an audio engineer at the Whiteside Theatre, in downtown Corvallis. By the time he became student lead at Snell Hall recording studio, Jarvie had found his rhythm, including project managing the annual MTP album in 2024.

After graduation, Barbieri, Jarvie, and Reynolds spent six months brainstorming, spreadsheeting, and soul-searching. The original plan: to take out a loan, buy gear, and open a studio. Without solid connections in the area or experience, it felt premature to take such a leap; instead, they chose patience. The group moved to Nashville and found industry-relevant employment to expand their networks and grow their technical expertise, laying the groundwork for Flow Records.

“After arriving in Nashville,” explained Barbieri, “we quickly realized that we had much to learn about Nashville’s music recording landscape. The ‘middle-tier’ space we were looking to jump into is slowly fading, squeezed between more DIY setups and major label studios.” 

Rather than rushing into a brick-and-mortar space recording studio, they launched Flow as a multimedia production company. They quickly discovered that in today’s music industry, video is just as crucial as audio. Every track needs a visualizer, every artist needs content. Their live performance series, In the Flow, became their calling card, intimate, high-quality live performance artist videos, cut into reels for social media and other purposes. Their first client, an R&B artist named Lotis, opened doors to a growing network of engineers, managers, and performers. Since then, FLOW has worked with other Nashville-based artists like Lawson Harris, Karnee, Misty Harlow, and Lando.

“We realized that we had a good network of artists who were interested in more than just recording music,” said Reynolds. “Artists wanted live video, photos, promotion, branding, and more. We needed to broaden our scope and create a one-stop multimedia agency for musicians.”

But the Flow team is undeterred. They’re building slowly, focusing on consistency, and staying true to their mission: to create a space where artists can thrive creatively and professionally.

“Our advice for those looking to enter this space is to go slow,” explained Jarvie. “Build that foundation and work to get your foot in the door. FLOW is still in its infancy and our plans may change again, but by being open and showing a genuine interest in learning from peers, we’re on our way.”