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In the spring of 1971, the Rolling Stones fled the UK to avoid its 93 per cent tax rate. The band didn’t want the government seizing its assets, so all four members decamped to France. Not to let their money problems derail their musical ambitions, the famed quartet decided to use the time as tax exiles to record its 10th studio album in the basement of Nellcôte, a villa that guitarist Keith Richards rented in Villefranche-sur-Mer, near Nice. The unusual studio served as the birthplace for the aptly titled Exile on Main St, which rocketed to the No. 1 spot worldwide and is now considered one of the group’s greatest albums. And while the Rolling Stones’ villa recording is many decades in the past, you can now replicate that recording process with an experience that lets you live out your own music dreams—perhaps to an equally fantastic reception.

The Vault by Robb Report is now offering you and seven confidants (or bandmates) a rare chance to write and produce your own song alongside music-industry pros. Jim Scott, a producer with four decades of experience, has worked with rock legends ranging from Tom Petty (on his Wildflowers album) to the Foo Fighters and the Chicks, earning a total of seven Grammys throughout his career. David Garza, meanwhile, has written over 400 songs—and co-wrote hundreds more—since 1987, notching a Grammy for his work with Fiona Apple on her 2020 album Fetch the Bolt Cutters.

Now, the duo is ready to share that experience and craftsmanship with you. You’ll spend five days with Garza and Scott on a luxe property in Ireland, where you can rock out, riff, and record with the pair as they show off the skills it takes to craft a professional-level hit.

Garza sees the project as a kind of musical provocation. “I feel that it’s almost like a dare, this thing we’re doing,” he tells Robb Report. “I think it’s like we’re throwing down the gauntlet and saying, ‘Is anyone out there in the Robb Report community, does anyone think they’re up for this challenge? It’s like a sky-dive thing, like, come along with us, and we will make this happen.”

The Emerald Isle digs aren’t too shabby, either. You’ll be recording at the Liss Ard Estate, a luxe hotel nestled within the lush countryside of West Cork. Here, the modern country-style estate is surrounded by cypresses and century-old cedar. And don’t worry about distractions: You and your crew will enjoy a complete buy-out of the property’s Lake House accommodation. Naturally, breakfast and lunch each day are included so you can stay focused on music making. There are also three nights of scrumptious dinners, all featuring in-season produce from the garden and meat and fish from local producers.

Bringing a studio to a Georgian mansion makes this experience all the more unique—especially when you’re working with vintage and modern recording equipment handpicked by Scott himself. That includes vintage Neumann U87s that have been used by the Chicks, Crowded House, and others, and his 1964 Fender Jaguar, which was used by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other musicians. “We’re basically creating a studio on a desert island, and it’s going to be like as close to paradise in the studio as you can get,” Garza says.

Whether you’re interested in creating a song for an anniversary with your loved one, or you just want to tackle a tune that’s been banging around in your brain for a bit, Scott and Garza are game to help you bring it life. “It’s just guiding through the process and encouraging them to greatness, whatever they’re going to do,” Scott says.

That greatness, for Scott, begins with the musical ensemble. He likes to start the process by getting a band or musicians to play a song altogether—basically, making the record sound about 80 per cent like what the final version of the record will be. From there, he may add in extra details, such as strings, horns, or perhaps background vocals, depending on what the song needs. Luckily, Scott, who has spent decades in the music industry, has a Rolodex of studio professionals he can tap.

“I have a nice thick book of wonderful, beautiful musicians who would participate if we needed them,” he says.

For his part, Garza got his start in Austin’s music scene in the 1980s and 1990s before moving to Los Angeles. With that kind of in-the-trenches experience, he can help all levels of musicianship. If you’re perhaps less knowledgeable about songwriting’s ins and outs, he can help you find the right bridge to perfect your song, or tell you what a 3/4 Waltz looks like. But no matter where you start, Garza says the process is really about making your song feel right for you.

“You’re basically measuring this person and fitting them with a bespoke song, you’re creating something that’s like a dress or a suit for someone, [like] a master tailor,” he says.

Scott offers some sage advice of his own: “You know, music’s like dancing. You gotta let loose a little bit.”

Once you’ve let loose and recorded your masterpiece, you’ll get to celebrate your achievement: a wrap party at the Liss Ard just for your new tune, where you and your guests can revel in your creation before you head back to reality.

Your song won’t be the first musical success for Scott and Garza, of course: The duo has collaborated on plenty of award-winning projects over the years. Those experiences have only burnished their respect for one another.

“This is like sitting down with someone like Martin Scorsese if you’re a filmmaker,” Garza says of the chance to work with Scott. The seven-time Grammy winner echoes the sentiment of collaborating with Garza: “He’s just the sweetest, [the] most patient, and he just always gives you what you want. And it’s so important to have somebody with a good attitude who can also really solve a problem. If we need something special, he can come up with something special.”

And when you get the chance to record your (future No. 1) hit, make sure not to hold anything back.

“Songs are equal-opportunity dreams,” Garza says. “They’re there for writing, and they’re just waiting to be written.”

US$99,000 (HK$769,580), travel to and from Ireland not included. Enquire now.